FAQ
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Pupillage
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The trainee lawyer candidate must:
- Have obtained, in Belgium, a university-level degree (doctor of Law, prior to 1972), a licentiate or master’s degree in law. Candidates who hold foreign degrees must obtain recognition of equivalency through a university programme or by passing the aptitude test organised by AVOCATS.BE;
- sign an pupillage agreement with an accredited pupil master;
- Have been introduced before the Brussels Court of Appeal and take the oath of admission to the Bar;
- pay the registration fees to the Bar and the dues to the Bar Association;
- Be accepted by the Council of the Bar Association on the list of trainee lawyers.
Procedure to follow for taking the oath of admission to the Bar:
- The trainee lawyer must be presented to the Brussels Court of Appeal by a lawyer with at least ten years of seniority on the register of the Bar Association.
- The swearing-in ceremony is held on 1 September (or the first business day of September), the first Monday of each month from October to December, and then every other month—on the first Monday of February, April, and June. If the first Monday is a public holiday, the ceremony is held the following Monday.
- To take the required oath, a trainee lawyer candidate must wear a legal gown. Gowns may be hired from the lawyers’ cloakroom located at the Courthouse (1 Place Poelaert, 1000 Brussels).
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Preliminary steps:
The trainee lawyer must email the following documents to the Pupillage Service at (stage@barreaudebruxelles.be) :
- A certificate of residence dated within the last three months;
- A criminal record extract dated within the last three months (issued by the municipal authority of his or her place of residence or via an electronic counter);
- A copy of his or her pupillage agreement, duly completed and signed, with an accredited pupil master. Note: The standard-format contract provided by the Barr Association must be used without fail, without altering its font, layout, order of articles, etc.
- The application form for admission to the oath ceremony and the list of trainee lawyers, fully completed and signed.
Documents to be submitted physically:
- After submitting the electronic application, the trainee lawyer candidate must submit the original of his or her degree to the pupillage office. If the person in question does not hold Belgian nationality or a Belgian master's degree in law, he or she must also present the original of his or her foreign degree and the original of its equivalency certificate and must be able to produce his or her identity card.
- The oath cannot be administered unless all the aforementioned documents have reached the pupillage office at least 10 working days before the scheduled date. The pupillage agreement must comply with the Legal Code of Ethics and the Brussels Rules of Professional Conduct. The trainee lawyer candidate will be informed by email.
By the day before the oath ceremony at the latest, the trainee lawyer candidate will receive an email with the schedule, location, and practicalities of the ceremony.
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Nous vous invitons à consulter ce document afin de prendre connaissance de la rémunération minimale (montant HTVA) applicable aux avocats-stagiaires inscrits au barreau de Bruxelles.
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- Except with authorisation from the relevant Presidents of the Bar, the pupil master must belong to the same Bar Association as the trainee lawyer.
- If the pupil master belongs to a different Bar Association, the rules of the trainee lawyer’s own Bar Association will apply.
- Before granting permission for a pupil master from another Bar Association, the President of the Bar will verify that they meet the conditions laid out in Article 3.6.a of the Brussels Rules of Professional Conduct.
- The pupil master’s professional address must be located within one of municipalities of the Brussels-Capital region without fail.
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- If necessary, complete your application for admission to the list of trainee lawyers.
If necessary, complete your application for admission to the list of trainee lawyers.
If you have not yet provided your third-party account number (either personal or that of your firm), or your company number (CBE), you must do so urgently via the AVOCATS.BE portal.Please note: You must update your personal details on this portal following any changes (firm name, residential or office address, telephone number, email address, etc.) via the AVOCATS.BE portal (https://portail/avocats/be/monprofil) throughout your legal career. You must also inform the pupillage office immediately during your pupillage. Otherwise, you may miss communications from the Bar Association
- Pay the registration fee and the dues to the Bar Association.
Once you have taken the oath, the pupillage office will send you a request to pay the registration fee into bank account no BE02 6300 2355 9440 of the French-language Bar association of the Brussels Bar. The registration fee amounts to €300. The dues to the Bar Association are based on your income.
- Wait for official confirmation of inclusion on the list of trainee lawyers before performing any professional act as a lawyer.
Once payment is received, your application for admission to the list of trainee lawyers will be posted publicly for 15 days.
You’ll receive written confirmation of your admission, your right to wear the legal gown, and to plead before the country’s various courts.
Please note: Until you receive this confirmation, you are not officially a lawyer. You may not use the title, perform any professional act as such, or wear the gown.
Please note: The letter of admission includes your lawyer identification number. This number will remain unchanged throughout your legal career and will be used for all official correspondence with the Bar and in CAPA [Certificate of Aptitude for the Legal Profession] exams, as well as for access to Bar’s various digital tools.
- Once you receive the confirmation letter from the President of the Bar:
Create a password for your @avocat.be email. Within 15 days of receiving your confirmation from the President of the Bar announcing his or her admission to the list of trainee lawyers, the trainee lawyer will use his or her email address @avocat.be address as the login to https://portail.avocats.be/reset-password and follow the procedure to create a personal password.
Can I use any email address? The Bar Association prohibits the use of free email services such as Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo etc.) as they offer no guarantee of security, reliability, or confidentiality.
Each lawyer is automatically assigned a forename.surname@avocat.be address, which can be used in two ways:
The address will serve solely as an alias and will automatically and freely forward all messages to your chosen secure email address (your firm’s address or personal address), which will be listed in the directories of the Bar Association and the OBFG [Association of French- and German-language Bars of Belgium] / AVOCATS.BE; or
The lawyer will use the @avocat.be mailbox and address directly, which will be listed in the directories of the Bar Association and the OBFG. In this case, the lawyer must choose a subscription plan from the three available options, with costs payable to ContactOffice, the provider and manager selected by the OBFG / AVOCATS.BE
- Requesting the lawyer’s card
You must order your lawyer’s card via the link provided in the letter confirming your admission to the list of trainee lawyers.
If you do not hold a Belgian or E+ identity card, you must send an email to Mrs Kawtar Sadek Cherkaoui (kawtar@barreaudebruxelles.be), who will guide you through the process.
In either case, you will receive your lawyer’s card and instructions on how to activate it by registered post at the address provided when you ordered it.
- Registering for the first phase of CAPA courses
Within 15 days of receiving the Bar President’s letter confirming your admission, you must register for Phase 1 of the initial CAPA training, subject to availability, via lgo.avocats.be
Login: your e-mail address (…@avocat.be.)
Password: Same as the one used for the OBFG Extranet or National Registry (which you will have created previously (see above))
To do this, use your @avocat.be email to log in at https://portail.avocats.be/reset-password and follow the steps to create your personal password. You can then go to https://lgo.avocats.be/ to register for Phase 1 of the CAPA training.
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Compliance with professional ethics and collegiality
This includes in particular professional secrecy, confidentiality of communication between lawyers, and the avoidance of conflicts of interest.
Professional rigour
Being a lawyer is a demanding profession that requires unwavering rigour. Laws are constantly changing, and ongoing verification is essential. Extra care must be taken with the sources consulted. Whereas the internet can be a helpful tool, it can also mislead. Stay alert!
Obligation of continuing education and training
Continuing education and training is governed by Articles 3.26 ff. of the Code of Ethics. Lawyers must accumulate 60 points over three years, with a minimum of 10 points annually (the current three-year period having started on 1 January 2023). The constituent subjects of the training programme per period of reference must include at least ethics (4 points), and the prevention of money laundering and the financing of terrorism (2 points).
Trainee lawyers are generally exempt from continuing education and training requirements during the first and second years of their pupillage due to their CAPA programme.
Proper handling of third-party (client) funds
- What is a third-party (client) account?
A third-party (client) account is used strictly for managing funds on behalf of clients or third parties.
It must under no circumstances be used for personal or professional expenses. Withdrawals in cash or by cheque are prohibited unless prior special authorisation is given by the President of the Bar. The handling of client or third-party funds is strictly regulated and monitored by the Bar Association.- Am I required to have a third-party (client) account?
Every lawyer must hold an account titled “third-party (client) account” or “CAPA account,” used solely for third-party funds, opened with a financial institution approved by the OBFG or the OVB (Association of Flemish Bars ). It is also possible to use the third-party (client) account of your pupil master’s firm, subject to the latter’s prior consent. You must inform the Bar President of the account number you hold or use by declaring it on the application form for admission to your oath and the list of trainee lawyers.
- How and when to complete the declaration of third-party (client) funds?
Lawyers must declare the third-party (client) funds they hold on 31 December each year..
This declaration must be submitted online via the designated digital platform by 28 February at the latest.Compliance with anti-money laundering regulations
Preventing money laundering is part of particularly important obligations of lawyers. Non-compliance can lead to serious consequences, including financial penalties.
The Bar Association carries out annual checks based on a random selection.
The “Money Laundering” section of the Brussels Bar’s Extranet contains useful information, including forms and guidance documents intended to help lawyers fulfil their obligations.
Compliance with GDPR obligations
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) sets out fundamental principles for the processing of personal data. Its implementation must therefore be tailored to the legal profession and the specific structure of a law firm.
Useful information and template forms are available in the GDPR section of the Brussels Bar’s extranet, as well as on the OBFG extranet.
Compliance with administrative obligations
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Three years of actual pupillage under a certified pupil master
- 3 full years
The pupillage must last three full years. This period will be extended to account for any suspensions, such as the time needed for a new pupil master to obtain certification.
- Minimum 900 hours put in per hear
The pupillage agreement requires the trainee lawyer to complete at least 900 hours per year for his or her pupil master.
How is a “worked hour” determined? A “worked hour” is defined as time the trainee lawyer dedicates to tasks assigned by his or her pupil master, including travel time (e.g. to court hearings or registries) and waiting time (e.g. before hearings or at registries), even if this time cannot be billed, in full or in part, by the pupil master to the client
Can my pupil master disqualify some of my worked hours?
Hours said to be worked do not include:
- Time spent by the trainee lawyer on other pupillage-related obligations;
- The hours during which the trainee lawyer observes passively of the pupil master’s work as a lawyer for pupillage purposes, without being actively involved in the case;
- Time spent at conferences, seminars, or personal professional development activities, unless these are required by the pupil master or directly related to a specific case assigned to the trainee lawyer.
What happens if I don’t complete 900 hours in the year? Must I return my pay?
- The system provides for an annual flat-rate remuneration in return for a number of hours worked over the year. The time spent by the trainee lawyer on their pupil master’s cases must therefore be calculated on an annual basis.
- That said, the annual flat rate covers hours worked between a minimum of 900 hours per year, which is equivalent to a monthly average of 75 hours, and a maximum of 1,200 hours per year, which is equivalent to a monthly average of 100 hours.
- It may therefore be useful to take stock of the situation during the course of the year and check whether, in light of the average number of hours worked in the preceding months, the trainee lawyer is on track to meet the 900-hour annual target or is likely to exceed the 1,200-hour ceiling. It is also an opportunity to discuss the cooperation, as well as the quality and quantity of the work provided.
Attend a mandatory orientation session
Trainee lawyers must attend an orientation session intended to explain the obligations of the pupillage, its purpose, and the goals of the training provided to the trainee lawyers. Attendance is mandatory.
Attend and pass both phases of the CAPA programme
What is the purpose of the CAPA courses?
The CAPA have several objectives, e.g. to:
- Standardise theoretical legal training among trainee lawyers from varied academic backgrounds;
- Teach ethics and the values of the profession to lawyers;
- Advise and support trainee lawyers in applying legal and procedural rules in practice;
- Provide a risk-free learning environment where mistakes will not harm the client;
- Promote the integration of the trainee lawyers into the Brussels Bar.
Attend 3 seminars organised by the ICBB (Brussels Bar Institute of Communication)
Trainee lawyer must attend three seminars organised by the Brussels Bar Institute of Communication. Registration is via www.icbb.be
Attendance during all seminar days is mandatory, though no exams are required.
Once Phase 1 of the CAPA is completed, the trainee lawyer is invited to register for a 3-day seminar on written and oral communication, including preparation for speech for the defence.
During the 2nd and 3rd years of pupillage, the trainee lawyer must participate in two additional 2-day ICBB seminars, selected from the following three seminars:
- Principled negotiation
- The lawyer in mediation
- Advanced public speaking
Pass the speech for the defence and written submission examination
How does the exam work, and what are the criteria for passing it?
Trainee lawyers are summoned by the Young Bar Conference Secretariat to undertake the speech for the defence exercise no later than the second year of their pupillage.
To be eligible to undergo the speech for the defence exercise, the trainee lawyer must have completed his or her initial professional training (CAPA – phase 1) and attended the three-day written and oral communication seminar organised by the ICBB.
This exercise requires drafting detailed submissions based on a statement provided by the Young Bar Conference, as well as presenting orally the arguments developed in support of the chosen position, in the form of a speech for the defence before an ad hoc jury composed of lawyers and a speech professional.
The exercise is carried out in pairs, with two trainee lawyers assigned per case, one acting as claimant and the other as respondent.
The written submissions and the speech for the defence are graded separately. To complete the speech for the defence exercise successfully, the trainee lawyer must obtain a total mark of 10 out of 20. If the trainee lawyer fails the exercise, they must retake both parts (submissions + plea).
What happens if I do not undergo or fail the pleading exercise?
If you do not undergo the pleading exercise within the required timeframe or fail the procedure outlined above (by scoring below 10/20), you will need to undergo the exercise again the following year. If your result is again below 10/20, you will be asked to appear before a special jury appointed by the Council of the Bar Association.
If you fail before this special jury, you will be summoned to appear before the Council of the Bar Association for a hearing regarding your omission.
Participate in 12 Legal Aid Bureau duty sessions
What is a legal aid duty session and what will I need to do?
In a legal aid duty session, lawyers provide free legal advice to anyone who comes to the Legal Aid Bureau. It is organised under the supervision of a leader, who is responsible for advising clients and, if needed, referring them to the secretariat of the Legal Aid Bureau to request that a second-line volunteer lawyer be appointed. The leader also helps with training and supporting the trainee lawyers within their group.
Handle six Legal Aid Bureau cases
In order to meet the legal aid requirements, trainee lawyers must handle six legal aid cases during their pupillage. This does not mean the cases must be completed during the pupillage period, but rather that trainees must be assigned to six cases and handle them diligently from the time of assignment.
Assignments may take place during legal aid duty sessions which trainee lawyers must attend during their pupillage, or separately, initiated by the trainee lawyers themselves.
These six legal aid cases must cover three distinct legal areas. Salduz cases, oral consultations, and simple letters (e.g., payment deferral requests) do not count. Nor do pro bono cases managed outside the legal aid system.
How to register on the LAO platform?
A presentation is available via the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6qvx1nPUF0 or https://barreaudebruxelles-intranet.be/images/baj/LAO_Inscription.pdf
How to register for a specific legal aid area?
Registration for legal aid areas is done via the LAO platform.
Note: If you handle more than ten cases per year in a specific area, you must become a member of the relevant section (Article 3.7.9 ff. of the Rules of Procedure).
How to deregister from a legal aid area or section?
Requests to deregister from a legal aid area or section must be made through LAO.
Participate in 2 fieldwork projects: Refugee legal helpdesk or Trainee Forum projects
Trainee lawyers will have to take part in two half day fieldwork projects chosen from the following options:
- Participation in one or two sessions of the "Refugee Legal Helpdesk" organised by the Bar, following a short training session.
- Participation in one or two projects organised by the Trainee Hub, such as:
- Attending a hearing as part of the “audience” programme, following the Trainee Forum's procedures.
- Attending a “decentralised meeting” organised under delegation of the Legal Aid Commission according to the procedures defined by the Trainee Forum.
- Half-day visit to a prison as part of the “Discover a Prison” programme according to the procedures defined by the Trainee Forum.
- Half-day shadowing of a bailiff as part of the “Bailiff” programme according to the procedures defined by the Trainee Forum.
- Attending a “Petit Château” [reception centre for asylum seekers] session, according to the procedures defined by the Trainee Forum.
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1ST YEAR OF TRAINEESHIP – INITIAL BASIC PROFESSIONAL TRAINING (PHASE 1)
During the first year of the traineeship, the trainee lawyer is required to follow the training cycle starting at the date closest to his or her oath-taking.
The programme includes a common core for all trainee lawyers, consisting of 84 hours of compulsory courses, as follows:
- Deontology (16 hours)
- Practice of Civil Procedure (16 hours)
- Practice of Criminal Procedure (16 hours)
- Practice of Administrative Procedure (8 hours)
- Legal Aid (6 hours) – 3 hours in e-learning and 3 hours of practical in-person workshops
- Law Firm Management (4 hours)
- Anti-Money Laundering Obligations – online (4 hours)
- Digital Tools Available to Lawyers and Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (4 hours)
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – online (2 hours)
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (8 hours)
All the above courses are subject to an examination, with the exception of:
(i) Digital Tools and Introduction to Artificial Intelligence;
(ii) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR); and
(iii) Alternative Dispute Resolution.2ND AND 3RD YEARS OF TRAINEESHIP – PRACTICAL AND ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL TRAINING (PHASE 2)
The trainee lawyer is required to follow:
One compulsory course with an examination:
- Advanced Deontology (12 hours)
A minimum of 32 hours of optional courses, not subject to an examination, to be chosen from the following list (subject to adaptation during the year):
- Arbitration Law (10 hours)
- European Law, including the ECHR (10 hours)
- Tenancy Law (10 hours)
- Competition Law (10 hours)
- Commercial Distribution (10 hours)
- Immigration Law (10 hours)
- Family Law (10 hours)
- Real Estate Law (10 hours)
- Insolvency Law – natural and legal persons (10 hours)
- Juvenile Law (10 hours)
- Public Procurement Law (10 hours)
- Reading of Balance Sheets and Annual Accounts (10 hours)
- Advanced Civil Procedure (6 hours)
- Advanced Criminal Procedure (6 hours)
- Intellectual Property Law (10 hours)
- Liability Law and Compensation for Bodily Injury (10 hours)
- Seizure and Enforcement Proceedings (10 hours)
- Salduz Procedure (6 hours)
- Company Law (10 hours)
- Advanced Labour Law (10 hours)
- Traffic Law (10 hours)
- Advanced Artificial Intelligence (10 hours)
- Time and Priority Management (4 hours)
- Stress Management and Burnout Prevention (4 hours)
- CRA Seminar (8 hours)
- Advanced Pleading Seminar (8 hours)
Optional courses will only be organised if at least ten trainees are enrolled fifteen days before the start of the course.
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For Phase 1 courses
Within fifteen days of receiving the letter from the President of the Bar confirming his or her admission to the list of trainee lawyers, the trainee lawyer must use his or her “avocat.be” email address (formatted as “forename.surname@avocat.be”) to log in to https://portail.avocats.be/reset-password and follow the procedure to create a personal password.
The trainee lawyer can then register for CAPA courses via: https://lgo.avocats.be
For Phase 2 courses
Registration for both mandatory and elective courses must take place within one month of receiving the letter confirming successful completion of CAPA Phase 1.
Trainee lawyers must ensure all courses are attended and examinations s taken before the end of their second year of the pupillage, so as to allow time for resits if needed and to ensure that the CAPA is obtained before the end of the third year of pupillage.v
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You should bear in mind that the fees for re-registering for to one or more courses (in the event of failure, insufficient attendance, cancellation or change by the trainee lawyer of the course registration fewer than five working days before its start date, re-registration fees will apply.
These are set at €20 per hour of instruction -
Credit for a course not assessed by examination will be earned only if attended at least 75% of the hours of the course.
Phase 1 examinations
All Phase 1 examination are oral.
Please note that there is no examinations for the MARC course. Furthermore, the examination for the law firm management and compliance course does not cover the GDPR or the IT tools made available to lawyers.
The trainee lawyer must obtain a mark of at least 10 out of 20 in all subjects assessed by an examination, or must have obtained a mark of at least 10 out of 20 in the ethics examination, the law firm management and compliance examination, and in at least three other subjects, as well as an overall average of at least 50% across all the examination components.
Unless a reasoned decision is made (justified in particular by the overall average), the board may not declare a trainee lawyer to have passed the examination if he or she has not achieved at least 10 out of 20 in five subjects, or if any individual mark is below 9 out of 20. Under no circumstances may the board declare the trainee lawyer to have passed if he or she not obtained at least 10 out of 20 in both the ethics examination and the law firm management and compliance examination.
Phase 2 examinations
There are no examinations for elective courses.
Mandatory professional training courses are assessed by either an oral or written examination, depending on the professor’s choice. According to the professor’s instructions, trainee lawyers must take the examination no later than three months after the course ends (excluding judicial holidays), or, for written examinations, at the next scheduled examination session following the end of the course.
To obtain the training certificate, the trainee lawyer must obtain at least 10 out of 20 in each subject with an examination. However, the examining board may also award a pass to a trainee lawyer who has scored 10 out of 20 in at least three examinations, and has an average mark of 50% across all subjects.
Deliberation – Initial or professional training
Following the deliberation of the examining board, the Professional Training Centre will communicate the results to the trainee lawyer and, if necessary, invite him or her to resit examinations in any subjects where he or she has scored below 10 out of 20 (Article 3.16.a of the Code of Ethics).
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In the event of a second failure, the trainee lawyer is generally no longer permitted to resit the examinations. However, he or she will be summoned before the Council of the Bar Association to present his or her case. The council may grant a third attempt, provided the trainee can prove exceptional circumstances constituting force majeure. If such circumstances are not recognised, the trainee will be removed from the list of trainee lawyers and will have to restart his or her pupillage from the beginning.
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Train the trainee in the legal profession
The pupil master ensures that the trainee receives genuine professional training, sharing his experience, guidance, and support, including in the trainee’s own cases and those assigned by the Legal Aid Bureau.
The pupil-master entrusts the trainee with various tasks such as legal research, drafting letters, agreements and procedural documents, receiving clients, consultations, court-related procedures, speeches for the defence, amicable dispute resolution, determining and invoicing retainers and fees, and so on.
The role of the pupil master is central to the training of the trainee lawyer.
It is the pupil master who ensures that trainee lawyers learn the profession in a gradual and effective manner, by answering questions and showing them how to approach a case or behave in relation to clients, opposing parties, judges, and authorities in general. The pupil master provides holistic feedback to help the trainee improve. It is also the pupil master who teaches the trainee how to manage deadlines and stress, while respecting the demands of the profession as well as the trainee’s own limits and private life. Finally, it is the pupil master who teaches the trainee to practise law in accordance with ethical and professional standards.
Pay the agreed remuneration and the trainee’s training registration fees (CAPA courses and ICBB seminars).
The trainee's remuneration may never be lower than the annual minimum rates set by the Council of the Bar Association, which as of 01 September 2025 are:
- €25,200 excluding VAT per year in the first year (paid in 12 equal monthly instalments)
- €32,400 excluding VAT per year in the second and third years (paid in 12 equal monthly instalments)
These monthly instalments may not be reduced on account of the trainee’s training obligations, holidays, or a period of incapacity for work of up to three months.
Pay the CAPA course and ICBB seminar registration fees.
The cost of the initial and professional training of trainee lawyers registered on the list of lawyer trainees is borne by their pupil master, through special dues set by the Council of the Bar Association.
These dues are currently set at €3,600, payable in two equal instalments. The pupil master may not claim reimbursement of this amount from the trainee, deduct it from fees due, or offset it in any way.
The pupillage agreement may however stipulate an obligation of repayment if the collaboration ends within for yours of the entry into force of the agreement, either at the trainee’s initiative without serious grounds or valid reason attributable to the pupil master, or at the pupil master’s initiative on serious grounds.
If the trainee changes pupil master, the new pupil master is jointly liable for the repayment towards the former pupil master.
Be aware of and respect the trainee’s obligations, allowing such time as necessary to fulfil them.
The pupil master must allow the trainee sufficient time to fulfil all his or her pupillage-related obligations, namely to:
- Attend a mandatory information session
- Complete first-year CAPA courses and pass related examinations
- Attend a three-day written and oral communication seminar organised by the Brussels Bar Institute of Communication (ICBB)
- Complete the submission and pleading exercise successfully
- Taking part in at least 12 legal aid duty sessions
- Handle 6 legal aid cases
- Attend and pass second- and third-year CAPA courses and examinations
- Participate in two ICBB seminars (4 days total) during the 2nd or 3rd year
- Engage in two half-day fieldwork projects
Make sure the trainee lawyer is aware of and complies with the code of ethics
The pupil master ensures that the trainee lawyer integrates ethical and deontological rules into everyday practice, starting by setting an exemplary standard himself. This includes compliance with anti-money laundering regulations and the GDPR.
Help the trainee lawyer integrate in the Bar
The pupil master helps the trainee integrate into both the law firm and the Bar, explaining the roles of Bar authorities and, where possible, that of the various associations and committees operating within the Bar association such as the Trainee Forum (www.carrefourdesstagiaires.com) and the Young Bar Conference (www.cjbb.be).
Show kindness and respect for the trainee’s well-being and privacy
The learning environment of the legal profession must in any must be nurturing and respectful of the trainee’s privacy. The legal profession is not easy. It demands rigour, adaptability, and stress management. The pupil master is expected to guide the trainee through this process progressively and respectfully for one and all.
Complete the report at the end of the pupillage
After three full years of pupillage, if the trainee has fulfilled all required obligations, he or she may request entry to the Roll of Lawyers. This application is assessed in part on the pupillage reports completed by each pupil master who supervised the trainee since his or her admission to the Bar.
Registration on the Roll is an important milestone in a trainee’s professional life, and the pupil master is encouraged to take the time to discuss with him or her the path he or she has taken since being called to the Bar and his or her future prospects.
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A trainee lawyer wishing to change pupil master must not only find a new pupil master, making sure that he is actually accredited by the Bar, but must also notify his or her current pupil master and generally serve a three-month notice period (Article 3.9 of the Code of Ethics).
If the contract with the previous pupil master ends before a new accredited one is signed, the trainee must apply for a suspension of their pupillage to the Vice President of the Bar, in accordance with Article 3.3 §2 of the Code of Ethics.
This suspension period does not count towards the total duration of the pupillage.
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It is provided below.
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A written request to transfer to another Bar must be made to each secretariat, for the attention of the two Presidents of the Bar concerned. The letter must include: the name of the new accredited future master and a summary of completed or ongoing obligations. The contract (following the template of the receiving bar) must be provided for verification purposes.
Once they have received approval from both Presidents of the Bar, the respective secretariats will liaise to forward your administrative file.
As certain pupillage obligations may differ from one bar to the other, you will have to comply with the requirements of the receiving bar.
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If the pupillage agreement is terminated, you must:
- Inform the Vice President of the Bar (stage@barreaudebruxelles.be) ;
- Serve (in principle) three months’ notice, which may be replaced by compensation.
Contracts may also be terminated without notice or compensation by mutual agreement or in cases of serious, proven misconduct. If a dispute arises, either party may consult the Vice President of the Bar.
Please note: In any event, as soon as the collaboration ends, the trainee lawyer must request immediately that the pupillage be suspended while awaiting to sign a new pupillage agreement with an accredited pupil master.
- Inform the Vice President of the Bar (stage@barreaudebruxelles.be) ;
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Article 3.2 of the Code of Ethics stipulates that time spent in a foreign law firm, in a company under the supervision of an in-house lawyer approved by the EU for at least five years, or as a legal assistant at an international court, may be counted toward the total duration of pupillage provided the following conditions are met:
- The trainee lawyer must have completed one full year of pupillage and fulfilled all obligations during that time;
- The trainee lawyer must have obtained prior authorisation from the President of the Bar;
- The trainee solicit must submit to the President of the Bar a detailed report of activities undertaken during the period, duly approved by the relevant supervisor(s) (pupil master, in-house lawyer, or magistrate).
The trainee lawyer remains subject to the Bar's disciplinary authority, without prejudice to the ethical rules applicable to the position held. He or she must continue to pay Bar membership fees throughout the pupillage abroad or in a company.
The term of pupillage abroad or with an international court may not exceed one year. It may not exceed one year full-time or two years part-time in a company.
- The trainee lawyer must have completed one full year of pupillage and fulfilled all obligations during that time;
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The suspension of pupillage applies when the trainee does not have an accredited pupil master or cannot temporarily complete the required 900 hours per year under supervision. In such cases, he or she is prohibited from performing any legal acts as a lawyer and must request that the pupillage be suspended.
The suspension period is not counted towards the overall duration of pupillage. The trainee lawyer remains on the list of trainee lawyers but cannot carry out any legal activity or exercise any rights or privileges of a practising lawyer.
The trainee lawyer may continue with the CAPA courses and examinations, ICBB seminars and pleading exercises, and may attend legal aid duty sessions, but cannot take on any cases, because he or she cannot carry out any legal actions.
The suspension of the pupillage does not dispense the trainee from having to pay the dues to the Bar Association or to comply with the disciplinary requirements thereof. Insofar as the trainee lawyer remains a lawyer during the suspension of his or her pupillage, he or she is also required to:
- Uphold the principles of dignity, integrity and professional discretion;
- Maintain (i) a principal office in the Brussels judicial district, and (ii) have a professional e-mail address.
The suspension of one or more pupillage obligations (the suspension of the obligations of the pupillage a) is intended for a period during which the trainee lawyer is authorised, only under exceptional circumstances, to practice law (in principle not to exceed 1 year), even though he or she has not completed all the obligations of the pupillage. This exceptional measure is granted only if the trainee lawyer has already completed at least one year of pupillage and has fulfilled all initial obligations.
This period during which the obligations of the pupillage are suspended is taken into consideration toward the total duration thereof.
- Uphold the principles of dignity, integrity and professional discretion;
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Upon request from the trainee and approval by the Council of the Bar Association, the interruption entails a situation where a trainee wishes to leave the Bar temporarily, e.g., to pursue another career or go on a trip.
According to Article 3.3 § 3 of the Code of Ethics, if the trainee lawyer wishes to return to legal practice later, he or she must complete all pupillage obligations again unless an exception is granted by the Council of the Bar Association. However, if the trainee obtained the CAPA certificate within three years prior to applying for re-registration, it remains valid.
Please note: the trainee lawyer and the pupil master must inform the Vice President of the Bar Association (via the pupillage secretariat: stage@barreaudebruxelles.be) immediately following the termination of the contract that binds the two parties as soon as it occurs (i.e. as of the notification thereof).
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Upon completion of the three-year pupillage (starting from registration on the list of trainee lawyers), and once all obligations are fulfilled (legal aid sessions, seminars, training hours, etc.), the trainee must undertake the following steps:
- Prepare a closing report for each completed Legal Aid Bureau case and send the list to the pupillage secretariat;
- Ensure that all third-party account declarations have been correctly submitted (via the platform from 2024 onwards and to the Treasurer of the Bar Association at carpa@barreaudebruxelles.be for earlier declarations);
- Complete or have the reports of the trainee, the pupil master(s), and the head(s) of the legal duty team.
- Prepare a closing report for each completed Legal Aid Bureau case and send the list to the pupillage secretariat;
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All necessary reports can be found on the professional section of the Bar Association’s website under the "Pupillage" section.
A model letter for requesting admission to the Roll of Lawyers is also available. The application must be addressed to the President of the Bar and sent to the Pupillage Secretariat at stage@barreaudebruxelles.be.
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Until all pupillage obligations are fulfilled, the trainee lawyer remains registered as a trainee, and the pupillage agreement remains in force until admission to the Roll of Lawyers, upon which the contract is terminated automatically..
If the Council of the Bar Association considers all requirements met, the trainee lawyer will receive written confirmation of his or her admission from the President of the Bar.
If the has not fulfilled all obligations after five years however, he or she may be removed from the list of trainee lawyers by decision of the Council of the Bar Association.
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- President of the Bar:
Mrs Marie Dupont, LLM
batonnier@barreaudebruxelles.be
02/508.66.59 (to make an appointment)
AS the Head of the Bar Association, she chairs the Council, represents the Brussels Bar before third parties and the OBFG, and makes sure that comply with the code of ethics and discipline.
- Vice-President of the Bar:
Mr Marc Dal, LLM
marc.dal@barreaudebruxelles.be
0475/59.50.22
He oversees the correct conduct of trainee lawyers and pupil masters in the 950 pupillages at the Brussels Bar and will succeed the current President at the end of her term.
He is assisted by
- Mr Françoise Dache, LLM, director of the department of pupillage and training (francoise.dache@barreaudebruxelles.be - 02/747.94.65 et 02/747.94.66)
- The department of pupillage and training
63 Rue de la Régence, 1000 Brussels (1st floor)
stage@barreaudebruxelles.be - 02/747.94.65 et 02/747.94.66
formation@barreaudebruxelles.be – 02/747.97.67 et 02/747.94.68
- Pupillage Commission
Chaired by the Vice-President, the Pupillage Commission settles disputes between pupil masters and trainee lawyers, advises on collective pupillage issues, and reviews individual applications for registration or admission of a trainee lawyer to the list of trainee lawyers or to the Roll (Article 3.21 of the Code of Ethics).
It also provides prior opinions when the Council of the Bar Association must decide on extensions of the duration of the pupillage or a removal from the list of trainee lawyers, and conducts such checks as it deems appropriate under Title 3 of the Ethics Code and Brussels Rules of Professional Conduct (Article 3.21 of the Brussels Rules of Professional Conduct).
Trainee lawyers may contact the Commission about any question relating to the organisation of the pupillage, including personal problems encountered during the pupillage or proposals to improve the status and training of the trainees.
- Social service of the Bar
Cécile Roba - 0473/170.091 - 02/508.62.69 - cecile.roba@barreaudebruxelles.be
Confidential support to all members of the Brussels Bar, including as regards the President of the Bar.
- Trainee Forum
A non-profit association tasked with welcoming, integrating and defending the interests of trainees of the Brussels Bar.
It is chaired by a delegate of the trainee lawyers elected every year.
This year’s delegate is Mrs Alexandra Blankoff, LLM.
https://carrefourdesstagiaires.com/
- Brussels Young Bar Conference (CJBB)
The Brussels Young Bar Conference organises exercises of speeches for the defence and numerous scientific, cultural and social events.
Fees and expenses
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To check your eligibility for free legal aid, please consult the website of the Brussels Legal Aid Bureau.
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A lawyer’s fees are the remuneration for the services rendered and work carried out on your behalf.
This work may include in particular- Intellectual services such as drafting contracts, legal opinions, and procedural documents;
- Correspondence;
- Meetings;
- Consultations and interviews;
- Representation before courts, tribunals, and other authorities.
Your lawyer also devotes significant time to tasks that are not visible, such as reviewing your file, legal research, and administrative work related to case management.
In addition to their fees, your lawyer may request reimbursement of expenses incurred for your case, such as costs for correspondence, photocopies, telephone calls, travel, etc.
The lawyer will also ask you to advance or reimburse disbursements, i.e. amounts paid to third parties for the purposes of your case, such as bailiff fees, court registry costs, or expert reports.
A lawyer’s fees are often offset by the savings his or her intervention enables you to make.
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Due to the inherent uncertainties of legal proceedings, it would be unrealistic to expect your lawyer to determine the precise total cost of fees and expenses from the outset.
Nevertheless, your lawyer will endeavour, as far as possible, to provide at least a rough estimate. He or she will also regularly request interim payments or issue interim statements of account in order to avoid the accumulation of large sums that may later be difficult to settle.
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If you believe that the fees and expenses charged are excessive, or if you do not understand a particular item on the invoice, do not hesitate to raise it directly with your lawyer.
Open dialogue often resolves misunderstandings and difficulties.
If the problem persists, you may avail yourself of the free conciliation procedure organised by the Bar Association. This amicable procedure results in agreement in 75% of cases and is entirely free of charge.
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You should ask your lawyer, before he or she begin work on your case, about the method used to calculate fees and expenses.
There are four main methods for calculating legal fees:
Hourly rate method
According to this method, the lawyer records the time spent on the case and invoices it at the hourly rate(s) of his or her firm.
Hourly rates can vary considerably from one lawyer to another, depending in particular on their reputation, specialisation, experience or organisational structure. These rates may also take into account the importance, complexity or urgency of the case, as well as your financial means.Percentage-based method
Under this method, fees are calculated as a percentage of the actual stakes involved in the case. They are determined at the conclusion of the matter, taking into account the result obtained. However, the law prohibits fees from being based solely on the outcome.
The percentage applied may vary not only according to the result obtained, but also based on the same factors considered in the hourly rate method: reputation, specialisation, experience, and organisation of the lawyer; the importance, difficulty or urgency of the case; and the client’s financial means.Fixed-fee method
The fixed fee may be calculated either on a per-task basis or as a global fixed amount agreed in advance.
In the case of a per-task fee, the lawyer notes each service provided and charges a fixed fee for it.
In the case of a global fixed fee, a total fee is agreed in advance for the entire case.Retainer method
Fees consist of a flat-rate sum paid for a given period of time (monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annually) or for a certain number of cases.
The method chosen may also be a combination of several of the methods described above. No particular formalities are required.
You are completely free to agree with your lawyer on the scope of his or her work, working hours, fees, etc.
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This will give you as clear an idea as possible of how the expenses and fees you are asked to pay will be calculated, as well as how frequently they will be invoiced. Do not hesitate to ask for any clarification on this point.
Soumettre un litige pendant devant la cour d'appel à l'arbitrage
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À tout moment.
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Le sort du premier jugement durant l’arbitrage sera identique au sort du jugement durant une procédure devant la Cour d’appel.
A l’issue de l’arbitrage, la sentence confirmera ou réformera ce jugement et deviendra la décision de référence.
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La sentence, a, dans les relations entre les parties, les mêmes effets qu'une décision d'un tribunal de l’Ordre judiciaire (art. 1713 § 9 Code judiciaire).
En cas de refus d’exécution par la partie qui succombe, l’exécution forcée de la sentence requerra l’obtention de son exequatur (dans le cadre de la procédure prévue à cet effet devant le tribunal de première instance).
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Dans la convention d’arbitrage que les parties concluent afin de soumettre l’appel à arbitrage (un modèle est disponible), il est recommandé de s’engager à faire radier l’affaire du rôle de la cour d’appel de Bruxelles lorsque la sentence qui sera rendue deviendra définitive. Afin de ne prendre aucun risque, notamment en cas de recours en annulation de la sentence pour non-arbitrabilité du litige, il est ainsi recommandé de suspendre la procédure d'appel plutôt que de s’en désister (un modèle de lettre à la Cour est disponible) dans l’attente de l’obtention d’une sentence définitive. L’engagement de faire radier est de la sorte pris dès la soumission de l’affaire à l’arbitrage mais n’est exécuté qu’une fois la sentence devenue définitive.
Une fois la sentence devenue définitive et non susceptible de recours, les parties mettront alors fin à la procédure d’appel par le biais d’une radiation de l’affaire du rôle général (un modèle de lettre à la Cour est disponible).
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Lorsque l’affaire est en état d’être plaidée devant la Cour d’appel, il n’est plus nécessaire de déposer des nouvelles conclusions devant le tribunal arbitral, si les parties en conviennent. Les parties peuvent donc soit utiliser devant le tribunal arbitral les écrits déjà déposés devant la Cour, soit décider de commun accord de déposer de nouvelles conclusions ou une note d’actualisation des montants réclamés.
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Les parties peuvent choisir de commun accord de soumettre leur litige à 1 ou 3 arbitres. Ce choix aura toutefois une incidence sur les frais de l’arbitrage. A défaut d’accord, c’est le règlement du centre d’arbitrage choisi (ou le code judiciaire si les parties décident de ne pas recourir à un tel centre) qui déterminera le nombre d’arbitres. Si le centre choisi est le CEPANI, la règle par défaut est la désignation d’un arbitre unique.
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Il y a deux manières de désigner le ou les arbitre(s) : soit les parties désignent elles-mêmes un ou plusieurs arbitre(s), soit elles s’adressent à un centre d’arbitrage qui désignera le ou les arbitre(s) chargé(s) de rendre la sentence.
Le CEPANI et le barreau de Bruxelles se sont accordés pour que les dossiers pendants devant la cour d’appel pour lesquels les parties décideraient de recourir à l’arbitrage via le CEPANI, se voient désigner un arbitre (ou 3 arbitres si c’est la volonté des parties) qui présente les mêmes garanties d’expérience que les conseillers à la Cour d’appel, à savoir 20 ans d’expérience professionnelle juridique spécifique, ainsi qu’une expérience certaine comme arbitre. L’arbitre sera choisi en tenant compte de r ses compétences dans la matière juridique en cause et/ou le secteur concerné.
Si les parties choisissent de désigner elles-mêmes leur(s) arbitre(s), il est également recommandé qu’elles s’adressent à un(des) professionnel(s) disposant d’une solide expérience dans la pratique de la procédure arbitrale. De même, il peut être très utile de se référer au règlement de procédure d’un centre d’arbitrage établi afin d’éviter que les incidents de procédure génèrent un conflit dans le conflit, faute de règle pré-établie pour les solutionner.
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Les parties et l’arbitre fixent de commun accord la date de l’audience et le délai endéans lequel le tribunal arbitrage devra rendre la sentence.
Si les parties décident de recourir à un centre d’arbitrage, et notamment au CEPANI, les délais sont fixés par le règlement d’arbitrage de ce centre. Si le centre choisi est le CEPANI, le CEPANI désignera le ou les arbitres une fois que la provision pour frais d’arbitrage aura été payée ; ensuite, selon l’enjeu du litige, la sentence sera rendue en principe endéans les quatre mois à compter de la date de fixation du calendrier de procédure par le tribunal arbitral (qui peut se limiter à la fixation de la date de l’audience), ou endéans six mois à dater de la signature de l’acte de mission par le tribunal arbitral et les parties (ou leurs conseils).
C’est le temps généralement nécessaire à la tenue de l’audience à une date qui convient à l’ensemble des intervenants et la rédaction de la sentence, si les parties ne décident pas de soumettre de nouvelles conclusions.
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Les frais d’arbitrage doivent être provisionnés par les parties en début de procédure, étant entendu qu’in fine ils sont supportés par la partie qui succombe (pour autant que celle-ci le demande). En principe, la provision est répartie entre les parties à parts égales mais rien n’empêche une partie de décider librement de prendre en charge une partie plus importante de la provision dans le but de convaincre les autres parties de s’engager dans un arbitrage.
Si les parties décident de ne pas recourir à un centre d’arbitrage et de choisir elles-mêmes un ou plusieurs arbitres, éventuellement désigné(s) par un tiers de confiance, elles fixeront les frais d’arbitrage avec l’arbitre ou les arbitres choisis. Généralement, il s’agit d’un forfait mais rien n’interdit de travailler sur la base d’un tarif horaire.
Si les parties décident de recourir à un centre d’arbitrage, et notamment au CEPANI, les frais d’arbitrage sont généralement fixés en fonction de l’enjeu financier du litige et de la complexité de l’affaire. Les barèmes pratiqués par le CEPANI sont disponibles via ce lien :
https://cepani.be/files/publications_documents/documents/annexe-1---couts_juillet2025.pdf -
Oui, à moins que toutes les parties y renoncent. (Art. 1705 Code judiciaire). Les parties conviennent ensemble de la durée d’une telle audience. La date est également convenue de commun accord entre les parties et l’arbitre.
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Pas nécessairement. Le barreau propose des modèles de convention et documents utiles. Les plaidoiries sont organisées comme les parties le souhaitent et peuvent donc, entre autres possibilités, se dérouler de la même façon que devant les cours et tribunaux si ce n’est que l’audience se tient dans une salle de réunion en dehors du palais, voire par visio-conférence, et que les avocats plaident sans porter la toge et, le plus souvent, assis.
Les parties sont toutefois invitées à choisir comme arbitre un professionnel disposant d’une certaine pratique de la procédure d’arbitrage. Ce sera le cas si elles décident de recourir à un centre d’arbitrage, et notamment au CEPANI.
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Leur sort sera réglé dans la sentence, le tribunal arbitral décidant de qui les supporte en fonction du résultat au fond.
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Le sort de ces frais sera réglé dans la sentence qui pourra les mettre à charge de la partie qui succombe.
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Chaque partie succombant à un procès judiciaire s’expose, par application du Code des droits d’enregistrement, d’hypothèque et de greffe, à un impôt proportionnel de 3 % du montant de la condamnation, dû à l’occasion de l’enregistrement de la décision la condamnant au paiement de sommes ou valeurs supérieures à 12.500 €.
Seuls les arrêts et les jugements de l’ordre judiciaire sont susceptibles d’être passibles de cette taxe. Ainsi il n’y aura lieu au paiement de droits d’enregistrements que si la sentence doit faire l’objet d’un exequatur destiné à lui donner force exécutoire.
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Interrogée par le barreau de Bruxelles, l’Administration fiscale a répondu que, selon elle, les articles 210 et 215 du Code des droits d’enregistrement ne permettaient pas la restitution des droits de condamnation payés en première instance lorsque la décision a été réformée, totalement ou partiellement, par voie d’arbitrage, même en cas d’exequatur de la sentence.
Nous ne partageons pas cet avis et nous pensons qu’une action en restitution présente de bonnes chances de succès.
Dans l’attente d’une clarification législative ou jurisprudentielle, il est vivement conseillé de prévoir, dans la convention d’arbitrage, que si la sentence à intervenir devait avoir un impact sur les droits d’enregistrement payés par la partie qui a succombé en première instance, et que cette dernière ne parvient pas à en obtenir la restitution auprès de l’Administration fiscale, la question de l’allocation de la charge des droits d’enregistrement payés en première instance sera tranchée par l’arbitre chargé de trancher le Litige. Cette allocation par l’arbitre pouvant éventuellement être conditionnée à ce que la partie qui a exposé ces droits de condamnation ait été préalablement déboutée de son action en restitution.
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A l’instar des honoraires des arbitres et frais administratifs du centre d’arbitrage), les frais de conseils des parties feront l’objet d’une décision dans la sentence qui les fera, en principe, supporter par la partie qui succombe en tenant compte, le cas échéant, du succès respectif des prétentions des parties.
Celles-ci pourront décider de se référer au barème applicable devant les cours et tribunaux (indemnité de procédure habituelle) ou solliciter la répétibilité de l’entièreté de leurs frais de défense (en déposant alors une note détaillant les frais et honoraires payés pour la procédure à l’issue des plaidoiries).