Becoming a lawyer does not end with obtaining a law degree. The journey involves registering with a bar association, completing a three-year traineeship under a supervising lawyer, undergoing professional training certified by a diploma, and finally being admitted to the Bar Register. This page outlines each step and the pathways for holders of a degree obtained outside Belgium.
Did you obtain your law degree outside Belgium, or are you already a lawyer in another European Union member state? See With a foreign degree or Already a lawyer in the European Union.
The six-step process
1. Study law
First, you must obtain a university degree in law: a master's in law, a licentiate in law, or a doctorate in law (five years of study).
Since 2022, there is no longer a nationality requirement for holders of a Belgian law degree.
A law degree opens up many professional opportunities. For those who choose to become lawyers, obtaining a master's marks the beginning of a new stage: joining the bar and training for the profession.
2. Choose a bar association and find a supervising lawyer
Once you have obtained your master's degree, you must join a bar association. The choice depends in particular on where you wish to practice. Membership in a bar association allows you to plead and represent clients before courts and tribunals: this is what distinguishes a lawyer from a legal expert.
AVOCATS.BE brings together the French-speaking and German-speaking bar associations of Belgium.
Before starting your traineeship, you must also find a supervising lawyer: an experienced and accredited lawyer, registered on the Bar Register for more than five years, who will guide you in learning the profession. The trainee and their supervising lawyer enter into a contract that organizes their collaboration.
3. Take the oath
Before you can practice, you must take an oath before the court of appeal in the jurisdiction of the bar association you are joining. By taking this oath, you commit to respecting the Constitution and the laws, and to practicing your profession with honor and loyalty.
After taking the oath and being admitted to the bar association's list of trainees, you become a trainee lawyer.
The term "trainee" can be misleading: a trainee lawyer is already a lawyer. They can advise clients, assist them, defend them in court, and are subject to the same professional and ethical rules.
4. Complete a three-year traineeship
The traineeship generally lasts three years, under the supervision of a lawyer registered on the Bar Register for more than five years.
During this period, you work under the supervision of your supervising lawyer and gain practical experience in the profession: meeting and advising clients, analyzing cases, drafting legal documents and pleadings, negotiating, pleading, and helping clients resolve their issues. You also handle a number of legal aid cases.
Some specific traineeship requirements vary from one bar association to another.
5. Train and obtain the CAPA
During your three-year traineeship, you undergo initial professional training, which culminates in the Certificate of Aptitude for the Legal Profession (CAPA).
See Initial Training for details on the program and obtaining the CAPA.
6. Be admitted to the Bar Register
After completing the three-year traineeship and fulfilling your traineeship and training obligations, you can apply for admission to the Bar Register.
This admission marks the end of the traineeship process. However, training does not stop there: throughout their career, lawyers must continue to update and develop their knowledge.
Traineeship contract, remuneration, and trainee guide
Model traineeship contract
AVOCATS.BE provides a standard traineeship contract. Note: some Bar Associations have more comprehensive models tailored to their own regulations. Check with their secretariat for details.
Minimum trainee remuneration
Article 3.12 of the Code of Ethics sets a minimum remuneration, payable from the first month of the traineeship and indexed annually on January 1st.
As of January 1, 2026, it amounts to €1,526.60 per month in the first year of the traineeship, €1,789.90 in the second, and €2,105.65 in the third. Hourly rates: €20.35, €23.86, and €28.07.
Some bar associations apply higher amounts: check with yours for details.
Trainee guide
The trainee guide informs trainee lawyers about the missions, tools, and services that AVOCATS.BE provides for them.
The standard internship agreement
The contract template that the trainee signs with their training supervisor. Some Bar Associations have a more comprehensive template: check with your local bar.
The Trainee's Guide
The missions, tools, and services that AVOCATS.BE provides for trainee lawyers.
