Advocacy calls for more efficient structure
The president of Advocaat.be, the organisation that defends the interests of lawyers and those seeking justice, is calling on the executives of the local bar associations for a fundamental change in the way the Flemish legal profession is organised. The organisation proposes moving from the current structure of the Order of Flemish Bars to an Order of Flemish Lawyers (OVA). This change would not only make the operation of the professional body more efficient.
By joining forces in one Flemish Bar Association, we can better respond to the increasing complexity of our society.
What will change?
Under the current system, the legal profession is divided into several "bar associations", each representing its own region. At the head of each bar is a chief of staff. This system is decentralised, meaning that each region has a certain degree of autonomy. The counters cooperate, but have their own organisation and structure. In contrast to this decentralised system, a Flemish Bar Association would be one central organisation that would bring all lawyers in Flanders under one umbrella structure.
What are the benefits?
The proposed change to an RSA comes at a time when the roles and responsibilities of individual bar associations are increasing. A more centralised organisation can bring synergies and economies of scale, such as uniform compliance with important rules (e.g. around money laundering, whistleblowers and privacy) and more efficient organisation of legal aid for people who need it. These benefits can strengthen the organisation of the Flemish legal profession and improve its functioning.
Advocaat.be stresses that the proposed changes are not only aimed at practical benefits, but with this it aims to further professionalise the service, not only among lawyers but also for the litigant.
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