Satisfaction with lawyers scores high: 7.3 out of 10 for private cases, 7.6 for professional cases
The vast majority of Flemings who have already needed a lawyer are satisfied with the service provided. This is according to a survey by iVOX. Lawyers receive an average score of 7.3 out of 10 for private cases and 7.6 out of 10 for professional cases - a clear 'distinction'. Nevertheless, clients still see room for improvement, especially in terms of transparency about costs and communication.
Flemings call on a lawyer more often than you might think. Satisfaction is high, but cost, speed and good communication remain work points for some lawyers. As a profession, we need to listen to that.
Almost all Flemings already needed a lawyer privately
9 in 10 Flemings have ever consulted a lawyer for a private matter. For most, it was limited to a one-off need. Young people (under 34 years old) are less likely to have consulted a lawyer than older generations, and those with a higher education more often say they have not yet needed a lawyer. The most common need for legal assistance arises in divorce (18%), followed by road traffic (14%) and damages (13%).
Lawyers also valued in professional files
1 in 5 Flemish people have already consulted a lawyer for professional purposes, mainly for contractual matters (38%) and labour law cases (22%). Men (22%) and the higher educated (28%) consult a lawyer for professional reasons more often than women (12%) and the lower educated (16%).
In professional cases, the lawyer is an indispensable partner. Contracts and employment cases are complex, and entrepreneurs know this all too well. They have understood that it is better to consult a lawyer in time to perhaps avoid an expensive and lengthy process.
Satisfaction: strong, but with working points
On average, Flemish people give their lawyer a 7.3 out of 10 for private matters, with 57% even giving an 8 or higher. Especially over-55s (35%) and those with lower education (33%) give a score of 9 or 10 more often than younger generations or those with higher education. In professional files, satisfaction is even higher, with an average score of 7.6 out of 10.
Still, clients indicate some areas for improvement when they give less than 8 out of 10. Cost remains the biggest concern. In private cases, 41% feel that legal assistance could be cheaper and 34% call for more transparency on costs. In professional consultations, 37% say price is an area for improvement. 33% had expected better communication in private matters. The third area for improvement is speed. 27% felt the case could have been handled faster in private cases while 32% feel this in professional cases.
The legal profession is strong, but every sector has its working points. This survey shows that transparency on costs and clear communication are key to even more satisfied clients.
Yet confidence in the legal profession remains high: more than 8 in 10 Flemings would choose a lawyer again. Privately, 1 in 3 (33%) choose the same lawyer, 1 in 5 (18%) go for someone else. Professionally, 2 in 5 (41%) choose the same lawyer, 1 in 8 (12%) choose a different lawyer. For 30%, both privately and professionally, the choice of a specific lawyer often depends on the expertise needed.
About the study
Online population survey on clients' satisfaction with their consulted lawyers. The survey was conducted by research firm iVOX between 25 February and 9 March 2025 among 1,000 Flemish people representative by language, gender, age and degree. The maximum margin of error among 1,000 Flemish people is 3.02%. The survey was split between private individuals and companies.
Latest press releases
'The hijacking of Pompeii' hijacks Press Award
The jury of the Advocaat.be press prize has selected 'The Hijacking of Pompeii' as the winner. Second and third place go to De Coke Lijnen, a series by Lars Bové and Piet Depuydt in the newspaper De Tijd, and De zaak Carlo, a Panoreportage (VRT) by journalist Dirk Leestmans, director Jeremy De Ryckere and cameraman Stijn De Moor.
National action: Presidents of the Bar Associations carry out surveillance in all Belgian prisons
To mark European Human Rights Day, all Belgian Presidents of the Bar Associations are exercising their new legal visitation right, which since this year has allowed them to visit prisons within their jurisdiction. Every President of a Bar Associations in Belgium is visiting one of the prisons today. This national action underlines the seriousness of the situation in Belgian prisons, where overcrowding and a lack of basic facilities threaten the fundamental rights of detainees.
16 lawyers scrapped in 2022-2023
The College of Supervision of the Flemish Legal Profession has published its fourth report. This provides an overview of disciplinary proceedings against lawyers in Flanders (including Brussels-Dutch) in the judicial year running from 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2023.