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BELGIUM

1. Gent University, Law School

2. University of Antwerp, Faculty of Law

3. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Faculty of Law

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven did not respond to our email, so some answers are incomplete.

1. Gent University, Law School
Universiteitstraat 4, 9000 Gent, Belgium
Phone: +32 9 264 6761; Fax: + 32 9 264 6999; Email: eduard.somers@rug.ac.be

• Awarded degrees are: - Licentiate in Notarial Practice – usual period of study is one year after completion of law studies. - Licentiate in Law – usual period of study is 5 years; - Licentiate in Criminology – usual period of study is 4 years;
• The University does not have a clinical program.
• The admission requirement is degree of secondary education.
• The number of admitted students – no limit to admittance
• The number of graduate students is approx. 250 in law, 200 in criminology.
• The University does not charge tuition fees to students.
• The number of full-time faculty – 34
• The number of part-time faculty – 17
• The University has a separate law library with 64.000 books and approx. 750 journals.
• The library provides 30 computer terminals for students, and 60 computer terminals in PC classroom.

Process from Law School to practice:

Graduate joins a law firm as a lawyer trainee and registers as such at the Bar. Following a three year traineeship, the graduate becomes a fully licensed member of the Bar upon passing the Bar exam.

2. University of Antwerp, Faculty of Law
Prinsstraat 13, B-2000 Antwerpen (bachelor level)
Phone: 03 220 4111; Fax: 03 220 4420;
Email: Fabienne.Destryker@ufsia.ac.be

Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerpen – Wilrijk, Belgium (Master, Doctor of Law)
Phone: 03 820 2020; Fax: 03 820 2249; Email: mbriels@uia.ua.ac.be

• Awarded degrees are: Bachelor, Master and Doctor of Law. The Usual period of study is 5 years, 2 years of bachelor studies and 3 years of master studies. However, this is going to change in 2003-3004, when there will be 3 years of bachelor studies and 2 years of master studies.
• Undergraduate education is taught in Dutch. On behalf of foreign students the University of Antwerp organizes a one-year program on European and International Legal Studies in English.
• The University does not have a clinical program.
• The admission requirements for the first year of the bachelor program imply being in possession of a degree of “secondary school.”
• Foreign students are admitted on the basis of former education and certificates. Foreign diplomas must be equivalent to the corresponding Belgian diplomas. For undergraduate admission applicants must prove a certain proficiency in Dutch.
• The number of admitted students – there is no limit on admission of students.
• The number of graduate students differs each year.
• The University does not charge tuition fees to student.
• The number of full-time faculty – 27 professors of Law
• The number of part-time faculty – 37 professors of Law
• There are 18 professors from other faculties and 36 research assistants.
• The University has a separate law library with 67.760 volumes and 29.023 titles. One third of the monograph studies are of a loose-leaf system. In central repository there is another 3.000 volumes and 500 titles.
• The University has a separate library of legal history with 9.027 volumes and 5.511 titles and a separate library for undergraduates containing 8.405 volumes and 5.090 books.
• The library provides computer terminals for students.

Process from Law School to practice:

In Belgium, one has to have a Master degree in legal studies to be admitted to the Bar.

Barristers from other member states of the European Union can represent their client in a Belgian Court.

The first step in enlisting at the Bar consists of taking an oath before the Court of Appeal.

During a period of 3 years the barristers is articled to a barrister’s office and has to attend practical courses and take exam.

Subject of member states of the European Union can take a test of competence instead of the 3-year period of apprenticeship.

3. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Faculty of Law
Tiense Straat 41-B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
Phone: 016 32 5101; Fax: 016 32 5103; Email: Frans.Vanistendael@law.kuleuven.ac.be

• Awarded degrees are: Bachelor of Law; Master of Law; Master in Notarial Sciences; Master in European Law; Taxation; Intellectual property; ITC,energy and Environmental Law, Bachelor in Criminology, Master in Criminology, Usual period of study is 5 years.
• The admission requirements are – Bachelor in Law/Criminology – high school degree and proficiently in Dutch; - Master in Law/Criminology – Bachelor in Law/Criminology - Specialized Master degrees – Law degree giving access to the Bar, top 10% of students and TOEFL 250;
• The number of admitted students is Bachelor in Law: 400-500;
• Bachelor in Criminology: 150;
• Master of Law: 400-500;
• All Specialized Master programs together: 50-100;
• The number of graduate students is Master of Law: 400-500;
• Master in Criminology: 50-60;
• All Specialized Master programs together: 50-100;
• The University charges symbolic tuition fees to students.
• The number of full-time faculty – 29 professors and 54 assistants
• The number of part-time faculty – 30 professors and 96 assistants
• The University has a separate law and criminology library with 120.000 volumes.

Process from Law School to practice:

- Take the Bachelor of Laws and the Master of Laws exam.

- Present the oath to the Bar and fulfill the obligations of an apprentice lawyer, which can be combined with full-time law practice.

- Take a number of classes and present a Bar examination in which on average 80% of the candidates pass.