Ombudsman Service for the Lawyers of the French-speaking and German-speaking Bars

LIGECA

LItigation - GEschillen - Consumenten/Consommateurs - Advocatuur/Avocats 

Address:

Phone: +32 2 648 20 98
Fax : +32 2 648 11 67
Email : ombudsman@avocats.be
Site web : http://obfg.ligeca.be/fr

Submit a mediation request
via Belmed

For which problems

Any dispute concerning:

• services provided by lawyers

Costs

• Free of charge

Languages

Languages in which the procedure can take place:

• French
• Dutch
• German
• English

Territorial competence  

• Belgium

Prerequisites for access

• You have, maximum one year ago, already contacted the other party to try and solve your dispute amicably.
• There is no procedure going on between the consumer and his lawyer.

How does it work

A lawyer or client submits a complaint to the ombudsman service free of charge. The ombudsman receives all complaints and checks whether they are complete and well-founded. The complaint is then forwarded to a local ombudsman for handling.

Each bar has a list of at least three local ombudsmen. They all have the necessary experience and knowledge, and are all qualified mediators. This guarantees a humane and correct approach to the complaint.

The ombudsman chooses the local ombudsman from the list of the bar where the lawyer concerned is registered. If the client does not accept that choice, the ombudsman designates a person from the list of another judicial district. In this way, the ombudsman guarantees the local ombudsman’s independence and impartiality.

The local ombudsman investigates the complaint and searches for possible solutions. To this end, he can interview both the lawyer and the client, either separately or together. The local ombudsman proposes a solution and makes recommendations. The lawyer and client may follow this solution and recommendations, but are not obliged to do so. They can also make their own proposals.

More information can be found on http://www.ligeca.be.

Form

Use the standard form (available in French and Dutch).

Rules

Rules on the procedure to be followed (available in French and Dutch).

Belmed partner