Last April we informed you about EJ Belgium's decision to create work groups. Now we hear EJ Belgium members’ experience.
Months after they started, Eurojuris Belgium is now reflecting on the job done over work groups. Yves Daenen (Omnius), EJ Belgium's president, tells us his feeling about them: “What gives me the most satisfaction, is that participants themselves are happy about it. I had people telling me that this was not only a great way to learn interesting things, but also a good occasion to meet people and get to know each other. Most EJ Belgium members had a very positive experience of work groups at the international level, now they discovered it is also very interesting at a national level”.
Eurojuris Belgium created four work groups, each headed by a member of the board. “They had their first reunion and now they have to book the second one”, explains Yves. “It's not always easy to keep on schedule, everyone is very busy, but I insisted we carry on and now everyone has a new appointment. The next one, very soon, will be the group about insurance. Our goal is to have at least two meetings a year”. The board decided that groups will also meet during the next general assembly, which will happen on April 25th at the Federal Parliament of Belgium.
Another member of EJ Belgium, Lieven Van Besien (Racine & Vergels), tells us about his experience: “In Belgium I am a member of the group working on responsibilities and insurance. We had our first kick-off meeting at the general assembly in April 2013 at the Club Prince Albert and discussed the application of an article that regulates the compensation system for traffic accidents with multiple vehicles when it is not possible to determine which car is responsible. We will have a second meeting in the near future”. Lieven compares this experience with what he did at international level: “I'm a member of the group for International Trade, Transport and Insurance Law of Eurojuris International. In Vienna we had a very interesting visit to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, where we heard a lecture on online dispute resolution”.
Yves also refers to the international experience: “If you want to create such work groups in your own national chapter, my advice is to follow the example of Eurojuris International. The formula of work groups as defined at the international level is actually rather easy and very cost effective; it can be organised in what I would call a 'household' atmosphere: you don't need a lot of logistics. We give a budget to every group but most of it goes into external speakers, which is great!”
Last but not least, these groups were obviously a good social event. “In one of the groups, they took this occasion to give a tour of each other's firm. They decided to take turns hosting the group so they can see as many different workplaces as possible. It's always a good experience to see how the other works, you get ideas for your own lawfirm. One of them also has a lawfirm in a very beautiful ancient villa that has been refurbished, it is very green and very modern at the same time; an incredible place indeed”.
Care to share your experience of work groups? You want to create one in your own Eurojuris chapter? Just contact us at journalist@eurojuris.net
