On February 12 we brought together legal professionals, consultants, and other stakeholders for the latest edition of the Brussels Pro Bono Roundtable. Here is what emerged and what it tells us about the state of pro bono in Belgium.
Last week a new edition of the Brussels Pro Bono Roundtable took place, bringing together legal professionals, consultants, and other stakeholders. The format was deliberately intimate, built around mini working groups designed to spark real, operational discussions.
The feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. What stood out most wasn’t just the quality of the discussions, but how much people wanted to keep talking. The most common piece of feedback? “We needed more time for this.”
Beyond this, participants were clear about what they want more of at future editions: above all, a direct voice from civil society. In the post-event survey, more than half of the respondents identified requests for assistance pitched directly by CSOs as the single most important addition to the format.
Pro Bono: the will is there but the match isn’t always right
One of the most candid conversations of the evening revolved around pro bono engagement. Every legal professional in the room expressed genuine interest in expanding their pro bono commitments. But a recurring challenge emerged: when civil society requires assistance, their needs don’t always align with the specific expertise of the individual lawyers involved.
This results in well-intentioned professionals finding themselves with little to no opportunity to actually engage in pro bono work in a meaningful way. When a mandate falls outside their area of specialization, many lawyers prefer to step back rather than risk delivering support that falls short of what a civil society organization truly needs. The willingness is there, but without the right match it can be difficult to translate into action.
Participants echoed this in their feedback, calling for dedicated workshops for pro bono managers focused on best practices, a clear sign that the community is thinking seriously about how to strengthen the system from within.
A Practical Guide, Built by the Community
Many roundtable participantshave already stepped forward to actively contribute to Pro Publico’s upcoming Practical Guide for Belgian Non-Profit, a hands-on resource being developed to help civil society actors navigate the legal, administrative, and operational steps of setting up an NGO or CSO in Belgium.
The Next Frontier: IT Pro Bono
Perhaps the most forward-looking idea to emerge from the evening was a call to explore IT pro bono. Alongside legal and accounting expertise, IT skills are consistently ranked among the most critical needs of CSOs, and at the same time they’re also among the hardest for under-resourced organizations to access. Things like cybersecurity, data management, website development, digital infrastructure are not luxuries but operational necessities.
Join the Conversation
The Brussels pro bono community is growing, and events like this roundtable are proof that the appetite for meaningful collaboration is very much alive. Whether you are a lawyer looking for the right case, a consultant with skills to share, or a civil society organization in need of support, there is a place for you.
Interested in getting involved? Get in touch at [email protected]