By virtue of the law, any individual aged less than 18 years is considered to be a minor and is protected by special laws.

Therefore any minor summoned before the Tribunal de la Jeunesse (Youth Court) must be assisted by a lawyer within the scope of protective procedures; that is, procedures concerning minors that are "in danger" and minors that are suspected of having committed an act that qualifies as an offence.

This is why there are lawyers specialised in youth law within the Charleroi Bar - this is the youth section of the Bar. 

List of lawyers specialised in youth matters

As a general rule

By simply presenting their identity card, (or another document which proves their age), an individual who is a minor can seek legal aid from the Legal Aid Office at the Charleroi Bar.
All minors therefore have the right to benefit from the services of a lawyer free of charge, whether to get advice or to be defended in court.

For designation:

BAJ of Charleroi
Palais de Justice
Bd Général Michel, 2
6000 Charleroi
Telephone: 071 / 200 700   -   Fax: 071 / 200 702
Email: baj@barreaudecharleroi.be

For advice:

Charleroi Legal Aid Office

There is a youth advice desk that operates at the BAJ premises on the first Tuesday of each month from 04:00 PM to 06:00 PM. .

Protection

A minor who is "in danger" and a minor who is being pursued because he or she is suspected of having committed an act that qualifies as an offence can both have a voluntary lawyer from the youth section designated to them by the court, who is specialised in the matter, unless he or she has previously personally chosen a different counsel.
If the lawyer intervenes as an emergency when the young person appears in front of the Youth Judge, the young person will meet his or her lawyer before being presented to the judge.
If the young person is summoned to the Youth Judge or before the Youth Court, he or she will receive correspondence from the Legal Aid Office with the contact details for his or her lawyer.

Contact

As well as the possibilities offered above, you can also find out the designated lawyer by contacting the BAJ if the letter containing his or her contact details does not reach you.

A minor's lawyer ensures that his or her client's rights are observed and is his or her spokesperson.
The lawyer’s function entails that defence of the minor is provided:

• by meeting the latter personally at his or her chambers or within the organisation accommodating the young person
• by viewing the young person's files that are held by the Clerk’s Office of the youth court, by the public prosecutor’s office, by the Youth Aid Service, or by Legal Protection Service)
• assisting personally at discussions held at the Youth Court's judge's Chambers, at hearings of the Youth Court, and at SAJ and SPJ discussions
• examining with the client the opportunity for ways to launch appeals, etc.

all strictly observing the lawyer's independence (including in relation to the parents) and professional secrecy.

The response is no when the young person is in danger, since a conflict of interest exists between them.
When the minor is suspected of having committed an act that qualifies as an offence, the lawyer could also defend his or her parents in so far as the latter accept their civil responsibility.
In the case of doubt as to the independence of the lawyer, the President of the Association Bar of Lawyers may be questioned.

Yes, this is a special feature of the youth section of the Bar: it only includes specialised lawyers who are bound to update their knowledge in this field on a continuous basis.

Contact the lawyer designated by the BAJ once you have received his or her contact details or request them from the BAJ.

The youth section of the Bar monitors the cause list. A specialised lawyer is therefore alerted when a young person must appear before the judge so that a defence can be provided for him/her.

No, given that the intervention of the lawyer for a minor is free.
However, if there is no conflict of interest between the young person and his or her parents, the lawyer chosen by the parents will be paid by the latter (unless they are able to benefit from second-level legal aid).