Jurist at Vrije Universiteit Brussel

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Master's degree in Law (Masterdiploma Rechten); knowledge of administrative law, contract law, migration/residence law is a plus; strong interest in international cooperation and student mobility; knowledge of higher education law is an asset; excellent oral and written communication in Dutch and English; proficiency in Microsoft Office; strong organisational skills; ability to handle confidential information with discretion; non-EER nationals must meet legal conditions for obtaining a valid work permit and VUB residence conditions.

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is looking for a Jurist to join its Department of Education and Student Affairs in Ixelles, Belgium. This is not just another legal role—it is a gateway to a thriving niche at the intersection of higher education law, international student mobility, and public administration. With an application deadline of 31 August 2026, the role offers a full-time, indefinite contract with a competitive salary (grade 7 or 8) and a unique chance to shape university policy while working across borders. For ambitious legal professionals seeking a meaningful career beyond the courtroom, this is an opportunity worth decoding.

Beyond the Courtroom: University Law as a Strategic Career

Most law graduates gravitate toward corporate firms or litigation, unaware that universities are complex legal ecosystems requiring counsel who can handle anything from contracts to regulatory compliance. VUB, with its 4,000 employees and an international city like Brussels as its backdrop, represents a microcosm of modern legal practice. A Jurist here does not draft pleadings every day—instead, they interpret regulations, shape institutional policy, and provide actionable advice that impacts students, faculty, and global partnerships. For those who thrive on intellectual variety and societal impact, this role redefines what it means to practice law.

“Ben jij een jurist die graag complexe juridische vraagstukken vertaalt naar werkbare oplossingen?” — That is the challenge VUB poses, and it is exactly why this role stands out in the Belgian legal job market.

Inside the VUB Legal Expertise Team: A Day in Legal Life

As a Jurist within the Department of Education and Student Affairs, you will not work in isolation. You become part of a dedicated legal expertise team of three jurists and one paralegal, collectively responsible for the broad legal support of education and student affairs. The role is deliberately structured to combine broad deployability with a deep specialisation in internationalisation. That means you will handle a varied portfolio of cases while becoming the go‑to person for legal questions about international cooperation, student mobility, and the residence of international students.

What You Will Actually Do

• Internationalisation Expertise: Legally support international education and cooperation initiatives; develop, maintain, and legally review cooperation agreements, memoranda of understanding (MoUs), mobility agreements, and other international contracts.
• Compliance & Policy: Monitor Belgian, European, and international regulations, translating them into internal rules and clear communication. This includes managing central regulations such as the Education and Examination Regulations (OER).
• Dispute Handling: Follow up on internal and external appeal procedures against study progress decisions—a critical and sensitive responsibility.
• Advisory & Governance: Provide legal advice to services, policy bodies, and management, prepare policy proposals, and participate in relevant councils, committees, and consultation bodies.
• Immigration & Residence: Advise on migration and residence law, visas, admission procedures, family reunification, guarantees, housing, and other legal aspects of studying in an international context.

This mix of tasks means you will never be bored. One day you might review a partnership agreement with a university in Africa; the next you might advise on a student’s appeal against an examination decision. The role demands both meticulous legal analysis and the ability to see the bigger picture in a fast-evolving international landscape.

The Internationalisation Advantage: Why This Specialisation Matters

Internationalisation is not a buzzword at VUB; it is an operational reality. The university is a member of EUTOPIA, an alliance of ten like‑minded European universities dedicated to reinventing themselves cooperatively. For a legal professional, this creates a frontier of complex questions: How do you reconcile different national legal frameworks? What data protection issues arise in cross‑border student exchanges? How do you draft agreements that stand up to multiple jurisdictions? This role positi