BELGIUM FAMILY LAW LAWYER OF THE YEAR LAWYER MONTHLY LEGAL AWARDS 2025 16 find workable solutions. Sometimes these were very personal situations, such as parents unsure how a foreign decision about their children could be applied here. Guiding them step by step through that complexity was very rewarding. In a diverse city like Brussels, it was a natural and valuable complement to my practice. You are also involved in projects such as DIApositief and Advocaat op school. What do these entail? With DIApositief we aim to make the legal profession more diverse and inclusive. The project is specifically aimed at young people with a migration background in their final year of secondary school. As director of this project at the Brussels Bar, I design an annual program in which students are introduced to the various actors in the justice system. At the end of the program, they each solve an individual case study that I prepare. The winner receives a scholarship, funded by the Dutch Bar of Brussels, to support them throughout their law studies. For many, this is their very first real encounter with the justice system. I often see that it motivates them to study law and to consider a career in the legal profession. In addition, I am responsible for Lawyer in the School, a project in which lawyers give lessons in schools to inform young people about their rights, duties, and the role of justice. You also regularly appear in the media. What does that involve? I am often invited on Turkish television to explain the Belgian legal system, in various areas of law. These appearances are usually live, allowing me to provide direct commentary on current issues. My role is to make complex legal matters understandable for a broad audience, often for people with ties to both Belgium and Turkey. For me, this is an extension of my daily work: making law accessible and lowering barriers so that more people understand how justice in Belgium functions. You also followed training abroad, in Vienna, Ankara, Istanbul, and Strasbourg. What did that bring you? It allowed me to guide clients better in cross-border cases. I followed training in Turkish and European family law, the association agreements between Turkey and the EU, and the recognition of foreign judgments. In Brussels, international cases are very common, and that expertise is crucial. Law does not stop at the border, and anyone working in Brussels knows that better than most. You not only followed training in Strasbourg and other European countries, but also taught there yourself. What subjects did you cover, and what did you take away from that experience? It was a special experience to share my expertise in that context. I taught courses on immigration law and on the association agreement between Turkey and the European Union. For me, it was not only an opportunity to pass on knowledge, but also to engage in dialogue with professionals from different countries. It once again underlined how important international cooperation is—especially in a city like Brussels, where cases often touch upon multiple legal systems. In 2013, you also wrote a handbook in Turkish for Turkish women in Belgium. What was the reason? I saw that many women lacked clear information in their own language. That is why I wrote Belçika’daki Türk kadinlari için el kitapçigi, a handbook with practical explanations about family reunification, family law, and domestic violence. It was published by the Turkish Ministry of Family and Social Affairs. The aim was simple: to give women the knowledge to understand and defend their rights. I received many reactions from women who said the handbook helped them feel stronger and more confident. For me, that was the greatest reward.
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