The International Legal Society

What The International Legal Society does

QBDBD (Juridische Faculteitsvereniging aan de Vrije Universiteit), doing business in part as The International Legal Society (ILS), is a nonprofit student association (vereniging) affiliated with the Faculty of Law at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Founded in 1892 and now in its 134th year of operation, it serves law students — both Dutch and international — through career, social, sports, and cultural programming. The organization is governed by an annually elected six-member student board (the 134th board took office October 6, 2025) with oversight from committees and an Advisory Council (Raad van Advies), and is operated on a single geographic footprint in Amsterdam.

The association's digital infrastructure consists of a website at qbdbd.nl (relaunched March 2024) and a mobile application launched in July 2024, available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The mobile app enables members to register for activities, view event photographs, and browse partner organizations. Distribution also runs through Instagram (@qbdbd), LinkedIn, Facebook, and monthly email newsletters (QBDBD Newsletter). Beyond digital channels, the core engagement model is event-driven: office visits to law firms, padel events, rooftop drinks, recruitment dinners, study trips, social parties, and collaborative activities with peer associations such as Nexus at the University of Groningen.

The business model combines free membership (no subscription fee) with selective paid event tickets (e.g., Broertjesfeest at €4.50 and après-ski party at €6), merchandise sales, yearbook (almanak) revenue, and sponsorship from approximately 15 Dutch and international law firms and professional services firms — including Dentons, Loyens & Loeff, Clifford Chance, CMS, Stibbe, Pels Rijcken, DLA Piper, Houthoff, Simmons & Simmons, BarentsKrans, PwC, ARAG, Kennedy Van der Laan, Wijn & Stael, and Streefkerk Onderwijsrecht — together with institutional partners De Rechtspraak (Dutch Judiciary) and VU Career Services Rechtsgeleerdheid. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed; the organization does not operate as a commercial enterprise and is not a candidate for traditional PE/VC/M&A investment.

Name

The International Legal Society

Legal name

Juridische Faculteitsvereniging aan de Vrije Universiteit

Website

https://qbdbd.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1892

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

QBDBD (The International Legal Society) is a 133-year-old nonprofit law student association at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, serving law students with career events, law firm office visits, social activities, and digital tools through a website and mobile app, funded by sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Association membership with access to all events, networking opportunities, and member services
2. Event Ticket Sales: Revenue from paid events such as parties, networking dinners, and sports activities

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

QBDBD (Juridische Faculteitsvereniging aan de Vrije Universiteit) is a student-run law faculty association at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. It organizes career events, law firm office visits, networking dinners, social parties, sports activities, study trips, and international programs for its members through its ILS (International Legal Society) division. The association operates a mobile application and website for event registration and member engagement.

Product overview

QBDBD (Juridische Faculteitsvereniging aan de Vrije Universiteit) is a law faculty association at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. The organization offers a single digital product: the QBDBD mobile application. The QBDBD App serves as the primary member engagement platform, enabling activity registration, photo viewing, and partner discovery. The association also maintains a website (qbdbd.nl) as its digital presence.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• QBDBD Mobile App A mobile application for QBDBD members available on iOS and Android platforms. The app allows users to sign up for activities, view photos from events, and explore QBDBD's partner organizations.

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DentonscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLeading global full-service law firm with office on Amsterdam Zuidas. Partners through office visits and padel networking events. Firm has 160 offices in 80 countries and 60+ years experience in Netherlands.
• Loyens & LoeffcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLeading Zuidas full-service firm specializing in international tax and legal matters. Has offices in Dutch, Belgian, Luxembourg and Swiss law jurisdictions. Active partner in padel and networking events.
• Clifford ChancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor international law firm with prominent Netherlands presence. Featured as banner sponsor on QBDBD website.
• PwCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional services firm with legal practice. Sponsors QBDBD events and activities.
• StibbecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDutch law firm hosting rooftop drinks events (Dakterrasborrel) for QBDBD members.
• Pels RijckencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDutch full-service law firm. Organizes office visits and recruitment activities for QBDBD members.
• DLA PiperminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational law firm with Netherlands presence. Listed as banner sponsor.
• ARAGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLegal insurance provider. Listed as banner sponsor.
• Kennedy Van der LaanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDutch law firm. Organizes office visits for members.
• Wijn & StaelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDutch law firm. Listed as banner sponsor.
• CMScoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOne of largest Dutch law firms with global network in 40+ countries. Services include corporate law, real estate, tax, and employment law. Organizes office visits with application skills workshops.
• Simmons & SimmonscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational law firm participating in recruitment dinners organized by QBDBD.
• BarentsKranscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDutch law firm participating in recruitment dinners organized by QBDBD.
• De Rechtspraak (Dutch Judiciary)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch judicial system organizing Meet the Court events with QBDBD. Provides students opportunity to meet judges, justices, and judicial clerks. Co-organized with Career Services Rechtsgeleerdheid.
• Streefkerk OnderwijsrechtminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpecialized law firm focused on education law, serving clients in education, childcare, and public administration sectors. Organizes office visits with interactive workshops.
• HouthoffminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDutch law firm. Organizes office visits for QBDBD members.
• Career Services Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid VUcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity career services collaborating on Meet the Court events and other career-focused activities.
• Nexus (International Student Association of Law, Groningen)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational law student association from University of Groningen. Collaborates on joint activities including day trips and moot court competitions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• ELSA (European Law Students' Association): Europe-wide network of law student associations running career, academic, and social events with law firm partners. Highly comparable in mission and GTM motion, although ELSA operates across many countries rather than at a single faculty.
• Nexus (International Law Students' Association Groningen): International law student association at University of Groningen; QBDBD already collaborates with Nexus on joint activities including day trips and moot court competitions. Closest comparable on the international-track dimension.
• JFR (Juridische Faculteitsvereniging Radboud): Law faculty association at Radboud University Nijmegen with comparable event portfolio, firm sponsors, and student membership model. One of QBDBD's nearest Dutch comparables in size and structure.
• LSV (Leidense Studentenvereniging voor Rechtsgeleerdheid): Law faculty association at Leiden University, running career events, social activities, and firm partnerships for Leiden law students. Directly comparable as a single-faculty Dutch law student association competing for the same sponsor pool.
• EJB (Erasmus Juristen Bond): Law faculty association at Erasmus University Rotterdam with comparable career events, firm partnerships, and student governance. Direct competitor for Zuidas sponsor attention and student recruitment funnels.

Broad incumbents

• ESN (Erasmus Student Network): Large international student association network with a similar event- and member-driven model, though serving all disciplines rather than law specifically. Comparable in scale of student-membership GTM and international focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/QBDBD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-international-legal-society
• Instagraminstagram.com/qbdbd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The International Legal Society