EDUCATION

Everyone in the Netherlands who wants to practice the profession of advocate must meet certain requirements. These requirements are described in the Act on Advocates which dates from 1952. Naturally, one of the most important requirements for the practicing of the profession of advocate is that the right education programme has been followed. After one has attained the meester title (Dutch law degree), one is, in order to practice the profession, obliged to register oneself in the district in which the firm is located at which one is working.

If you are employed by a law firm, you will begin your three-year traineeship. This is provided for in article 9b of the Act on Advocates. During the traineeship, you will exercise the practice under the direction of an experienced advocate, the mentor. Three years seems like a long time, but the quantity of knowledge and skills that the trainee must acquire is also large. The traineeship is an interaction between education and daily practice.

In the first weeks, you will be conditionally sworn in as advocate in the court of your district: this means that you can litigate independently. In the first year, you will follow the Professional Education Programme for the Legal Profession and thereafter, courses as part of the Continued Education Programme for Trainees (VSO).

 

 

Professional Education Programme

This compulsory basic education programme will bring you the knowledge and skills that will distinguish you from practitioners of other legal professions. In the education programme, the emphasis will lie on knowledge of the procedural law and the Code of Conduct and the mastering of skills typical of the advocate, such as pleading, the hearing of witnesses and the preparation of litigation documents. The education programme is spread out over a period of nine months. The programme encompasses nine fixed components, i.e. introduction to the legal profession / Code of Conduct, practice theory, mediation, civil, criminal and administrative procedural law, reading annual accounts, tax law and writing skills.

The Professional Education Programme starts twice a year, in March and September. Most components of the Professional Education Programme are concluded with a written test. When you have passed all components with a satisfactory result, you will receive a certificate. Pursuant to the Act on Advocates, you have a maximum of three years to obtain this certificate. Trainees who are not in possession of the certificate at the end of their traineeship period will be disbarred.

 

Continued Education Programme for Trainees

In the second and third year of the traineeship, you will take the (partially compulsory) Continued Education Programme for Trainees (VSO). These courses usually take five day parts and are held in a conference centre, where the night will be spent. The VSO-courses deepen the knowledge that you have already gained in the practice. You can choose from a large offer on courses, such as bankruptcy law, environment law, European law and criminal law. In addition, most districts also have their own education requirements, such as participation in plea competitions (largely organised by the Young Bar) and attendance of lectures.