General description
1.1. Is there an initial training, if yes is it compulsory?
In order to be come a fully-fledged lawyer, a person shall complete the following steps:
- Examination (organised by the Dutch Bar Association – Nederlandse Orde van Advocaten). There are different kind of exams, such as theoretical exams with closed questions, case tests and practice assignments.
- Completion of an induction period.
Thus, initial training is compulsory.
1.2.Categories of Trainees (does initial training differentiate between professions, e.g. for in-house lawyers and advocates? If yes, please fill in separate forms per profession where applicable)
N/A
1.3.Types of entities responsible for organising initial training
- Private practices and law firms
- Private training providers accredited by the Bar
- Lawyers’ academies and training structures established by the Bar
All structures providing induction training activities have to be accredited by the Bar.
1.4.Statutory basis for initial training (links)
Wet- en regelgeving voor de advocatuur worden
2. Access to the initial training
2.1.Main access conditions?
- Check/verification of diploma
- Interview
- Check to verify that candidates have a 39-month contract with a law firm
2.2.Main recruitment procedure, if competitive - who runs it?
-
2.3. Alternative access routes?
No, the induction period is mandatory for all candidates.
3. Format and content of the initial training
3.1. Duration and time structure (does it have different stages? Is the duration fixed or does it change annually?)
The induction period lasts 3 years and is divided into different stages:
Topics:
-First year: Basis test Law, cognitive skills, professional skills, ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution), professional ethics skills, Moot Court;
-Second year: professional attitude, professional skills, learning practice, cognitive skills, information and collecting evidence, negotiation, reading of annual accounts;
-Third year: professional attitude, professional ethics, skills.
Different periods for covering various aspects of the profession of lawyers:
- management
- law
- lawyers’ skills
3.2. Organisation: Is it run in a centralised or decentralised manner; in-house or externalised?
Centralised, externalised.
3.3. Who are the trainers? (professional trainers or full-time professionals)
Professional trainers and full-time professionals, accredited by the Bar.
3.4. Learning content and the learning objectives?
- Apprenticeship supervised by a private practice and
- Law training with specific curriculum common to all trainee lawyers and
- Law training with personalised curriculum and
- Training on non-legal professional skills and
- Training on legal professional skills
Law training with specific curriculum common to all trainee lawyers
Main topics:
Civil law, administrative law, criminal law, ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution), professional ethics, various optional courses.
3.5. Who designs the initial training programmes?
National Bar.
3.6. What methodology is used (lectures, moot courts, integration in the file work at a court)?
-
3.7. Practical elements (What professional responsibilities, duties, tasks do trainees have)?
-
3.8. How are trainees evaluated/assessed? How often and by whom?
-
3.9. Are there any training activities carried out in conjunction with other legal professionals? If yes: How does it work?
-
3.10.Specificities regarding EU law training and European components, participation in CCBE/others activities, linguistic training
3.11.Number of trainees accepted, is it changing annually, who decides the number
There are no sessions on EU law during the induction period.
4. Termination of the initial training and qualification process
4.1. Does the initial training conclude with a final exam? How is it organised? Who is responsible for the exam?
- Through reports from tutors
- Through written exam
- Through oral exams such as Moot Court and Negotiation
4.2. Further recruitment procedure to become a lawyer upon completion of the initial training?
-