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how much do lawyers make in netherlands

If you want to practice law in the Netherlands, you must be registered in the National Register of Lawyers (Landelijk Advocaten Tableau, LAT) kept by the Netherlands Bar Association (Nederlandse Orde van Advocaten). You will have to satisfy the training requirements prescribed by the Act on Advocates (Advocatenwet) and possess a Certificate of good conduct (VOG).

The Professional Education Programme for the Legal Profession (PAV) is a three-year programme. At the start of your legal education you will take a pre-examination test to determine your basic knowledge. Afterwards, the first two years are spent on further courses at university level, both in theory and practice.

Simultaneously you start working as a trainee lawyer under the supervision of an experienced lawyer (a principal). You can do this at a law firm, but also at a company or municipal authority, for example. The Supervisory Council must in any event approve the supervisorship. Alternatively, you can become a trainee entrepreneur. In that case, additional conditions may apply.

Registering

After completing your law studies, you can register in the National Register of Lawyers (LAT). To register, you apply to the (local) bar association for your district (in Dutch).

Training

When you are registered, each year you need to follow training and earn education points (in Dutch). If you have not practiced as a lawyer for 1 year or more, you must be sworn in and registered anew. During the 1st year after re-registering, you must earn extra education points.

Notifying changes

As a lawyer, your office address must be at one location. If you relocate, you must submit your change of address to Netherlands Bar Association (Nederlandse Orde van Advocaten) (in Dutch). You must also submit other changes, such as a change in the legal area you practice or if you start work with another law firm. Supplementary regulations apply if you relocate to the jurisdiction of another district court.

Supervision and confidentiality

Within NOvA an independent body exists that supervises all their members to ensure their profesional conduct. Also, lawyers’ confidentiality is legally imposed.

Lawyers from abroad

Are you registered as a lawyer in an EU / EEA country, or in Switzerland? And do you want to work in the Netherlands? Specific rules apply depending on how often you work as a lawyer and in which capacity. If you have studied law in a country outside the EEA, you have to redo your law degree at a Dutch university. If your diploma from abroad is accredited, you may receive an exemption.

Acting as a lawyer occasionally

If you are a qualified lawyer from an EEA country or Switzerland, you may act as a lawyer in the Netherlands under the qualifications of your home country (home title). This follows from the services directive for lawyers. However, you must comply with certain conditions (in Dutch). You must, for example, work with a lawyer registered in the Netherlands.

Establishment as a lawyer in the Netherlands

If you are a qualified lawyer from an EEA country or Switzerland, under the Lawyers’ Establishment Directive you can work as a lawyer in the Netherlands, under your original occupational title (‘home title’). You must register with the Supervisory Council (in Dutch). For this purpose, you will need among other things  (in Dutch) proof of registration as a lawyer with the authorised authority in your country of origin.

You can request a statement from the Supervisory Council after three years, proving that you have worked in the relevant legal capacity, in the Netherlands. With this statement, you can register as a lawyer in the Netherlands, in the National Register of Lawyers (Landelijk Advocaten Tableau, LAT). You will then no longer have to take a test of professional competence or work as a student.

Professional Qualifications Directive

Do you want to register on the basis of the Professional Qualifications Directive? If so, your professional qualifications must be recognised first. To apply for this recognition you use the Dutch-language application form (formulier aanvraag erkenning beroepskwalificaties). You may have to take a test of professional competence. You must comply with the requirements of the General Act on the Recognition of EC Professional Qualifications (Algemene wet erkenning EG-beroepskwalificaties) and the Regulations on EC Qualifications for Lawyers (Regeling EG-beroepskwalificaties advocatuur).

Consultation of Register of Lawyers

If you are looking for a sworn lawyer, please consult the database ‘Find a lawyer’ (in Dutch) on the website of the Netherlands Bar Association.

Studying law in the Netherlands requires a commitment of time, but the benefit of being able to earn a law degree in a country that follows a civil law approach and is known as the legal center of Europe makes the course of study worthwhile. Earning a law degree in the Netherlands begins with an undergraduate law degree (bachelor of law or LLB), which requires three years of study, followed by a master of law degree (LLM), which requires one year of study.

Learning a Law Degree in the Netherlands

Legal study takes place at law schools, most of which are connected to major universities in the Netherlands. International students can apply to an International Law program, which focuses its education both on the legal field and also on the unique educational needs of international students who may not be fully informed about the Dutch civil law perspective.

The Dutch academic year begins on the first of September and runs through the 31 of August the following year, with 42 weeks of study. The model is based on the European Credit Transfer System and is easily comparable to the other European legal programs.

To be accepted into an international law school program in the Netherlands, you must be able to speak and write English well. Apply to the school of your choice, and use your acceptance letter to apply for your student visa. This grants you a preparatory year to use to prepare for your studies, so you can find work, if needed, locate a place to live and complete any necessary training for entrance into the program.

Studying law in the Netherlands provides an excellent foundation for practicing around the globe. Law professors in the Netherlands are recognized internationally for their understanding of civil law, and this means greater job prospects for international students. Students who wish to stay in the Netherlands will find ample job opportunities. Many major corporations come to the Netherlands to have their disputes settled. A degree from the Netherlands makes practicing law in other civil law countries easier because of the excellent reputation of these law programs.

Visa Requirements

MVV (Provisional Residence Permit) – an entry visa.

VVR (Residence permit) – if you plan to stay in the Netherlands for more than three months, additional to your entry visa, you will also have to apply for Residence Permit (VVR) – an ID card that stands as a study visa.

What type of Visa do you need?

Visa name

MVV (Provisional Residence Permit); VVR (Residence permit)

Price and currency

EUR 311

It currently costs a non-refundable fee of EUR 311 to process an application for an MVV and residence permit for the purpose of studying in the Netherlands. The fees are reviewed twice yearly, and are subject to change mid-year.

Who can apply for the visa?

If you’re a citizen of an EU or EEA member state or Switzerland, you don’t need a student visa or residence permit to stay in the Netherlands.

Non-EU, EEA or Swiss nationals need a residence permit to stay in the Netherlands for more than 90 days – for a shorter period, you only require a tourist visa. There are two documents you need. In most cases, you will need a provisional residence permit (machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf, MVV) to travel to the Netherlands. In addition, you will need a residence permit (VVR) in order to stay in the country.

Citizens of a few countries or people in certain circumstances are exempt from having to apply for a VVR. You can read more about this here: https://www.expatica.com/nl/visas-and-permits/Getting-a-Dutch-visa-or-temporary-residence-permit_108412.html

Where can you make the application?

education institution

The education institution must apply on your behalf so you need to contact them for details of the procedure. If not, ask for help by contacting the international office (or if you are a researcher, the HR department) of your host institution.

Website:

How to make the application?

The visa application procedure is initiated by the university as soon as the student is officially admitted to the study program.

Documents required for the visa application are listed in the letter sent by the university to prospective students. Usually, the following documents are needed:

• a copy of the first page (identity page) of a valid passport;
• proof that you can support yourself financially;
• additional passport-sized photos (size: 35mm x 45mm, see IND requirements in.pdf);
• proof of tuition fees and visa application payments;
• proof of accommodation arranged for at least 1 academic year (10 months);
• for Chinese students, a NESO certificate may be necessary.

Valid proof of a candidate’s financial self-sufficiency can be demonstrated as follows:

• A letter from the host Dutch institution that mentions your internship fee or trainee stipend.
• An admission letter from the Dutch university providing details of your student grant, tuition waiver, or scholarship.
• Your bank account statement with an international bank, indicating enough funds to pay for your proposed expenses in The Netherlands.

When should you apply?

The processing time for your student visa application to the Netherlands is usually one month, although sometimes it can take up to 3 months.

The residence permit is issued for the duration of a student’s study program plus 3 months, up to a maximum of 5 years. If the student wishes to complete a preparatory course, its duration will be added to the visa duration. If the length of the education will take more than 5 years, the residence permit can be extended by one additional year.

There is another condition attached to the validity of VVR. It stays valid provided the student scores 50% of credit throughout the course duration.

Graduates of higher education or university studies (bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D. degrees) can apply for an orientation year for graduates’ permit within three years of graduating. This gives you one year to look for employment, during which time you can work without any restrictions or the need for an employer to hold a work permit for you.

Processing time

1 Month

Work opportunities

All international students are permitted to work alongside their studies.

For non-EU and non-EEA students, a work permit is required to work. This permit has to be obtained by the prospective employer on your behalf. Even with this work permit, students can work only for a limited number of hours, i.e. 10 hours a week. They are allowed to work full-time during the months of June, July, and August.

Students from the EU, EEA (except Croatia), and Switzerland do not require a work permit.

how much do lawyers make in netherlands

Netherlands

Cost of living is calculated based on accumulating the cost of food, transportation, health services, rent, utilities, taxes, and miscellaneous.View Cost of Living Page

The Netherlands (Dutch: Nederland [ˈneːdərlɑnt] (listen)), informally Holland, is a country located in Northwestern Europe with overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Netherlands consists of twelve provinces; it borders Germany to the east, and Belgium to the south, with a North Sea coastline to the north and west. It shares maritime borders with the United Kingdom, Germany and Belgium in the North Sea. The country…