How do I register at the bar?
Starting out as a lawyer involves finding a supervising lawyer and a placement, taking the oath and being registered on the list of trainee lawyers. During your training, you are already a lawyer, but for three years you will be taken under the wing of a training supervisor (patron). They will guide you and introduce you to the world of the legal profession.
Taking the oath
The formal swearing-in ceremony before the Court of Appeal takes place at the start of the judicial year. For further information about the swearing-in ceremony, please contact the secretariat of your local bar association.
If you are unable to attend the formal swearing-in ceremony, you may also take the oath at specific times later in the year.
Register online at the bar
After taking the oath, you are not yet a lawyer and are not yet permitted to wear the gown. You must first register on the list of trainee lawyers.
As soon as the Bar Council of your bar association approves your registration, you will appear on the list of trainee solicitors. From that point onwards, you are a fully-fledged solicitor and may wear a gown and plead in court. You will, however, still undertake a three-year traineeship with your supervising solicitor, who will familiarise you with the customs and rules of the profession.
To register online, you will need an eID or electronic foreign national’s card and a card reader .
Finding an internship
If you want to start a career as a lawyer, the first thing you need to do is find a placement and a supervisor. You can find available placements in our vacancies section, amongst other places. You can also upload your CV to our database yourself, so that potential supervisors can find you too.
Here are a few more tips:
- Feel free to make enquiries at various law firms. Unsolicited applications are common practice in the legal profession.
- Compare options and get in touch with junior solicitors who can share their initial experiences with you.
- Check whether the supervisor has a general practice or specialises in particular areas. Which areas of law do they practise? What sort of clients do they have?
- Discuss with the internship supervisor how they will structure the training: what will your responsibilities be and how will they supervise you? Draw up an internship agreement together setting out all these details.
Tips and things to do
A checklist with tips and practical steps you need to sort out before you can start working as a solicitor? We’ve got one ready for you.
Digital traineeship handbook
Want to find out absolutely everything about the traineeship and what’s involved? Have a look at our Digital traineeship handbook (In Dutch)!