A Personal Profile

The Dutch labour market has been known as a rigid one. Under the rule of the right wing government, however, signs of change have been noticeable. How do those changes affect those who want to make a mid-career change? Michiel, a bachelor from Amsterdam in his late thirties, graduated in law last year. Until today he is still looking for a post as lawyer apprentice. Here he shares his personal experience.

Could you introduce yourself?
I am someone who loves to take charge of my own decisions and to take initiatives. I try to enjoy life as much as I can. Literature and culture are my favourite pastime. So are dining out and drinking in the pub as well. I don´t have a real passion of my own. At the present moment, my job with the bank is my passion.

You are thirty seven right now and you have already got a considerable career as a financial advisor. When you were thirty however you started to study law. Why?
When I was twenty, I got my own business which didn´t go well. I built up a lot of debts and was in financial need. I managed to get a job as financial advisor with a brokerage firm. My career went smoothly but after three years of working I felt like looking for a change. I decided to take a sabbatical. After that break I was going to disliked my job which as I thought it was getting too commercial for me. At that time I had a close contact with a legal firm which worked in the social advocacy. They sometimes referred clients to us for things like a new mortgage application. The social advocacy was intriguing to me,. E especially, rendering legal services to those who cannot afford them. I believe that this is one of the pillars of our legal system.

While being a student you got a part time job. What obstacles did you face? What kept you going?
In the beginning I got a busy job. It was hard not to do overtime. Also, I oftenly did not take breaks regularly time to pause so that I became too much stressfuled when I arrived at the lessons. Therefore, I have learned to be stricter toward my working time.

You told said that you want to become an advocate. Why?
As an advocate one must be assertive, have an independent mind and be creative. I believe I have all that takes. In advocacy, it´s all about dealing with people, and that is something I love to do. It really matters me that things I do may contribute to the society as a whole.

What is your experience of making a mid-career change in your life? What obstacles do you come accross? For instance: age discrimination, a tough labour market and such.
None of these. I only have only troubles with my private life. Being a novice in the advocacy, I have to take a substantial salary cut. I don´t believe there are things like age discrimination. But However I could imagine that an advocate of twenty seven year old has got problems with recruiting an apprentice who is ten years older than him. But at the other hand, those people are mature enough to know how to handle this.

What would you advise to those who also consider a mid-career change?
Just do it. Step out of your comfort zone if that prevents you from further personal development.

You graduated on the thesis “Asylum Law”. Why?
Asylum Law is like social advocacy, one of those check and balances in our legal system. It is an area of law which is beyond the scope of the public. Asylum seekers form a social group who are diverse, and who lack political representation in our society. Thus, their cause is usually at the mercy of our judges. From the legal and humane point of view it is an interesting and important area of law.

What is your personal view on the working of the Dutch legal system?
I will limit myself to the Asylum Law. It can and it should be much better. The present proceedings are mainly aimed at extraditing people. It is not the law that causes this situation but the minister and officers in charge. The law provides sufficient fair remedies for the asylum seeker in order to plead for his cause. My thesis focuses on the dismissal of appeal cases in which an applicant is emotionally unfit to defend his cause on the first hearing. Due to the time pressure put on those fast track proceedings the human aspect is oftenly completely overlooked. The proceedings do not take into account with the emotional, cultural and language-barrier aspects which interrupt the process of fact findings for the judge.

What is your personal device?
To enjoy my work, don´t plan too far ahead but keep on looking forpursuing personal growth.

Yee Chuen Leung
Chief Editor