R. (Rob) Zwanenberg, LL M:
"Growing as part of an ambitious firm"
"As a student, I worked at Jurofoon. My job there was to offer people first aid for their legal problems over the phone. Doing something like that, you notice that your efforts make a difference. That's also what brought me to Swart & De Schepper Attorneys. The work at Jurofoon often involved employment law. That felt right for me. After my first couple of jobs, I definitely wanted to go to a small firm that focused on employment law. A person's work directly affects their existence and their future. So you know exactly why you're pleading before the court
and what you're doing it for!
I prefer working in a small firm because I want to gain knowledge and experience in many different areas. I can do that here. And I have good colleagues here who allow me to take on demanding work and learn quickly. I regularly get interesting cases, which I handle right from the first interview. Of course I'm supervised by a senior lawyer. But he also knows that I'm just as driven at work as on the squash court: I want to win. Every time. So I have fond memories of a case that in fact had no chance of success but which we still managed to bring to a successful conclusion. That really made me feel on top of the world. Actually I get the same feeling when clients ask specifically for me. Because that means I must have done a good job when I worked for them before.
Another reason I chose Swart & De Schepper Attorneys is that the firm is clearly ambitious. I see it growing and I'm right in the heart of it. My efforts and abilities contribute to that growth. That's satisfying. And it's a great opportunity to learn.
The best thing about being a lawyer? Every file involves a wide variety of business factors and other aspects. It's great to write pleading notes presenting the strongest arguments in the right way. So that the court comes to share your conviction and gives a judgment that's favourable for your client. Because ultimately that's the reason we go through the whole procedure in the first place."
Rob Zwanenberg has been sworn-in and is registered as a Dutch lawyer. He also conducts funded legal aid work. In addition to employment law and corporate law his practice includes: debt recovery (national and international), liability and insurance law.
