Mirthe (26) has been working at Nysingh as a lawyer in procurement law for over four years. After completing her master’s degree in European Law at Utrecht University, she started as a legal assistant, quickly advanced to trainee lawyer and is now working as an associate lawyer. “Procurement law was hardly discussed during my studies, but when I saw the vacancy, it seemed interesting. With no experience in the legal profession, I took the plunge, which still turns out to be a good choice.”
The dynamics and challenge
What appeals to her about the legal profession? “You have to figure everything out in detail and really go into depth. That suits me. I write a lot of opinions, which I really enjoy doing.” Procurement law also offers a lot of variety. “Governments organize tenders for many different things. As a result, you not only learn a lot legally, but also about different topics. For example, we do many tenders in the healthcare, ICT and waste sectors, but also, for example, in office furniture, cleaning, catering, construction and transport.” You support governments in projects that have an impact on society.
There is often an image that working within the government section is somewhat “stuffy,” but Mirthe experiences the opposite. “The legal aspect is important, but other interests also come into play. That makes the work complex and challenging.”
No workday the same
No day is the same. “I often have meetings about pending opinions and proceedings. I also write a lot of legal documents. What I also really enjoy is giving webinars and courses, both online and with clients. I get a lot of room to develop myself.
Nysingh also offers plenty of opportunities for growth. “I’m taking the Grotius specialization course, which is fully reimbursed. That’s intensive, but I’m sure it will deepen my expertise enormously. I was also able to take additional courses when I became more involved in state aid. That opportunity to develop is incredibly valuable.”
One moment that will always stay with me is my first big case. “A day before the hearing, I discovered something crucial. In the ruling, the judge adopted my argument completely. That was a confirmation: I can do this.”
The transition to lawyer
Mirthe experienced the move from legal assistant to lawyer as a gradual transition. “The big difference is that I now also conduct proceedings in court, but the basic work is largely the same. I am increasingly taking on cases independently and taking on more responsibility in them.”
Government section within Nysingh
Within this section you never work in a ‘legal island’. Procurement law often touches other areas of law, such as subsidy law or administrative law. This requires broad knowledge and a multidisciplinary approach where different areas of law come together and colleagues work together a lot. Fortunately, our section is very accessible: you can always drop in on a colleague. Open communication and connection are key, both within the section and with clients.
My team is very accessible. “There is no strict hierarchy, everyone is approachable. That makes it a nice working environment and ensures that we strive for success together.”
Mirthe’s advice
“I can imagine that students and young lawyers have doubts about the government section, because it is often areas of law that are not covered during studies and people think it is boring or they have no idea of what exactly it entails.
For many students and young lawyers, areas of law such as procurement law are unfamiliar because they are rarely covered on study. I understand that the threshold can be high, but I recommend taking an elective or, even better, an internship. Only then will you really see how lively the work in the government section is.
