Lawyer Competence Check - Legal Aid Shop

Questioner

Where or from whom (agency) can I inquire whether a lawyer is authorized to practice law?

Lawyer

In colloquial usage, the term jurist usually refers to someone who graduated from a university in law. In that case, the academic title Mr. may be used before the name. The -more internationally known- Master's degree or notation LL.M. may also be used after the name. However, the term jurist is not a protected title, unlike the aforementioned academic titles. Incorrectly using a protected academic title is punishable. Someone who is familiar with law, studies law or has completed a higher professional education in law could therefore also call themselves a jurist. The Education Executive Agency (DUO) in Groningen registers all diploma information on all graduates. Only those involved can request this information. With your question you probably mean someone with specific powers, such as a lawyer, notary or bailiff. The respective professional organisations have registers of these professions (often on a website) which show whether someone is authorised to practice as a lawyer, notary or bailiff. Perhaps superfluously: in order to be a lawyer, one must have completed the study of Dutch law at a Dutch university and must be sworn in as a lawyer. In colloquial language: a lawyer is therefore always a lawyer, but a lawyer is not always a lawyer. Incidentally, not all bailiffs have graduated in Dutch law and/or lawyer. They are sworn in and have completed a professional training. Nowadays, notaries are also all lawyers (at least graduated in Notarial Law), also sworn in and also appointed to the office of notary by Royal Decree. A long time ago, it was still possible for the profession of notary to be practiced by non-lawyers. That is no longer the case.