Many drafted clauses translated from Dutch to English retain their original Dutchness. When it comes to drafted text, lawyers and translators are sometimes reluctant to stray too far from the original Dutch wording. Also, some of these clauses are simply difficult to understand—despite the great care no doubt taken by the lawyer and translator involved. Let me give you an… Read more
When newly minted Dutch lawyers work in English, there is a tension between two opposing factors. On the one hand, making mistakes (and being willing to make mistakes) is essential to learning. But on the other hand, law firms and clients do not easily accept that lawyers make mistakes, especially when the lawyers bill out their time at such high… Read more
The time pressures on a busy lawyer are enormous. But when it comes to working in English, these time pressures will affect the quality of your work. Try to find the time. There is no choice but to slow down and become more careful when practising law in English. It is frustrating at the start, but your speed will improve… Read more
One of the most common mistakes made by Dutch lawyers is to forget that the noun “advice” is uncountable. This means that “advices” and “an advice” are always wrong. Reframe it as uncountable. Refer to “our advice” or “the advice”. You could also express adviezen as “letters of advice” or “advice letters”. Rather than using “an advice”, use “a letter of… Read more
Which category do you belong in? The Crawlers. Some Dutch lawyers are only occasionally faced with the task of doing something in English. For the lawyers in this group, their skills are not really up to it. They do not work in English at all or do so only rarely. Lawyers in this group have a very small comfort zone… Read more
This is the first post in the new JURISfluence blog. I’m starting this blog primarily for the many Dutch legal professionals who have taken my training in the past. (I don’t know the exact figure, but I think I’ve had well over a thousand on my courses over the last ten years or so.) I have much more to say… Read more
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