'My name is Rosa Meder, I am 21 years old and completed my bachelor's degree in law at the University of Amsterdam in January. In March and April, I did an internship at Wintertaling. This was such a positive experience for me that I stayed on as a Working Student. From September, I will start the Master's in Private Law at the University of Amsterdam, which I will combine with my work at Wintertaling.'
Why an internship at Wintertaling?
'I chose to do an internship at Wintertaling because of the medium-sized nature of the firm, the diversity of specialisations and the young, energetic working atmosphere. This dynamic environment immediately appealed to me. During my internship, I had the opportunity to work on a variety of cases within different areas of law. My work included case law research and working out legal issues for lawyers.'
What are your main tasks and responsibilities during your internship? Can you give an example of a project or case you have worked on?
'I worked on many different cases and assignments for various lawyers, so the assignments varied widely. This made the work substantively challenging and educational. What I found most challenging about the internship was that you are constantly encouraged to think and learn new things. Many issues require in-depth thinking first, which makes you learn an awful lot. It's also nice that you really collaborate on cases.'
What did you find most challenging about your internship and what did you learn from it?
'During my internship, I improved my legal research skills. I soon noticed that I became increasingly efficient and quicker at searching case law and relevant literature. The case law meetings also ensured that my legal knowledge was enhanced. Besides learning a lot during my internship, I also had a great time at the office, which made the internship complete for me.
Before my internship, I did not have a clear picture of what the legal profession looks like in practice. The internship did give me a good and positive picture of that now, which has strengthened my ambition to enter the legal profession.'
Do you have any tips for other students considering an internship in the legal field?
'I will also definitely encourage other students to do internships at Wintertaling, because I think Wintertaling is perfect for that. The internship is office-wide, giving you insight into the practice of different areas of law. In addition, the atmosphere at Wintertaling is incredibly nice; I always felt at ease there and everyone was open to helping each other and learning something.'
How would you describe the working atmosphere and culture within this firm?
'The working atmosphere and culture at Wintertaling are very approachable, you don't get the idea as if there is a strong hierarchy between them. I also felt welcome in the office from the first moment and I was involved in everything, as if I were a real employee.'
