‘My name is Tim Peeters and I'm 25 years old. Just before my internship at Wintertaling, I completed my master's degree in Private Law at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.'


Why an internship at Wintertaling?

‘The year before my internship, I was a board member of the QBDBD student association. In my role as board member for External Affairs, I had several encounters with Wintertaling. During those visits, I got to know the office and some of the staff better, and I developed a very good feeling about the atmosphere and identity.

What struck me was that Wintertaling doesn't just do what everyone else does, but has its own unique vision and approach. The people are incredibly friendly, approachable, and above all, normal (in the best possible sense). I also found it remarkable that everyone is a certified professional and that the firm uses a different application process than usual. All of this made Wintertaling very appealing to me.’

What are your main tasks and responsibilities during your internship?

‘During my internship, I tried to work with as many lawyers as possible. My work included legal research, case law review, due diligence, and helping to write memos. I also had the opportunity to attend a hearing, which was a valuable experience.

There were also plenty of fun moments outside of work: Friday drinks at the office, a dinner at the NHow hotel after the autumn meeting and the company outing in November.’

Can you give an example of a project or case you worked on?

‘One of the cases I worked on involved a real estate matter, allowing me to immediately put my theoretical knowledge into practice. During the investigation, I sometimes felt like a real detective: I delved into files, studied relevant sources, and performed various calculations to arrive at a well-founded recommendation. It was without a doubt one of the most enjoyable projects I've ever been involved with.’

What did you find most challenging during your internship?

‘One of the biggest challenges was translating my theoretical knowledge into practice. You learn a tremendous amount during your studies, but as soon as you step into an office, you immediately realize that things often work differently in practice.

Another challenge was adjusting to a 9-to-5 routine. It was a bit of an adjustment at first, but after about a month, things got much better.’

What have you learned during your internship so far?

‘I've learned that practicing law is truly different from studying law. I've also seen that a healthy work-life balance is possible, certainly different from the image you often have of the large Zuidas offices.’

How did this internship change your perspective on legal work?

‘The internship showed me how versatile the legal profession is in practice and how much impact you can have as a lawyer in both large and small cases. I also experienced how valuable an open and informal office environment is for your development and motivation.’

What are your plans for the future after this internship?

‘I don't know exactly what the future holds. Now that I've graduated, I'm looking for a (nearly) full-time job, but I still have to figure out exactly what path that will take.’

Do you have any tips for other students considering an internship in the legal profession?

‘Yes, I would encourage other students to have an internship at Wintertaling even if they are just a little bit curious about commercial law practice. It is a very good way to discover what area of law interests you.

You really get a front-row view of the behind the scenes. You get to see the email contact between clients and attorneys, you get to know all the background information about cases, you can be present at meetings or calls with clients and sometimes you even get to send (minor) emails to clients.’

How would you describe the working atmosphere and culture at Wintertaling?

‘I would say the work atmosphere is nice. It’s very informal to begin with. Unless there is a specific important event, everybody wears the clothes they are comfortable in, you can talk to anyone about non-related law subjects and there is a WhatsApp group chat for the whole firm where people send updates about events or coming to the office etc. There is also little hierarchy. If you have a question, you can just walk in the room of the person to whom the question is aimed, including the CEO.’


Next step at Wintertaling

After completing his internship, Tim Peeters will remain at Wintertaling. Starting in January 2026, he will join the team as a legal assistant, where he will further develop his legal career.