advocaaten

Advocaten are licensed legal professionals in Dutch-speaking jurisdictions, notably the Netherlands and Belgium, who provide legal advice, represent clients in court, and draft legal documents. They handle civil, criminal, administrative, and commercial matters, and may specialise in fields such as corporate law, family law, dispute resolution, or intellectual property. Their primary functions include advising clients on rights and obligations, negotiating settlements, drafting contracts and pleadings, and advocating on behalf of clients in legal proceedings.

Training and regulation: In the Netherlands, advocaten are regulated by the Nederlandse Orde van Advocaten. To become one, a candidate must complete a law degree and undertake a professional training period (an apprenticeship) under an experienced lawyer, culminating in admission to the bar. In Belgium, advocates are regulated by the Ordre des Barreaux and the respective bar associations (e.g., Ordre des Avocats de Belgique). The typical path involves obtaining a law degree, completing a practical training period (stage), and passing a qualifying examination to join the bar and practise before courts.

Notaries and other professionals: Advocaten are distinct from notaries (notaries/notaires), who perform different acts within civil-law systems. Advocaten work alongside judges, prosecutors, and other legal professionals within the judiciary and administration.

International and professional conduct: Advocaten may take on cross-border work and cooperate with foreign lawyers. They are bound by professional codes of conduct, confidentiality, and rules on conflicts of interest, and typically carry professional liability insurance.

Note: The standard Dutch plural is advocaten; advocaaten is not common in contemporary usage.