Alumnus Jeroen Zwemmer: ‘The legal component is the core of my work’
Jeroen Zwemmer’s student days in Leiden ended in 2023, after completing two bachelor’s degrees, a master’s, a student board year, and an exchange semester. Now, he’s a legal policy advisor at a Dutch government ministry.
You studied both Law and Criminology in Leiden. Why that combination?
Criminology fitted perfectly with my broad interest in human behaviour and society, partly due to the interfaces with psychology and sociology. In my first year, I already noticed that my interest was shifting more towards law and particularly civil law subjects that I missed in the criminology programme. So, I decided to start studying Law as well in my second year. Both programmes overlap in content and were offered at the same faculty, so it was easy for me to combine them.
What did you find so interesting about civil law?
It was mainly the legal content. Civil law is very broad, complex and can be painstakingly meticulous, but that’s precisely what also makes it so technical and challenging. It’s fascinating how in this area of law the smallest details sometimes have to be worked out, almost like a puzzle.
Can you tell us about your current job?
I’ve been working as a legal policy advisor at the Ministry of the Interior for over a year now and am on the Academy for Legislation’s training programme for legislative lawyers working for the central government. In my job, I follow social and political developments, identify potential bottlenecks and think about possible solutions, working with other ministries, local government and external parties.
As a legal policy advisor, I always view things through a legal lens. I handle legal questions at the front line and act as the link between policymakers and legislative lawyers when it comes to developing legislation.
Did you always want to work for central government?
No, not specifically. When I was studying for my bachelor's degree, I focussed mainly on the legal profession as that’s what you mostly come into contact with. But I soon noticed that it wasn’t for me. Later, I started thinking more seriously about what I was interested in: a job with a clear legal component as well as social relevance. That's how I eventually ended up working for central government.
In your job, you’re involved in AI and algorithms. Was that your own choice?
When I started, I could indicate a preference for certain departments, including one focused on AI and algorithms. That appealed to me from a legal point of view and it’s very much new territory. So, I did consciously choose this field, but it wasn’t exactly a long-standing interest.
It’s a topical issue: technological developments are happening much faster in the commercial sector than the public sector. The rapid development of the use of AI in society makes it relevant in terms of policy. The use of AI and algorithms is also an important theme in policy on digitisation. It’s an area that is high on the social and political agenda, also in the House of Representatives.
What do you hope to achieve in your work?
I’d like to be able to follow something from start to finish – from the point of identifying an issue to achieving a workable solution. It would be great if this results in legislation I contributed to that has real impact in the long term.
What’s the most interesting and valuable part of your work?
For me, the greatest value lies in the legal content and that I’m constantly learning. I keep up-to-date by following the news, parliamentary debates, new legislation, court rulings and literature. This helps me continue to develop my legal knowledge. The political and dynamic side of the work is also a positive surprise for me. I really enjoy the variety in my work and having to switch gears quickly. At the same time, I consciously seek cases that have a strong legal component, because for me that’s the core of my work.
What’s are your best memories from when you were a student?
Definitely my year working for a student committee, especially helping to organise the ELCID introduction week and the energy from events you put together yourself. Going on exchange to Vancouver was also a real highlight, even though it ended prematurely because of the Covid pandemic. And I also really enjoyed the study trips to Tokyo and Seoul I went on with my study association.
Do you have advice for current students?
Get as much as you can from your days as a student: grab opportunities outside your study, meet people and gain lots of experience. That said, it’s important to take your studies seriously. Sometimes you need to make an extra effort to find out what you really enjoy.
When it comes to job applications: start on time and be prepared to be rejected, that’s unfortunately all part of the process. Stay true to yourself, but dare to broaden your horizon. Networking is essential: use study opportunities and career events to build contacts. That will help you figure out what really matches your interests.