“As a legal consultant, I provide legal support to employees who come into conflict with their employer. I use my input to try to get both parties back to the negotiating table. If this is no longer possible, negotiations are necessary to find a definitive resolution. Sometimes, if no settlement can be reached, the case goes to an appeals board or a court. Being able to give a voice to the ‘weaker’ employee in the face of a strong employer is inspiring and gives me a sense of satisfaction.”

Learning to (literally) think through abstract texts and concepts

“During this Master’s specialisation, you learn to (literally) think through abstract texts and concepts. What is the rationale, the thinking, behind a text? In my legal ‘craft’, there is often a need to interpret legal texts and collective labour agreements. These texts, which can be abstract, are not set in stone, but rather are constantly changing, so you can’t look only at the literal interpretation of the text; the intention and the spirit are just as important. If you can think in the abstract, you have an advantage over the opposition.”

Getting into even more philosophical depth

“Once I’d completed the Master’s degree in Jurisprudence and Philosophy of Law within the Faculty of Law, I wanted to study philosophy in even more depth. This Master’s specialisation definitely met this expectation. The course offers a great opportunity to add philosophical depth to legal questions, a depth which, unfortunately, you don’t get from the classical study of law.”

“Like many budding philosophers, I started out wanting to unravel the workings of the universe. But as my studies progressed, I realized philosophy actually is much more down to earth and practical!”

 United Nations and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs

“I worked with the United Nations and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, mainly in the Middle East. Trying to address the root causes of conflict or extremism has many philosophical dimensions, that put the politics into perspective. When is it morally justified to act (or not). How do we work with people and organizations when our world views seem so far apart? What should the relationship between a state and its people be?”

Uncover the logic

“In my day-to-day work my philosophical skills have proved very useful. Philosophy taught me to uncover the logic in arguments that at first make no sense at all. It taught me to separate transient distractions from fundamental problems. And after one has had to read Wittgenstein, reading even the most complicated conflict analysis is a piece of cake!”