THE BREWERY
programme
THE BREWERY
HOW TO APPLY
THE BREWERY: YOUR FUTURE STARTS HERE
DEADLINE: 13 APRIL 2025
Since 2015, The Brewery has been our vibrant professional hub for international law graduates with up to two years of professional legal experience. At The Brewery, we welcome international talent from all over the globe. This unique blend makes The Brewery an ideal launchpad for your professional legal career in the Netherlands.
We are currently seeking for enthusiastic associates to join our Arbitration, Competition, and Data, Cyber and Privacy practices. The Brewery programme is not just about legal training; it is a journey of self-discovery that prepares you for a successful career as a lawyer. You'll become part of a small, ambitious group, forming lasting professional connections and friendships.
BREWERY HIGHLIGHTS
Here are some of the highlights of The Brewery programme, organised into four pillars:
Intensive training and direct involvement in cases from day one:
- Intensive training within your practice area.
- Direct involvement in matters as an associate from day one.
Qualifying as a solicitor in England & Wales:
- We believe that obtaining this qualification is a key milestone in your professional development and ensures that you have the legal knowledge and skills necessary to perform at the highest level. If you are already qualified elsewhere, you will still need to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. This involves passing two exams: SQE1 and SQE2.
- We aim for you to complete SQE1 before starting the Brewery programme. To support you, we offer an intensive prep course with BARBRI. You will be employed by us and compensated during this course, which you can follow from home or our office. If completing SQE1 beforehand is not feasible, we will work with you to find a suitable solution that aligns with your role as an associate. We are committed to supporting you throughout the process.
- Already passed SQE1 or SQE2? That’s great! You are still very welcome to apply: it’s an advantage that you have already completed this step.
Dutch language training:
- You will take Dutch language lessons to enhance your communication skills and facilitate your integration in the Netherlands. We understand that mastering Dutch is essential for social interactions, and while we encourage your language development, we do not expect you to write Dutch as part of your role.
The Brewery and De Brauwerij:
- You will take part in integrated training components with our Dutch-qualified associates in the Brauwerij, fostering a supportive and inclusive atmosphere.
- At The Brewery, you will dive into a dynamic environment designed to fuel your professional growth and personal development. Joining a small yet ambitious group, you will quickly form friendships and invaluable connections that will support you throughout your De Brauw journey. Be prepared to tackle challenges head-on, as you navigate a steep learning curve that will help you grow personally and professionally. From day one, you will assume responsibilities, all while being coached and supported by seasoned senior associates and partners who are invested in your success. You will also have the opportunity to engage in meaningful pro bono projects, enriching your experience and making a positive impact on the community.
ELIGIBILITY
In order to be eligible for The Brewery:
- You should have completed your legal education at the bachelor's and master's level; and
- You should have no more than two years of full-time professional legal work experience, excluding traineeships or study-related activities.
APPLYING YEAR-ROUND
Interested in the Brewery, but the August 2025 intake isn’t an option for you? You can apply for the next Brewery intake (August 2026) after 13 April 2025 via our website. Applications are open year-round. If you are available to do a student traineeship or law assistant position before applying for the Brewery, we highly recommend it. It’s the perfect chance for you to get to know the firm better – and for us to get to know you.
DISCOVER TRAINEE AND LAW ASSISTANT OPPORTUNITIES
We offer traineeships and law assistant opportunities year-round in our Arbitration, Competition, and Data, Cyber and Privacy practices. Want to know more? Contact one of our campus recruiters.
What qualification will I get?
In The Brewery you will start with the process of qualifying as a solicitor in England & Wales. Also, if you are already qualified as a lawyer in another country. Generally, we will also help you to maintain any existing qualifications. De Brauw does not expect you to become a qualified lawyer in the Netherlands.
What about my "home" jurisdiction?
You can possibly still practice it. You may be asked to join the team if we handle a matter relevant to your home jurisdiction. Your experience or knowledge of your home jurisdiction is only one of the factors that may be considered when building a team to work on a specific matter.
I would like to apply, but will you help me with finding a place, getting my work permit etc.?
Once you have been offered a place in The Brewery, our HR colleagues will reach out to you to discuss the next steps. You may need a visa and/or a work permit, depending on your individual circumstances (that is, your nationality and/or current place of residence). Together we will take care of this process.
We will actively share helpful contacts and websites, but do not actively assist in finding a place to live. It can be difficult to find accommodation in the center of Amsterdam, and many colleagues choose to expand their search area to towns and cities relatively close to Amsterdam, such as Amstelveen, Leiden, The Hague and Utrecht.
What is De Brauw's official language and am I expected to learn Dutch?
All firm-wide communications and events are in English. Courses are given in English as well. The only exceptions are the courses where content is closely related to Dutch law and only relevant to Dutch lawyers.
You are not expected to learn Dutch. Dutch language classes up to B1 level are always available if you want to learn to speak, read and write basic Dutch.
LET’S GET IN TOUCH
Anything else we can help you with? Please don’t hesitate to contact us by phone, email or Instagram.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Lisanne van Baaren
Senior Recruitment Adviser (Brauwerij)
Maxime Kool
Recruitment Adviser (Brewery)