"Andere Juristen" [In Dutch]

It is an enormous honour for me to stand here as endowed professor of Preventive Law. I am facing a great challenge and I am grateful for that. Today I will unfold my thoughts along three lines. First of all, I will explain the preventive law movement. Secondly, I will try to define the social context in which lawyers operate. Finally, I will address the normative professionalisation of lawyers, which, in my opinion, cannot be given enough attention. I have been doing research on this subject for many years and I believe that the three lines of approach do justice to the profession that is so dear to me. And I think this profession, lawyering, is more important than ever in our society.

Two disclaimers (I would not be a good lawyer if I did not have them): this lecture will sketch an overview of my profession and my ambitions, and I will try to be as clear as possible for every- one. I refer to the lawyer as male, although the number of female lawyers exceeds the number of male lawyers. I do this because of the rules of our language and perhaps from the perspective  of protecting the minority. The second disclaimer concerns the title. Different lawyers suggests that there is an unambiguous definition of lawyers and also that there are or should be dif- ferent ones. Both statements are neither entirely accurate nor the focus of this inaugural lecture, although other lawyers or lawyers who have a different perspective of their profession, is a fervent wish that underlies my story.

It is five to twelve, if lawyers do not change. I believe we will become the crude oil of this world: needed now, but we are col- lectively embarrassed with its use. If all goes well, crude oil is an obsolete product and if all goes wrong, lawyers will become an obsolete profession. I would regret that immensely, because I think lawyers are a necessity in a well-functioning society. However, in order to retain this position, lawyers have to change their professional attitude, and morality has to return to the profession. That would mean a paradigm shift. Big words, bearing in mind the philosopher Thomas Kuhn, but it is a major theme. A paradigm shift from legal servants to the moral guardians of rights, freedoms and especially the rule of law in all its manifestations. I will give you my vision on that in this lecture.

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