Why Obtaining Two LLBs from Indonesia and the Netherlands Is Beneficial for Indonesian Lawyers?
Photo of the author of this article — GLENN Wijaya
Getting a law degree is already an achievement for many. Most people only have an LLB, some pursue a more advanced degree such as an LLM, but others pursue higher degrees such as a SJD or PhD in law. But I decided to pursue two bachelor’s degree in law, in 2 (two) countries, ie Indonesia and the Netherlands. There are many benefits of studying law in both countries, especially if you aspire to qualify as an Indonesian lawyer working in Indonesia. I explain the benefits below.
1. Two Is Better Than One
Two is better than one. I can attest to this saying. The reason is people are more attuned to see more is better. Although having more things does not necessarily translate to something good (in many other cases), but, in respect to having law degrees, having more one degrees means that you have more knowledge about law than someone who has graduated only from one degree (at least, on paper). In my case, having two LLBs from two countries can show how I have significant experience studying abroad as well as good groundings in many areas of law, and coupled with my Erasmus exchange at the University of Warsaw in Poland for a semester, I can say I have studied in three countries in total, obtaining two degrees in law, one in International and European Law and another in Indonesian law.
2. Influence of the Dutch East Indies Colonial Law on Indonesian Law
Although it is uncommon to know any Indonesian-born lawyer who still fluently speaks and writes Dutch, having a working knowledge of Dutch is still beneficial. The main reason is because Indonesian law still has not completely erased its dependence on the Dutch colonial laws, especially true for the Criminal Code (Wetboek van Strafrecht voor Indonesie) and the Civil Code (Burgerlijk Wetboek voor Indonesie). Indonesian laws also adopt many legal terms borrowed from the Dutch terms, and our entire legal system is basically based on the Dutch East Indies colonial legal system. Therefore, having studied in the Netherlands and living in Groningen for about three years or so, makes it easier for me to read Dutch than my peers who have never been exposed to Dutch in any way other than seeing these foreign terms in their law textbooks and court judgments. I can read the original texts of the Criminal and Civil Codes as well as understand other law textbooks still using Dutch terms more easily and therefore makes me a better lawyer since I can understand the real meaning behind these Dutch words because sometimes the Indonesian translations are a bit confusing or not completely fitting.
3. The Netherlands and Indonesia Shared Common History
Every Indonesians know that before the Dutch East Indies came into being, various kingdoms in the islands and regions now called as Indonesia, were under the informal ruling of the VOC or the Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (the Dutch East Indies Company). And for many years, we were then part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands as a colony before finally declaring our independence in 1945. This long history of dealing with the Dutch people means that both countries are inseparable and the evidence of it still remains until today. In Groningen, where I studied my LLB, there are many restaurants and shops selling Indonesian food, and many Dutch people travel to Indonesia every year to visit Bali and other exciting destinations. On the other hand, Indonesia still adopts the civil law legal system and many old colonial laws as explained above. By having two LLBs from both countries, I am able to appreciate the relationship between two countries and in a better position to view both countries’ current conditions more objectively.
4. Qualifying as Advocaat in the Netherlands: Not So Easy
Although it is possible for me to qualify as an Advocaat in the Netherlands if I decided to pursue an additional 18-month long studies in Dutch law and pursue an LLM which then grants me the so-called civiel effect, I did not pursue this route simply because I think it is better for me to qualify in Indonesia because I want to focus my work here in Jakarta, Indonesia and I do not see myself working at the Netherlands, at least in the early years after qualifying as a lawyer in Indonesia. I can say that it is quite difficult to qualify as an Advocaat in the Netherlands for typical Indonesians who have no prior Dutch language skills. If I had had the skills and knowledge, I would have pursued the route, but unfortunately, I did not.
5. An LLB Lasts for Three Years, Much Longer Compared to A One-Year LLM
The other benefit of studying an LLB in the Netherlands is that I can experience triple the time spent by an LLM student. Typically, an LLM program lasts for one year, if there is no delay whatsoever. So, I can say that I really felt like I have lived in the Netherlands long enough to understand the language (although I cannot say that I am completely fluent) and culture and other things like politics, society, etc. The downside of studying for a longer program is of course, the costs. But, other than that, I have no regrets!
I hope my experience above can enlighten future law students who aspire to be an Indonesian qualified lawyer but having enough knowledge and exposure to Dutch language, culture and way of living.
GLENN Wijaya is a corporate lawyer based in Jakarta, Indonesia. He obtained his LLB in International and European Law from the University of Groningen, the Netherlands and his SH from Universitas Pelita Harapan, Indonesia. He is interested in FinTech, data protection, competition, M&A and anything related to Dutch colonial laws. If you have any question, you can reach out to him at g.wijaya27@gmail.com or follow him on LinkedIn.
*Note also that this is a republication of an old article published in 2020, please do your due diligence to ensure the up-to-date developments and changes related to anything discussed in this article.
