Dr Rianne Herregodts and Pro Facto join hands for research commissioned by NOvA

Rianne Herregodts, associate professor in the Department of Constitutional Law, Administrative Law and Public Administration (SBB) of our faculty, will conduct research together with research firm Pro Facto on behalf of the Netherlands Bar (NOvA). The research focuses on the field of supervision, disciplinary and complaint law.

Tasks for Independent Supervisor of the Legal Profession

Following the previous administration, the NOvA is in favor of establishing a national institute called the Independent Supervisor of the Legal Profession (OTA). This institute should deal exclusively with the supervision of attorneys at law. In the NOvA's proposal, the handling of complaints against lawyers would remain with the local deans, who are also currently in charge of supervision.

Last summer, however, the House of Representatives passed a motion urging that both supervision and complaint handling be placed with the OTA. In response, the General Council of the NOvA plans to commission a further study to arrive at a definitive vision.

Offer solution to impasse

Herregodts and Pro Facto will map the field of supervision, disciplinary and complaint law for the legal profession and outline various modalities for its implementation. The results, which are expected to appear before summer, should offer a way out of the current impasse in the discussion on supervision.

This article was published by the Faculty of Law.