‘We are the legal conscience of the IND’

The Corporate Legal Cluster forms part of the Legal Affairs Department of the IND. The lawyers in this team advise colleagues on operational matters and digital public services. 

The biscuit factory

In plain terms, what exactly does the Corporate Legal Cluster do? "Let me explain with a metaphor," Diederick laughs. ‘Imagine the IND as a biscuit factory. We do not advise on what goes into the biscuits, but on everything else that goes into baking and selling them: the factory, the people, the machinery, production, packaging, transport and the legal safeguards required to keep the factory running and protected.’

‘In a nutshell, we handle virtually all legal matters at the IND, apart from granting residence permits. Examples include procurement issues, liability matters, formal authorisation frameworks, new laws and regulations, and legal advice on integrity issues. We are effectively the IND's legal conscience. The work of a corporate lawyer is indispensable for a public body that wants to act reliably and within the boundaries of the law.’

‘Never a dull moment’

A typical working day for Diederick is varied and demanding. As he puts it: ‘never a dull moment’. He attends meetings and advises on decisions colleagues need to take, ensuring they are legally sound. ‘Sometimes it is about tightening up the legal basis of a decision. Sometimes it is about identifying risks or providing direction,’ he explains.

As a team coordinator, he is also responsible for keeping an eye on the bigger picture. ‘I contribute to substantive legal issues, but I also ensure consistency within the team and serve as a sounding board for colleagues. Particularly in the area of ICT law. That's my specialism, so I take a keen interest in digitalisation.’

Laws and regulations

That keen eye is essential, because digitalisation at the IND is much more than just a technical matter. It also touches on laws and regulations, for instance, on how the government communicates with citizens and how technology is used. ‘I work on translating legislation into practice, such as the Digital Government Act’, Diederick explains. ‘I explore ways to implement it in our organisation and explore the consequences for our operational process. 

'Laws may be perfectly clear in theory, but raise all sorts of questions in practice’, he continues. ‘Who has what powers and responsibilities? And how do we ensure everything is done diligently and lawfully? I map out key focus areas and translate them to clear frameworks, to help colleagues steer clear of uncertainty and legal risk later.  

Finding solutions

Diederick stresses that his work is not always about winning a legal argument. ‘You can be entirely correct legally speaking, but you always have to ask yourself: is this reasonable? Does it do justice to the person concerned?’

He can still vividly remember an integrity case involving an IND employee who had been stuck in an employment dispute for years. Diederick provided legal advice in the matter. ‘Situations like that can take over your life,’ he says. ‘Instead of focusing solely on the legal battle, you can ask whether it is necessary to pursue the matter to the bitter end, or whether a solution can be found that properly reflects all interests involved. In this case, that proved possible. Solving puzzles like that makes me proud and grateful. It did not just produce an outcome; the employee felt heard.’

Flying start at the IND

‘What I like most about my job is that I get to contribute to solutions that reflect the kind of diligent, humane organisation the IND wants to be.’

For Diederick, that is precisely what makes the IND such an appealing place to work. ‘I've been here for 25 years for good reason,’ he laughs. ‘I've had every opportunity to develop, to take on different roles and to specialise. I would encourage anyone starting out in the legal profession, from litigation representative to corporate lawyer, to begin here. You are given the chance to grow and to learn your craft in practice.’

‘And you apply your knowledge within an organisation that contributes to Dutch society,’ he concludes. ‘That, in itself, gives the work value and meaning.’