Subjects:

European Jurisdictions

Contents:

Part 1 Dutch legal culture compared: law in action on a small scale

comparing the legal cultures of the Netherlands and Germany

supply side of legal culture

legal politics

summary - the concept of legal culture. Part 2 The court system: civil and criminal courts

the long way to comprehensive judicial review

""ombuds"" institutions. Part 3 The legal profession: jurists - their work and training

judges

judges in the High Court

attorneys and notaries

social advocacy

""mega law"" firms

competition among legal services. Part 4 Informal justice in Civil Courts: two models of civil justice

Kadi justice

summary proceedings in Amsterdam. Part 5 Criminal policy: contrasts in criminal policy

the pedagogical model in criminal justice

the end of tolerance

public opinion and criminal policy. Part 6 ""Beleid"" - a very Dutch legal term: going Dutch on crimes without victims

the Dutch welfare state in crisis

soft law. Part 7 Dutch legal culture in transition.

This text suggests that the Dutch are pragmatic regarding the law, using it to solve problems, not to create additional ones. This has led to a culture that permits practices contrary to the strict letter of the law. This book reviews the Dutch legal system and the cultural forces that shape it.