Alumna Melita van der Mersch: ‘Health law is extremely dynamic’
Melita van der Mersch recently received a ‘Gouden Peer’ award for health law from ‘Mr. Online’. The seed for her interest in this field of law was planted at Leiden University. We spoke about her student days, career, and passion for healthcare.
Why the combination of constitutional and administrative law and civil law in your studies?
‘I found constitutional and administrative law interesting because it’s all about the relationship between citizens and government. Opting for that specialisation, I also did two elective courses in health law. That’s when I knew: this is the area of law I want to work in. I then had a year of student finance left and thought: if I want to go into health law, it would be wise to have a foundation in civil law. Health law spans administrative, civil law, and disciplinary law. So, it was useful to have a broader base.’
How do you look back on your student days?
‘I had a fantastic time. Although I was a serious student, in my first year I decided to join the student association Augustinus. I’m really glad I did, because I didn’t just have lots of fun, I also helped to organise events which taught me a lot. In my years living in Leiden, I fell in love with the city and still enjoy returning to it. And I met one of my best friends here!
Your years as a student are really the basis for the rest of your life: the people you meet, the experiences you have and the skills you develop together with studying, doing a part-time job and being a member of a student association.’
After graduating you specialised in health law. What’s so interesting about that field of law?
'Healthcare is important in all our lives, and it involves both emotional and financial interests. I find that combination of human and business aspects interesting. Health law is also extremely dynamic. Developments move fast, but legislation often lags behind. Every week I come across new problems that make me think: how am I going to solve this?'
After a long time working at law firm Pels Rijcken, you switched to a smaller, more specialised firm. What were you looking for?
‘I completed the full lawyer‑training track at Pels Rijcken, joining as a trainee and eventually going on to become a partner. Reaching that milestone was a proud moment, but the partnership actually proved less fulfilling than I’d expected. So, I faced a choice: continue in a role that wasn’t giving me energy or put my own development first and look for a new challenge. And that’s how I came to work for Velink & De Die.
Though it was quite a tough move, looking back I’m really happy I took the decision. There are six of us working here now and we have very short lines of communication. You’re not just a lawyer, but an entrepreneur too: we decide which clients and cases we take on. That makes my job extra enjoyable.'
Last month, Mr. Online awarded you the ‘Gouden Peer’* for health law. What does this award mean to you?
'Of course I was very honoured. It’s wonderful to be seen as the successor to Johan Legemaate, a professor of health law who made his mark developing this area of law. The fact that my peers think I could be his successor is an amazing compliment.
What makes it even more special is that voters come from both the legal profession and the academic community. It's a great honour that they also voted for me as I’m a legal practitioner, not a professor.'
What do you feel is the most worthwhile part of your work?
‘I’m a lawyer who looks for solutions. That could be anything: a youth care institution that resolves a long-running conflict with a municipality, or a disciplinary case where a doctor and a patient start talking to each other again. It doesn't always work, but when it does, it’s the best feeling ever.'
Finally: what advice do you have for today’s students?
‘Keep an open mind throughout your studies. At first, I was absolutely sure I didn’t want to become a lawyer. If I’d stuck to that idea, I’d never have got to where I am today.
Use your network: do internships, visit career fairs, and talk to graduates. And don’t start worrying that you don’t know what you want yet. I only figured it out in my fourth year – that’s when everything fell into place for me. So, keep your options open and give things a chance.’
* Mr. is a well-known platform for legal professionals in the Netherlands. Unlike many other awards, the ‘Gouden Peer’ is not awarded by an independent jury, but rather by ‘peers’ or fellow legal professionals. The Dutch name for the award, a ‘Gouden Peer’ (golden pear), is a clever play on words. The word peer has two meanings: it refers to the fruit, but also to peers or colleagues. Each ‘Gouden Peer’ is awarded to the most distinguished professional in a particular area of law, chosen by a group of around 20 to 25 peers active in the same field.