Intern insights: achievements at The Legal Desk
The Legal Desk
The Legal Desk of The Gate was established two years ago to provide legal support to innovative student teams and startups in the Brainport region, by HBO law students. This unique collaboration focuses on both student teams and student startups, where both groups benefit from the legal expertise offered by the interns at The Legal Desk.
At The Legal Desk, interns get the opportunity to gain valuable practical experience in a dynamic and supportive environment. In this article, we share the inspiring success stories of four of our talented interns: Peter van Kessel, Timber van Zwieten, Lucas van Geloven, and Farshid Bajowri. Their experiences at The Legal Desk clearly illustrate the impact this internship has had on their professional development and show how they have contributed to the success of the projects they have worked on.
“One of my most challenging cases involved new legislation on the crypto market''
Peter van Kessel: From Legal Desk to Legal Professional
Peter van Kessel, 29, chose The Legal Desk because of his passion for corporate law and technological innovations. During his internship, he was the legal contact point for students and startups at Eindhoven University of Technology. Peter explains: “One of my most challenging cases involved new legislation on the crypto market. Despite the complexity, I managed to provide accurate advice that was later confirmed by a lawyer.”
He is proud of his work for Fundle: a startup that helps companies grow customer loyalty. Peter adds: “What else am I proud of? The professional growth I have experienced. I have become better at conducting intake interviews and presenting legal information to non-legal persons.” He also emphasizes: “You are responsible for accepting clients, determining the case, researching, and advising. You run your own advisory office with the support of many experts, teachers, employees at The Gate, and access to The Gate's extensive network.”
“You make giant steps in independence, advising, and in daring to trust your own advice and research''
Timber van Zwieten: An Emerging Legal Talent
The 23-year-old Timber van Zwieten found an internship at The Legal Desk through his teacher, which turned out to be an enriching experience. Timber had the freedom to provide independent legal advice and apply his legal knowledge in practice. Timber shares: “A complex case on crypto legislation required help from experts but resulted in a successful outcome.”
Timber is particularly proud of his graduation research on labor law, which proved valuable for several clients. Timber says: “My collaboration with Luc from CritricLabs was especially rewarding due to Luc's enthusiasm and appreciation.” He further adds: “You make giant steps in independence, advising, and especially in daring to trust your own advice and research, because for many people it will be the first time there is no teacher to ultimately agree with you.”
“The internship at The Gate is a challenge, but a very educational one''
Lucas van Geloven: From Student to Professional
Lucas van Geloven, 28, handled real legal issues and applied theoretical knowledge in practice, particularly in the field of intellectual property law. Lucas shares: “A challenging case on protecting IP for a startup product was a valuable learning experience.”
He is proud of his work for the startup OpenMaze, where he brought important privacy issues to light. Lucas looks back positively on his experience: “The internship at The Gate is a challenge, but a very educational one. Here you really learn to apply the legal part in practice!”
“A challenging case taught me a lot about liability risks and the need for airtight contracts”
Farshid Bajowri: Proactive and Independent Work
The 25-year-old Farshid Bajowri started his internship at The Legal Desk in August 2023. His interest in corporate law and the opportunity to work independently attracted him. Farshid explains: “A challenging case where I helped a student team with contract negotiations taught me a lot about liability risks and the need for airtight contracts.”
Additionally, Farshid is proud of his contribution to setting up a business for students and his role in advising on the best legal forms. Farshid about his experience: “I valued the collaboration with my favorite startup founder Manuel, and the opportunity to be part of groundbreaking projects like those of Team Virtue.” Farshid concludes: “The Legal Desk is a place where you get the opportunity and freedom to develop yourself.”
Conclusion
The experiences of Peter, Timber, Lucas, and Farshid show how valuable an internship at The Legal Desk can be. They have not only honed their legal skills but also developed important professional competencies such as working independently, effective communication, and providing reliable legal advice.
Apply?
Would you like to intern at the support desk of The Gate and provide valuable insights to startups? Send your CV and motivation to info@thegate.tech.