As a criminal defense lawyer, Attorney Leonie van der Grinten stands by people daily during their most vulnerable moments. She combines the intense work in the courtroom with a striking online presence, lectures, and a book, through which she presents criminal law in an accessible way.
For Celebrating the Bold, we spoke with Leonie about the brave choices she makes in her career, how she combines work, private life, and entrepreneurship, and how she stays true to herself. We are happy to put her story in the spotlight.
What does “being bold” mean to you personally?
Being brave. Daring to make choices that no one else dares to make. Being okay with the fact that you can also fail by trying. And then coming back even stronger.
When do you feel at your most powerful? When I am delivering a fiery plea to my clients. But also when I am trying to keep all the balls in the air in both my professional and personal life, and I actually succeed (not nearly always, mind you :)).
Criminal law is a field with a lot of weight and responsibility. What specifically drew you to this part of the legal profession?
I have always found it a tremendous challenge to assist the underdog. As a lawyer, you essentially stand alone (or yes, with your client, of course) against the powerful apparatus of the Public Prosecution Service. You are assisting someone who, according to society, perhaps shouldn't have legal assistance at all (because he or she supposedly no longer deserves a defense). It is a profession where you are called upon 24/7. Arrests do not only take place from 9 am to 5 pm, and certainly not only from Monday to Friday. I can still think the evening before that the next day will be a quiet one, and then wake up in the morning with 20 missed calls and 2 arrests of clients requesting my assistance. Criminal law demands a tremendous amount from you, but I really wouldn't want it any other way.
Criminal law can be intense and require a lot from you, emotionally as well. How do you stay grounded in that, without losing yourself?
I always try to remember (however blunt that might sound): it is not my problem. It is 'simply' my profession. If I were to take all the misery from the cases I see daily home with me in the evening, I wouldn't last in this work. I read and see (via camera footage, for example) the most horrific things. For instance, we also handle sexual offense cases with the firm. I simply cannot afford to replay these images in my head in the evening as well. How do I do that? Actually, it happens automatically. When I close a file, it's done. Then I go home, spend time with my amazing husband and son, go for drinks with friends, exercise, etc. If you can't do that, this profession isn't meant for you.
You are visible via Instagram, lectures, and explanations about criminal law. What drives you to make this profession and these subjects so open and accessible?
There are a lot of prejudices about criminal defense law. For instance, it is assumed that we all wear Rolex watches and drive Porsches. But there are also a lot of prejudices about criminal law itself. Dutch judges are said to hand down sentences that are far too lenient, that life imprisonment isn't really life imprisonment, etc. I felt (about 12 years ago now) that it was high time to offer a different perspective. Through my social media accounts (@meesterleonie, follow me on both Instagram and TikTok), I offer a behind-the-scenes look, you can follow me practically all day long, and I provide text and explanation about how things really work in our profession.
You wrote the book Meester Leonie. What gave you the confidence to tell this story, and what do you hope people take away from it?
My book is actually an extension of my social media accounts, and the goal is the same. I hope to bring the law and society closer together in an accessible way. I hope that after reading my book, the reader will have gained new insights into our profession and a more realistic picture of (the work of) a criminal defense lawyer.
How do you experience combining these different roles? By now, it happens automatically. When I arrive at the courthouse, I grab my phone and make a story. I arrive at Vught Prison: story. I get a question from one of my followers about a legal topic: I make a video. Since I have been active online since my swearing-in as a lawyer, I don't know any different.
Is there a moment or experience in your career that confirmed for you: this is why I do this work?
I think I experience those moments daily. A client falling into my arms crying after a hearing because he or she has been (rightly) acquitted, a client who has turned their entire life around for the better thanks to probation supervision and an alcohol ban, my first murder case with a good outcome, the expansion of my own firm's team… The examples are countless. I go to work with pleasure every day.
What are you looking forward to in the future of your work? Do you see that primarily in new challenges, or rather in deepening what you are doing now?
A combination of both. I just signed my third employee, which means we are now an office of four. I started my own firm before I turned 30 , so we have grown significantly over the past six years. Sometimes I have to pinch myself, but naturally, I am trying to continue that upward trend. Furthermore, I am actually incredibly happy with where I am now, and my newest challenge is to get the work-life balance even better in order.
What does success mean to you? Apart from titles, achievements, or visibility?
Success can be found in the smallest things. Yesterday, when I was putting my two-year-old son to bed, he said: 'Mommy is veeeery sweet.' I may have assisted the biggest criminals during the day, but if he goes to sleep happy and content, that is perhaps an even greater success.
Who is a woman you admire for her guts – and why?
Eva Jinek. A woman who had to fight hard for her place. A smart, talented woman who isn't afraid to stick her head above the parapet. I love that.
What advice would you give to women who dream of more but are hesitant?
Read the book by – yes, you guessed it – Eva Jinek. In 'Droom groot' (Dream Big), she interviews a selection of pioneers and role models who achieve exceptional results and are willing to share everything they had to do and give up to get there. The result: inspiring stories from top female performers. Apart from that, I refer back to my answer to the first question. Be brave. Make the choice that no one else dares to make. Be okay with the fact that you might fail by trying. Only to come back stronger than ever.
Finally: What is your favorite piece of jewelry by Eline Rosina?
I have been a fan of Eline Rosina for years. They make high-quality (what am I saying: amazing) jewelry that is perfect for both business and casual wear. I usually wear small huggies with diamonds because I can sleep with them on, so in the morning (as far as my ears are concerned, haha) I am immediately 'ready'. On weekends, I go all out with a large hoop, and I also think ear cuffs are totally awesome. Since my face (including my ears, that is) is the only thing visible above a gown, I might as well stand out with that, right?