As a notary, you always look at both sides of the same story; you help both parties.

The Royal Dutch Notary Association (KNB) is constantly welcoming new members. Who are these people who choose a career in notarial practice? Why did they choose this profession, and what are their expectations? Every month, we spotlight a brand-new candidate notary. This time: Liselot Baron.

Liselot wanted to be a lawyer when she was younger. She followed her grandmother's advice, and she felt it was a perfect fit for her, as she was a strong verbal speaker. And because she wanted to help people. "I wanted to do something with children's rights."

She chose the notarial law program after receiving information about all the study programs during her first year of law school in Groningen. "With notarial law, I thought, 'Wow, this is a great fit for me.' When I told my parents and boyfriend about it, they were completely on board."

After completing her master's degree, Liselot started last month as a candidate civil-law notary at the notary office of Mr. Adam Elzinga in Assen. There, she focuses on family and real estate law. "Before this, I had already been working as a student for two and a half years. It's really great to be able to draft these deeds myself now. I also enjoy working at a smaller office, a place where you're aware of each other's work and where you can easily ask a colleague something. A small team like that suits me well."

What do you like most about being a notary?
The interaction with people. One moment you're meeting with a couple who just bought their first home and are thrilled, the next you're drafting a will for someone who's about to pass away. In both cases, you help people properly document their wishes. As a notary, you always see both sides of the story, helping both parties, for example, with the distribution of an estate. I enjoy figuring out how best to put that into writing for my clients.

Do you want to become a notary?
"I mainly want to learn a lot first. I think I want to become a registered notary, but I'm not sure I want to become an entrepreneur myself. There's a lot involved that has little to do with the notarial profession. But maybe someday I'll take on the challenge."

What would you like to change about the notary's office?
Some people find it quite daunting to go to a notary. This can lead to them not arranging things properly. I think that's a shame, and I'd like to change that. This could be done, for example, through a campaign from the Royal Dutch Association of Civil-Law Notaries (KNB) or the government, which would bring more people into contact with notaries.