PAULINE VOLKER

(Law, 1995)

An international lawyer turned Court of Appeal Judge at The Hague.

Pauline Volker

Having completed her undergraduate studies and an MA in Law in the Netherlands, Pauline was keen to extend her student experience at Cambridge with an LLM.

Initially apprehensive about being located away from the main College facilities, Pauline soon saw the benefits of residing at the College’s designated postgraduate campus of Leckhampton.

“I was in awe when I arrived, thinking wow, what have I done in life to deserve this? I was extremely happy from day one, and so grateful for the postgraduate community at Leckhampton.

“I really enjoyed dinners at Leckhampton, followed by drinks in the little bar, and who could forget the legendary Margaret Cathie. She knew all the postgraduate students and made you feel so welcome, she was lovely!”

On leaving Corpus, Pauline returned to the Netherlands to work for international law firm Clifford Chance where she was seconded for a while to work at an investment bank in London. She stayed with Clifford Chance for ten years, specialising in financial law, before becoming a Judge, something she admits she always wanted to do. After nearly a decade into her career as a Judge, she made the switch to the Court of Appeal in The Hague where she has been for the last two years.

Pauline forged lifelong friendships during her time at Corpus and recently travelled over to San Francisco to meet fellow alumna (pictured) Jennifer Marshall (m1995) with whom she travelled across the United States by train to New York to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with Corpus couple Deirdre Pappalardo (m1995) and Dominic 'Donc' Gurney (m1991).

Looking back on her time at College, Pauline recalls “I found it very inspirational, everyone was extremely clever but from such different backgrounds. My life as a student in Holland was quite sheltered, there was not much diversity, unlike at Cambridge, which was so refreshing.”

“Returning to College for reunions over the years has been wonderful. A couple of years ago I joined the Nicholas Bacon Law Society 50th anniversary celebrations, which was an extremely enjoyable and unforgettable experience.”

Pauline and friends attend a May Ball. (l-r) Jennifer, Pauline, Deirdre and Donc.

Pauline and friends attend a May Ball. (l-r) Jennifer, Pauline, Deirdre and Donc.

Pauline and Corpus friends reunited in New York in November 2023. (l-r) Deirdre, Pauline, Donc and Jennifer.

Pauline and Corpus friends reunited in New York in November 2023. (l-r) Deirdre, Pauline, Donc and Jennifer.

"I was extremely happy from day one, and so grateful for the postgraduate community at Leckhampton."