Pauline Ernste’s research covers the entire scope of civil procedure law. Civil procedure law is essential for the realisation of substantive rights and the resolution of the underlying dispute. It is, however, important that this is done in a manner that affords sufficient legal protection to litigants. Furthermore, civil procedural law contributes to the development of the law and legal uniformity. These important objectives of civil procedural law illustrate the importance of conducting academic research in this field. Ernste’s research focuses on the various forms of (alternative) dispute resolution. In this context, she has, amongst other things, conducted research regarding adjudication, non-binding advice, arbitration, mediation and the Netherlands Commercial Court. In addition, her research has examined proposals for the simplification, modernisation and digitisation of civil procedure law. In future research she will continue to focus on these themes, with general characteristics of dispute resolution and principles of civil procedure law playing a key role.
Dispute resolution requires a costume-made approach. I look forward to continuing to contribute to the academic legal debate on dispute resolution and to keeping students informed of developments in this field through my teaching.
About Pauline Ernste
Prof. Dr Pauline Ernste (1983, Doetinchem) began her academic career at Radboud University, where she obtained her Master’s degree in Civil and Criminal Law in 2006. She subsequently commenced her PhD programme and took up a lecturing post in Civil (Procedural) Law there. In 2012, she obtained her PhD with her thesis ‘Adjudication’, in which she examined, by means of an internal comparison of adjudication with court proceedings, whether the rules of the Dutch Code of Civil Procedure also apply in case of adjudication, and what issues may arise in case of adjudication. Her thesis provided greater insight into the phenomenon of adjudication and its place alongside court proceedings, arbitration and mediation.
After completing her PhD thesis, Ernste worked as an assistant professor at Radboud University for two years. Between 2015 and 2023, she practiced as a lawyer, assisting clients in national and international arbitrations under various arbitration rules and in related proceedings before the Dutch courts (including proceedings before the Supreme Court). In addition to her work as a lawyer, she was affiliated as a lecturer and researcher at Radboud University and VU University Amsterdam. She has been a deputy judge at the Arnhem-Leeuwarden Court of Appeal since 2020. In addition to this, she is chair of the editorial board of a Dutch Journal regarding civil procedure law (Tijdschrift Civiele Rechtspleging), member of the editorial board of a Dutch Journal regarding Dutch case law (Jurisprudentie Burgerlijk Procesrecht), and member of the board of Radboud Business Law Institute (Onderzoekcentrum Onderneming & Recht (OO&R)).