Confidential Counsellor for PhD Candidates

Since 2018, Leiden Law School has a confidential counsellor for PhD candidates. As a PhD candidate you can experience problems in the relationship with your supervisor or co-supervisor, your immediate superior, colleagues or other PhD candidates. If you are unable to solve these problems, even with the assistance of the PhD Dean, you can turn to the confidential counsellor for PhD candidates.

What does the confidential counsellor do?

The confidential counsellor is an independent official, who observes strict confidentiality in all matters that you discuss with her. To start with, she will listen to you. Her role is then to clarify the problem together with you and - if you so wish - to provide advice and support in solving it.

The confidential counsellor will not mediate for you or request information from the person or persons that you are having difficulties with. But she can provide assistance at any meetings you would like to have with these persons or if mediation is arranged. She can also accompany to you at a complaints committee hearing if  you decide to take the matter to this authority.

The confidential counsellor is available for all PhD candidates: appointed PhD candidates and PhD fellows, contract PhD candidates and external PhD candidates.

Who is the confidential counsellor?

Dr Rikki Holtmaat is not employed by Leiden Law School. As retired professor who worked at Leiden Law School for more than thirty years, she is well aware of how things work and the possible roads that can be taken to try to find a solution for your problem.

The confidential counsellor reports each year to the Faculty Board on her activities. When doing so, however, she ensures that this information and the nature of the problems put to her are anonymous and cannot be traced back to the person(s) in question.

Contact

You can contact Dr Rikki Holtmaat on workdays per email, and upon appointment. Appointments will be held at a location outside the KOG.