Our mission statement

We believe that access to the law is of fundamental importance in a democratic society. Everyone should be able to exercise their rights, but sometimes this is difficult. Complicated forms, language problems or lack of money are real problems. By providing legal advice for free, we hope to reach as many people as possible.

By working for our organisation, students can also gain useful work experience which will help them in their future careers.

More information

Please contact us if you have any questions at all. Most of our staff speak English and we have a number of people who can speak other languages too. If necessary, we will do our best to find a suitable interpreter.

Who are we?

The Leidse Rechtswinkel is a voluntary organisation, which offers free legal and fiscal advice to people in Leiden and the neighbouring villages. The organisation was set up in 1972 and helps 3.500 to 4.000 cliënts a year.
The word ‘Rechtswinkel’ is Dutch for ‘law shop’. Our aim is to provide easy access to legal advice to people who cannot afford expensive lawyers. In total, there are 77 such projects in The Netherlands.

What we do

About 120 law students from the University of Leiden and a team of administrative volunteers provide support in a variety of different legal fields:

  • Work related issues (contracts, wages, employers)
  • Income tax and local taxes
  • Family issues (adoption, divorce and visiting rights)
  • Consumer problems (broken goods, issues with contracts)
  • Housing and government related matters (landlords, rent, neighbours)
  • Criminal Law and the police (trials, courts, fines, bailiffs)
  • Immigration (dual nationality, residency permits)

We can:

  • Write official letters
  • Fill in (tax) forms
  • Lodge appeals against government decisions (including tax)
  • Make a complaint against the police or the government
  • Explain procedures and documents
  • Help you get legal aid
  • Help you find a lawyer or different expert

It is possible to make an appointment with an advisor by telephone (071 5 14 15 16) or by visiting our reception during opening hours.

What we don’t do

We are not lawyers and can’t represent you in front of a judge. We also can’t assume responsibility for tax returns. Our role is simply to support clients and to provide advice.

What does it cost?

Our services are free, but we welcome a (small) donation to cover our costs.
If your income exceeds €33.000 we ask for a € 20 contribution.

Confidentiality

We treat our clients' cases with confidentiality. This means that we will not give information about your case to third parties. Out services are subject to our general terms and conditions. These are available in English at the reception desk.