25 May 2023

The Board of Leiden Law School has indicated to the Executive Board that it wishes to resign from its duties with effect from 1 July.

The relationships within the Faculty Board are no longer such that it can function effectively. ‘Leiden Law School needs a strong Board to face the challenges of today and tomorrow, and the five of us can no longer be that’, said the Faculty Board in a meeting with the Executive Board. They were keen to note that this decision was taken by mutual consultation and consent.

Joanne van der Leun will not return as Dean after her sabbatical. As planned, Mirjam Sombroek-van Doorm will transfer her duties as Director of Operational Management to Gertjan Boshuizen with effect from 1 June. Ton Liefaard (Vice-Dean) and Stefaan Van den Bogaert (Vice-Dean) will resign from their positions with effect from 1 July. Assessor Julie Külsen will continue to perform her duties while she trains her successor, who will start in September.

The Executive Board regrets but accepts the decision of the Faculty Board.

Hester Bijl: ‘Leiden Law School has achieved a lot under the leadership of this Board and is in excellent shape. The Executive Board is most grateful for this.’

The Executive Board consulted with the academic directors of the institutes on Tuesday to find an (interim) solution, with the continuity of ongoing projects – such as the Core Vision on Bachelor’s Programmes – and the overall management of the Faculty being a guiding factor. More information will follow as soon as we know more.