P.J.M. van den Biggelaar (born in Helmond, the Netherlands, on 25/3/1952), Master of Law, is the retired Executive Director of the Dutch Legal Aid Board
(LAB). Since his retirement as from 1 April 2016 he is still connected with the LAB as legal aid expert.
In 1992 he joined the Legal Aid Board in 's-Hertogenbosch, which was in the process of being formed. Since March 1993 appointed as executive director of the Legal Aid Board ('s-Hertogenbosch, which was one of the five Legal Aid Boardsin the Netherlands.
After the merge of the five Legal Aid Boards (February 2009) he worked for the National Legal Aid Board as executive director.
Member of the Steering Committee of the International Legal Aid Group (ILAG) since 2007and vice-chair as of June 2017.
Participant for the Dutch Legal Aid Board in national and international multi-stakeholder access to justice and legal aid seminars, conferences and projects. Participated as medium - and short-term legal aid expert in international projects on access to justice and legal aid, including projects in Eastern Europe, ENI East region, and Asia (e.g. Russian Federation, the People’s Republic of China, and the Republic of Azerbaijan)
After retirement:
UNDP Project Enhancing Access to Justice and Deve lopment of a Child-Friendly Justice System in Georgia 2018. Author of the report about methodology for workload measurement of legal aid services & statistical reporting system. Council of Europe Project Support to legal aid reforms in “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” 2018. Author of the assessment report to evaluate the current state of affairs regarding the existing difficulties preventing a higher number of lawyers being willing to provide legal services under the free legal aid system.
Member Expert Group Meeting on The Quality of Legal Aid Services in Criminal Justice Systems UNODC 2018.
TAIEX/EU Peer Review Assessment Expert mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Free Legal Aid 2018 Co-author of the report.
Member of the delegation for Legal Aid Governance Models and Independence Council of Europe Ukraine 2018.
Expert for the Legal Aid Seminar CHINA-UNODC 2018.
Workshop quality standards for legal aid provision in the pre-trial phase of criminal proceedings EU Bulgaria 2018.
Legal Aid expert for EU project Bulgaria Guarantees for effective access to legal aid in pre-trial phase of proceedings 2017.
Participant Roundtable IBA Belfast 2017.
Legal Aid expert for China-EU Legal Aid Policy Dialogue EU 2014-2017.
Member of committee for the Assessment of the free secondary legal aid (FSLA) system in Ukraine in the light of Council of Europe standards and best practices (the assessment covers the system of providing of FSLA in criminal cases and in cases of administrative detention) Council of Europe 2016-2017.
Official visit Moroccan delegation December 2, 2015 and 3 days workshops in Rabat for Ministry of Justice, Judiciary, Prosecution and Bar 2016