Lawyer in Finland

The legal profession in Finland falls under the Advocates Act 1958/496. A lawyer in Finland must observe the Rules of Proper Professional Conduct for Advocates. Legal practitioners in Finland can be either members of the Finnish Bar Association or non-members, but only those who are registered with the Bar are entitled to be called advocates. The Finnish Bar Association was preceded by a registered association with the same name and now has approximately 1,900 members.  The board of the Bar Association supervises the activity of the attorneys in Finland in order to fulfill their duties in discipline. If rules of the legal profession in Finland are not obeyed, the Bar takes a disciplinary action. Lawyers in Finland without membership in the Bar Association may not meet the requirements for an advocate or may prefer not to be subject to the obligations of the legal profession in Finland.

Admission

In order for an applicant to become a lawyer in Finland and become a member of the Finnish Bar Association, it is necessary that the person has a citizenship in Finland or in any other member state of the EU. A degree in law in a Finnish University of five years is also required. Furthermore, it is necessary that the candidate for an attorney in Finland must go through a period of training for four years. Two years of the training period should be spent under the supervision of a law firm. It is also compulsory that the future attorney in Finland passes an examination organized by the Bar. Moreover, the Finnish lawyer must have reached the age of 25 and must be known as honest and suitable for the profession. They must have full legal capacity. Bankruptcy is an obstacle for becoming a member of the Bar Association in Finland.

Forms of practice

Lawyers in Finland can practice the legal profession as sole practitioners, in partnerships or in companies. The Advocates Act though stipulates that practising the legal profession in a company is only possible with another lawyer or under a special grant of the Bar. At the moment, approximately 600 lawyers in Finland work in law firms, out of which 120 are public legal advisers. Attorneys in Finland who are not members of the Bar Association can also find employment in legal aid offices. 

Activities

It is not necessary to be a lawyer in Finland in order to advise on legal matters or offer assistance, but the majority of the legal practitioners hold a master degree in law. Lawyers in Finland can deal with legal matters concerning company law, divorces, real estate purchases, wills and other situations that require the advice of a legal professional.

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