We regulate

We regulate the work of attorneys-at-law and the practice of advocacy in Finland. We approve new attorneys-at-law and issue the licences needed to practise advocacy.

In addition to statutes and the Finnish Bar Association’s by-laws, attorneys-at-law must comply with our Code of Conduct as well as other applicable regulations and policies. Copies of these policies can be found in the For attorneys-at-law section (available in Finnish or Swedish).

We oversee

We oversee the work of attorneys-at-law in two ways:

General oversight is coordinated by the Board of the Finnish Bar Association and consists of annual office inspections, inspections within the meaning of the Act on the Prevention of Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism as well as indebtedness investigations.

There is also an independent supervisory body functioning alongside the Finnish Bar Association called the Disciplinary Board, which oversees the professional conduct of attorneys-at-law, public legal aid attorneys and licensed legal counsels. In addition, the Disciplinary Board handles complaints about attorneys’ performance.

We train

Attorneys-at-law are subject to an annual training obligation, which requires them to complete 18 hours of in-service training every year. We provide high-quality training for our members in classroom settings, remotely and online.

We administer the bar examination

We are responsible for administering the three-part bar examination.

We develop legislation

The Finnish Bar Association includes 19 expert teams representing different fields of legal specialisation, which actively issue opinions on a variety of legislative proposals. Our experts are frequently asked to speak at meetings of Parliamentary committees.

Our job as a community of attorneys-at-law is to look at legislative proposals specifically from the perspectives of ensuring the legal rights of both individuals and organisations and defending constitutional rights.

The Finnish Bar Association’s mission, vision and strategy

The mission of the professional body of attorneys-at-law is to safeguard the rule of law. In every constitutional state, there exists a body of attorneys-at-law independent from governmental authority, which offers high-quality, reliable legal services to individuals and organisations alike.

The vision – or long-term goal – of the community of attorneys-at-law is for everyone to trust attorneys-at-law. Both individuals and organisations view attorneys-at-law as skilled providers of professional legal services. In society, there is a broad consensus on the significant role of attorneys-at-law in the development of judicial conditions. Membership in the Finnish Bar Association is felt to be useful and valued.