Applying for a license

When do you need a license?

The licensed Trial Counsel Act entered into force on 1 January 2013. According to the Act, attorneys and trial counsel who are not attorneys-at-law or public legal aid attorneys require a license to serve as attorney or trial counsel in the ordinary courts. In administrative courts, the license is required in matters involving child welfare.

A license is not required if the attorney or counsel has completed a Master of Laws degree and has an employment or service relationship with the interested party. A lawyer employed by a labour market organisation does not require a license either when dealing with matters related to their employment. Undisputed application matters, undisputed payment demand matters and matters of land law can also be handled by non-lawyers. On the other hand, being a close relative of the interested party no longer gives the right to act as an attorney or counsel in court.

It is the duty of the courts to ensure that a person reporting as licensed trial counsel holds a valid license. The court will consider on a case-by-case basis whether the counsel requires a license for their duties.

How to apply for a license?

The license is applied for in writing from the Board on Trial Counsel, which processes and decides on the application. The license may only be applied for in both national languages, Finnish or Swedish. According to section 6 of the licensed Trial Counsel Act, the applicant must enclose the information necessary for making a decision with the application.

The Board convenes approximately once per month. Applicants should note that application processing times vary according to the number of applications filed and the additional investigations required by individual applications. As a rule, the meeting will only process applications that have been submitted to the Board at least one week before its meeting. If supplementary or additional information is required from the applicant, the processing time will be longer.

In order to avoid having to supplement their application or provide additional information, the Board recommends that applicants use the application form found in the Board’s e-service: https://asiointi.oikeus.fi/oikeudenkayntiavustajaluettelo/avustaja/search and complete it carefully. To expedite the processing of the application, the Board urges applicants to read the information on the application form and on the Boards’s website. As an alternative, the completed form can be submitted to the Board on Trial Counsel by post. In the application, the applicant is required to declare certain information about criminal convictions, prohibitions against appearing in court, disciplinary sanctions imposed by the Disciplinary Board and indebtedness. The applicant is required to attest to the accuracy of the information provided in the application and its attachments and attest that their legal capacity has not been restricted.

Application form

The application form is available in Finnish and in Swedish on the e-service: https://asiointi.oikeus.fi/oikeudenkayntiavustajaluettelo/avustaja/search

How to use e-service:

  1. You can access the e-service via the link below: https://asiointi.oikeus.fi/oikeudenkayntiavustajaluettelo/avustaja/search
  2. You can identify yourself by using the ’Log In’ button.
  3. Select the ’Hae lupaa toimia oikeudenkäyntiavustajana’ button.
  4. Complete the form.
  5. For more detailed instructions, please see the upper right corner.
  6. Please remember to review and submit the completed application and its attachments.