Degrees completed in an EU/EEA country
If you have completed a law degree in another EU or EEA country, you may apply to the Finnish National Board of Education for a decision on eligibility to work in a post or position which requires a Finnish degree of oikeusnotaari/rättsnotarie (Bachelor of Laws) or a Finnish degree of oikeustieteen maisteri / juris magister (Master of Laws). The decision will be issued by virtue of the Act on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications.
Where necessary, the decision will be issued conditionally, which means that you will need to take an aptitude test covering subjects included in the training required in Finland but not included in your own training. The aptitude test will be implemented by a university faculty offering law degrees. The aptitude test covers the following topics:
• Structure and Sources of the Finnish Legal System;
• Law of Obligations;
• Law of Property;
• Family and Inheritance Law;
• Criminal Law;
• Procedural Law;
• Constitutional Law; and
• Administrative Law.
As a general rule, the aptitude test will cover all of the above-mentioned topics. Notwithstanding, those who have completed a juris kandidatexamen or juristexamen degree in Sweden have, as a general rule, only been required to take the Structure and Sources of the Finnish Legal System.
If you have acquired work experience in the legal profession in Finland or completed supplementary law studies in Finland, you may apply for exemption from one or more aptitude test topics. In this case, you are required to enclose the following documents with the application submitted to the Finnish National Board of Education:
1. a detailed account of the aptitude test topics for which you consider your training and work experience to compensate, including a list of work assignments and/or course credits relating to the topic in question;
2. copies of employment and study certificates and other documents referred to in your account.
Once you have completed the aptitude test, you should apply for the final decision regarding your eligibility from the Finnish National Board of Education.
Law degrees completed outside the EU/EEA
If you are not an EU/EEA citizen or if you have completed your training outside the EU/EEA, the Finnish National Board of Education will make the decision on the basis of the Act on Eligibility Provided by Foreign Higher Education Studies for Public Posts in Finland.
The decision-making process involves comparing the scope, content and requirements of your studies with the studies included in the Finnish degree of oikeusnotaari/rättsnotarie (Bachelor of Laws) or a Finnish degree of oikeustieteen maisteri / juris magister (Master of Laws). In support of its decision-making process, the Finnish National Board of Education will request an opinion from a Finnish university faculty conferring law degrees.
As a general rule, decisions require applicants to complete supplementary studies. The applicant is expected to contact a Finnish university to complete the supplementary studies.
A favourable decision on comparability with the Finnish degree of oikeusnotaari/rättsnotarie (Bachelor of Laws) cannot be granted if the total amount of supplementary studies required exceeds 30 credits. Similarly, a favourable decision on comparability with the Finnish degree of oikeustieteen maisteri/juris magister (Master of Laws) cannot be granted if the total amount of supplementary studies required exceeds 60 credits.