Practising law in Finland as a foreign lawyer

Joining the Finnish Bar Association

For: Lawyers who want the title advocate.

1. Have a foreign law degree recognised as equivalent to a Finnish Master of Laws by the Finnish National Agency for Education. A conditional decision is not enough: you need the final decision before the bar exam.
2. Gain at least four years of work experience in law, two of them in advocacy, be at least 25, and show good character and independence.
3. Pass the Bar's examination and be employed in an advocate's office or as a public legal aid attorney, then apply to join.

Judges and prosecutors, and in-house lawyers, are not eligible for membership.

EEA lawyers

For: Lawyers who hold the qualifications of an advocate in an EEA state.

1. You may be accepted as an advocate, but you must pass an examination arranged by the Bar on Finnish law and the practice of law in Finland. The Bar also offers an EU list for those who qualified in another member state.