Public legal aid

Statistics on public legal aid describe the matters pending and concluded by public legal aid offices during the year. It is often necessary to have legal assistance in court proceedings and in other legal matters. Basically, everyone should self pay for the legal assistance that they may need. If someone cannot afford the necessary assistance, it may be provided to them partially or fully at the expense of the state. For purposes of legal aid, the state has a network of legal aid offices, which are normally located in the same municipalities as the district courts in Finland. In these offices, legal aid is provided by public legal aid attorneys. Moreover, legal aid can be provided by advocates and by other private lawyers. Legal aid is given in any kind of legal matter and it is always applied for from a state legal aid office. Legal aid is granted on the basis of the applicant’s income, expenditures, wealth and maintenance liability.