Erilaissa

Erilaissa is a Finnish term sometimes used in discussions about law to refer to a statute or regulatory framework that governs a particular matter or group in a way that differs from the general body of law. In formal Finnish legal language, the corresponding and more common designation is erillislaki, meaning a special act. As a result, erilaissa is mostly seen in scholarly writing, legal commentary, and media as a descriptive phrase rather than a strict legal category.

Etymology and usage notes: The word is formed from components meaning “separate” and “law,” with a suffix that situates the sense of locality or applicability. Because erilaissa is not a fixed term in the codified statute system, its precise meaning and scope can vary depending on the author or context.

Context and interpretation: Erilaissa is typically employed when authors want to emphasize that certain provisions operate under a separate legal regime from the general law. It may be used in debates about policy design, regional differences, or sector-specific regulatory schemes to signal that a law does not apply uniformly.

Limitations: Since erilaissa is not an official technical term, its interpretation is informal and context-dependent. When exact legal status matters, references to erillislaki or to specific named acts are preferred.

See also: Special law, erillislaki, Finnish law, legislative terminology, comparative law.