Lagrådets

Lagrådet, or the Law Council, is a Swedish government advisory body that reviews proposed legislation and certain legal instruments before they are presented to the Riksdag. Its primary task is to ensure that draft laws are constitutionally sound, legally clear, and compatible with fundamental rights, and to identify drafting or legal issues that could affect interpretation or application.

The council typically comprises government representatives and two legally trained members from the judiciary—usually one from the Supreme Court and one from the Supreme Administrative Court—appointed by the government for the purpose of Lagrådets work. Members meet to examine a draft, discuss potential constitutional or legal problems, and prepare an advisory opinion.

Lagrådets opinions are advisory and non-binding; the government may revise the bill in light of the council’s observations before submitting it to the Riksdag. In practice, the input from Lagrådet is regarded as an important quality check, and its involvement is an established part of the Swedish legislative process.

Lagrådet has roots in the 19th century and has since remained a permanent feature of Swedish governance, reflecting a system of checks and balances between the executive, the legislature, and the legal system. The council’s work aims to improve legislative drafting and safeguard constitutional principles without granting it legislative authority.