Oikeuslähteissä

Oikeuslähteissä is a Finnish term that translates to "sources of law" in English. It refers to the origins and authorities from which legal rules and principles are derived within a legal system. In Finland, as in many other civil law countries, the primary sources of law are legislation and the preparatory works of legislation. Legislation, enacted by the Parliament (Eduskunta), is the most authoritative source and includes statutes, decrees, and regulations. The preparatory works, such as government proposals and parliamentary committee reports, provide context and clarify the intended meaning of the legislation.

While Finnish law is primarily based on codified law, judicial precedent, or case law, plays a significant role. Decisions of higher courts, particularly the Supreme Court (Korkein oikeus) and the Supreme Administrative Court (Korkein hallinto-oikeus), are highly influential and guide the interpretation and application of statutes in lower courts. These decisions are not binding in the same way as in common law systems but carry considerable persuasive authority.

Other sources that can be considered in legal reasoning include legal doctrine, which refers to the writings and opinions of legal scholars, and international law, including treaties to which Finland is a party and customary international law. The application of these sources is hierarchical, with legislation generally taking precedence. The interplay of these sources forms the foundation of the Finnish legal system.