juridiikkaa

Juridiikkaa, or juridiikka, is the Finnish term for legal science or legal studies. It denotes the academic study of law as a discipline, combining theory, method, and practical analysis of legal systems. In Finnish higher education, juridiikka describes the field of study that aims to understand how laws are made, interpreted, and applied, as well as how legal norms interact with society.

The field covers core branches such as constitutional, civil and criminal law, administrative law, private international law, and EU law, as well as procedural law, and international law. It also includes legal philosophy, ethics, jurisprudence, and methods of legal reasoning. Comparative perspectives and interdisciplinary approaches—such as law and economics or law and society—are commonly used to study legal phenomena.

Education and careers: Juridiikka is taught in Finnish universities as part of the law faculty. Students often pursue a Master of Laws degree (oikeustieteen maisteri). Graduates work in public administration, the judiciary, policing, law firms, or as corporate counsel, and many continue with further professional training to become licensed practitioners or judges.Academic research and teaching are also common career paths.

Relation to practice and society: Juridiikka emphasizes both normative analysis of legal rules and empirical study of how law operates in real life. It provides the foundation for professional legal work but is distinct from the practice of law itself, which requires licensure and professional qualification in Finland.