juriidilisus

Juriidilisus is a term in Estonian legal theory and sociology of law referring to the quality or state of being juridical; the degree to which social relations, norms, institutions, and acts are governed by law. The word is formed from juriidiline (juridical) + -sus (noun suffix). In practice, juriidilisus denotes the formalization and institutionalization of social life under legal norms, including codified rules, procedures, and recognized legal entities. It is used to describe things like the juriidilisus of contracts, property rights, or administrative acts, meaning that these are subject to legal norms and enforceable through courts and agencies.

Within legal scholarship, juriidilisus is contrasted with other normative orders, such as moral or customary regulation. The concept helps analyze how far a given practice is regulated by formal law versus informal norms. Debates around juriidilisus address issues of legality, legitimacy, and the rule of law, including whether formal legality always ensures fair outcomes or whether law harmonizes with justice.

In practice, observers discuss the juriidilisus of institutions (e.g., courts, regulatory agencies) and public policies as a measure of how tightly they conform to statutory frameworks. The term is most common in Estonian-language legal discourse but can appear in comparative law contexts when describing juridical character across jurisdictions.