The Legal Services Agency in Finland has announced a major reform proposal to the Ministry of Justice, calling for the closure of more than a hundred offices nationwide. Currently, there are 158 offices, but the proposed changes could reduce this number to just 38 operational sites. The agency notes that many of the existing offices are not fully functional, with 81% of those slated for closure having no staff at all. This significant reduction aims to streamline the agency's operations and enhance efficiency in providing legal services across the country.

Under the new plan, the remaining legal service offices would be concentrated in larger cities including Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, Oulu, Jyväskylä, Lahti, Kuopio, and Joensuu, while some smaller locations such as Kittilä, Kuhmo, Lieksa, and Raasepori would remain operational under special circumstances. Additionally, the internal structure of the agency will change, resulting in nine regional legal aid offices and five guardianship offices, down from the current 22. Financial and debt counseling offices will also be reduced to five.

This reform is part of a broader effort to modernize and consolidate the legal services provided by the agency, addressing resource allocation effectively while responding to the changing needs of Finland's legal landscape. The move is expected to improve service delivery in urban areas while ensuring that essential services are still available in less populated regions, albeit through fewer service points.