Model monograph Finland


Table of contents
List of abbreviations
Preface


General Introduction

§1. General background (information on the political and legal system of the country

§2. Delimitation of the subject matter

      I. Definition of the term 'civil procedure'

      II. Distinction with other types of procedure (administrative, criminal)

      III. Are there separate court systems and rules of procedure?

§3. Sources of civil procedure law (including a brief historical perspective)

§4. General features of the administration of justice in civil matters

      I. Characteristics of the procedure: adversary and/or inquisitorial procedure, role of the judge and of the
      parties, oral and/or written procedure, ...

      II. Fundamental guarantees (Constitution, human rights treaties, general principles of the law):
      establishment of courts by law, independence and impartiality, reasons, publicity, fair trial,
      reasonable time, appeal, etc.


Selected bibliography

Part I. Judicial Organization

Chapter 1. The courts and their members

       §1. Courts

             I. Structure of the court system

             II. Administration of the court

             III. Bench and 'ministère public' / public prosecutuor(if any)

             IV. Appointment of judges (public prosecutors and of members of the 'ministère public')

       §2. Members of the judiciary

             I. Incompatibilities

             II. End of functions

             III. Discipline

Chapter 2. The bar

       §1. Exercise of the legal profession

             I. Conditions for admission

             II. Rights and duties

             III. Discipline

       §2. (Public) institutions and (private) organizations

Chapter 3. The bailiffs

       §1. Exercise of the profession

       §2. (Public) institutions and (private) organizations


Part II. Jurisdiction

Chapter 1. Domestic jurisdiction

       §1. Subject matter jurisdiction

             I. Factors to be taken into account (e.g., the value of the claim, other factors)

             II. Main claims and ancillary claims

             III. Overview of the jurisdiction of the different courts

       §2. Venue (territorial jurisdiction)

             I. Factors to be taken into account

             II. Main claims and ancillary claims

             III. Overview of the different rules

       §3. Resolution of jurisdiction conflicts

       (Special procedures? Special courts? Effects of a ruling on the jurisdiction issue, etc.)

Chapter 2. International jurisdiction

       §1. Rules applicable in the absence of a treaty

       §2. International treaties


Part III. Actions and Claims

Chapter 1. Actions

       §1. Definition

       §2. Admissibility (e.g., standing...)

       §3. Vexatious litigation

Chapter 2. Claims and defenses

       §1. Definition

       §2. Distinctions (main claims, ancillary claims; defense on the merits and procedural 'exceptions')

Chapter 3. Sanctions on procedural irregularities

       §1. Formal requirements

       §2. Time limits


Part IV. Proceedings

Chapter 1. Pre - trial proceedings (if any)

Chapter 2. Proceedings in first instance

       §1. Adversary proceedings

             I. Ordinary proceedings

                   A. Introduction of the claim

                      1. Notice (service, including service abroad, etc.)

                      2. Registration by the court

                      3. Summary judgment (if any)

                   B. Progress of proceedings

                      1. Preparatory measures (including production of docu­ments, exchange of pleadings...)

                      2. Purely written procedure (if any)

                      3. Determination of the trial date

                      4. Trial (including representation of parties, examination by the trial judge, adjournment, etc...)

                      5. Opinion by the 'ministère public' (if any)

                   C. Judgment

                      1. Deliberation

                      2. Different kinds of judgments

                      3. Formal aspects of the judgment

                      4. Notice and service

                      5. Res judicata

                      6. Interpretation and rectification of judgments

                      7. Penalty in case of non-compliance (if available)

             II. Provisional proceedings

       §2. Default proceedings

       §3 Ex parte proceedings

Chapter 3. Review proceedings

       §1. Appeal

       §2. Cassation (if any)

       §3. Extraordinary appeals


Part V. Incidents

For Example:

Interlocutory applications

Withdrawal and discontinuance of action

Challenge of judges


Part VI. Legal Aid and Legal Costs

Chapter 1. Legal aid

Chapter 2. Legal costs


Part VII. Evidence

Chapter 1. Burden of proof

Chapter 2. Admissibility of evidence

Chapter 3. Administration of evidence

       §1. Forced production of documents

       §2. Deposition by witnesses

       §3. Deposition by the parties themselves

       §4. Expert evidence

       §5. Affidavit

       §6. Inspection by judge


Part VIII. Particular Proceedings

Part IX. Seizure for Security and Enforcement of Judgments

Chapter 1. Seizure for Security

       §1. Proceedings

       §2. Judicial review

Chapter 2. Enforcement of judgments

       §1. Enforcement of domestic judgments

             I. Proceedings

             II. Judicial review

       §2. Recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments

             I. Rules applicable in the absence of a treaty

             II. International treaties


Part X Arbitration


Index