Questionnaire Finland

IV.15 How many courses does a public prosecutor have to attend annually?

A permanent training program for public prosecutors as part of their vocational training is developed by the Development Unit of the Prosecutor General’s Office. The training is not mandatory, but all prosecutors are supposed to attend a basic training course lasting six weeks in separate periods during one year. The courses include also ‘home-work’ to be done during this year.
There is also a one-year training course (practising period) for assistant prosecutors. This provides initial training for those intending to become prosecutors.
In addition, there are tailor made specific courses for on separate issues (such as economic crime, drugs, IT-crime, international affairs, co-operation between police and the prosecutor and so forth).
The total number of training days for prosecution personnel in 2004 was 4,000 (including administrative staff), while the total number of prosecutors was around 500.