Logica Provides Finland with internet based Legal Aid Solution
Citizens to benefit from new system’s speedier service
Logica, a leading IT and business services company, has been chosen by the Information Management Unit of the Judicial Administration to develop online service capabilities that will enable Finns to apply for legal aid online. The new system is scheduled to be completed by mid 2009.
Citizens or their representatives will be able to apply for legal aid through the internet, which will feature a calculator helping applicants to discover whether they are entitled to free legal assistance, or to a legal fee refund. This new service will simplify dealings with legal aid offices and the courts by eliminating the need to file applications in person.
”As society becomes more complex, more citizens will need sound legal advice at some time or the other”, comments Merja Muilu, Senior Counsellor at the Finnish Ministry of Justice. ”Once the baby boomers have retired, judicial administration will have to be handled by fewer staff. This will make eGovernment indispensable in the delivery of legal aid services.”
Logica’s solution will streamline the entire legal aid process: data entered online will be transferred straight to the necessary databases, while the nationwide legal aid register will facilitate easier scheduling of work volumes. The new system also enables the payment of legal counsellor fees and fee reimbursements.
"Judicial administration services will be made available over the internet extensively over the next few years", Muilu foresees, "In the future, it will be possible to initiate actions, and request submission or arbitration, online. With services moving online, it will be ordinary citizens that will benefit the most from the new system’s speedier service.”
Service-oriented architecture - a path to new online services
Within the Finnish judicial administration, all electronic transactions will soon be implemented using a common platform and infrastructure, based on Service Oriented Architecture (SOA).
”SOA seamlessly integrates different information systems and databases into efficient services”, explains Managing Director, Public Sector & Healthcare, Kimmo Koivisto of Logica, Finland. "These systems are open and flexible, ensuring effective workflows between individual organisations, and improving productivity."
The Finnish legal aid system entitles citizens to legal advice, which is publicly funded in full or in part. Applications are handled by national legal aid offices. Finland’s 60 legal aid offices employ around 220 legal counsellors and roughly the same number of administrative staff. In 2008 Finnish legal aid offices processed around 75,000 applications.
Further information
Logica, Kimmo Koivisto, Tel. +358 400 407 001, kimmo.koivisto@logica.com
Ministry of Justice, Merja Muilu, Tel. +358 9 160 675 64, merja.muilu@om.fi
Logica is a leading supplier of IT and business services, with operations in 36 countries. We have 39,000 employees worldwide, around 2,800 of whom are located in Finland. Our service range includes consultations, integrations of IT systems, as well as outsourcing services related to IT and business processes. Logica operates close to its customers, providing services for change, faster growth and risk management. Our expertise in industry and technology and international service ability assist our customers in the development of their competitiveness. Logica is quoted on the London and Amsterdam exchanges. For further information: http://www.logica.fi
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