Justice system and legal aid

Estonian court system

Estonia has a three-level court system. County, city courts and administrative courts adjudicate matters in the first instance. The majority of courts of first instance are situated in county centres. The courts of second instance hear the appeals against decisions of courts of first instance. Courts of appeal are courts of second instance (sometimes also called circuit courts). The courts of appeal are situated in Jõhvi, Tartu and Tallinn. The Supreme Court, situated in Tartu, is the court of the highest instance.

A statement of claim is filed with the court of first instance, an appeal with the court of second instance and an appeal in cassation with the court of third or the highest instance. A matter shall be heard in the Supreme Court only after all previous court instances have been passed. The filing of an appeal is governed by respective codes of court procedure.

Additional information

Attorneys at law

In Estonia, only members of the Estonian Bar Association may provide legal services as attorneys. Estonian Bar Association is a self-governing professional association acting on local government administration principles established on 14 June 1919 for the organization of the provision of legal service in private and public interest and defending of the professional rights of the attorneys. Since 1992 Estonian Bar Association is a member of the International Bar Association (IBA) and since 1 May 2004 a full member of a body uniting the bar associations of the member states of the EU (CCBE).

Additional information

Estonian Bar Association: http://www.advokatuur.ee