Notary

Briefly explain what you do for a living.

I make decisions on the term of imprisonment, which determines, for example, the date of release on parole. I check the enforceability of sentences and if there are any discrepancies, I will submit a request for review to the court.

In addition, I make entries related to the release of prisoners in the information system and ensure that a record of a completed prison sentence is transferred to the criminal record. I also issue warrants during office hours, for example, when a prisoner has left prison without permission.

I respond to requests for information and give statements on matters concerning customers. They can be, for example, about when a prisoner has been released or what sentence they were serving. During office hours, the notaries also answer the enforcement unit’s telephone service for authorities.

How have you ended up in the profession of your choice?

At the beginning of my studies, we visited the Prison and Probation Service, and I became interested in the job opportunities offered by them. Later, I noticed a job posting for an enforcement assistant and decided to apply. When I had been working as an assistant for some time, I started craving for more challenges. Soon I got to work as a notary and I’m still doing that work.

Describe your typical working day or week.

I start my morning by reading my new email messages and checking our customer information system for what the workload for the day is. Then I check the sentences that come to us electronically from the court’s system.

After that I begin making decisions on terms of imprisonment. The day may also include tasks related to the release of prisoners and responding to requests for information.  During the day, I answer calls from coworkers and from courts.

I also collaborate with other units. For example, I collaborate with the probation office to investigate the progress of the enforcement of a sentence. When a case is particularly challenging, we discuss it together with other assistants and notaries.

What kind of work environment or working hours do you have?

I mostly work remotely. I go to the office once a week, but otherwise I can choose freely between working remotely or coming to the office. Our unit must have a notary or an assistant available every day between 8 am and 4.15 pm. I usually work between 8 am and 4 pm, but the hours are flexible when I need it.

What kind of competence or qualities are required in the profession?

Working as a notary usually requires a higher education degree. A degree in law is beneficial, as this work requires knowledge of the Finnish criminal sanctions system and administrative procedure.

In addition, the notary must have the ability to interpret and apply the legal norms in practice. Although decisions on terms of imprisonment are based on legislation, the notary is responsible for determining the legal grounds for the decisions and can exercise their discretion in individual cases.

The work also requires tolerance to pressure, precision and a systematic approach. Good IT skills ensure that the work progresses smoothly, as a notary uses many different systems in their work. A positive attitude will help you cope in the midst of constant changes.

What is the best thing about your profession?

I like the versatility of my work because the cases are very different, so I always learn something new. I also have great colleagues in my unit with whom I can discuss work-related matters with a low threshold.

What are the downsides of the profession or what seems challenging?

Sometimes it’s difficult to plan a working day in advance because there are occasional interruptions. If I receive an urgent call or e-mail, I have to interrupt what I’m doing and move on to another matter. Sometimes being in a hurry or dealing with a difficult case can cause stress.

What would you tell a person considering the profession of a notary?

If you are interested in criminal sanctions work and specialist work in the legal sector, I recommend considering the work of a notary, as it offers a very diverse job description.

How do you see the future of your profession?

This is specialist work, and replacing human involvement would be difficult to achieve. The need for the service provided by the Prison and Probation Service will not disappear in the future. Social debate often leads to changes that also affect our work. It’s important that we develop with the times.

The interview was conducted in cooperation with the Oikeus.fi website.