Jusshjelpa i Nord Norge – a Legal Advice Clinic in Northern Norway

Abstract

The area covered by the Clinic must be one of the largest and most remote in the world. It covers the whole of northern Norway from Bodo in the south to Kirkenes near the Russian border, and includes the “counties” of Nordland, Troms and Finnmark. All of it lies within the Arctic Circle, which brings special challenges from the climate and thinly spread population. The permanent base is in Tromso, in offices behind the port loaned from Tromso University. From there student volunteers travel to visit most communes in the area, including Norwegian Lapland. Volunteers attempt to visit clients in each major commune at least twice a year, (cases came from 78 communes in 2003), either upon request, or by advertising a clinic session in the local commune building. Sessions in 28 major communes outside Tromso were held in 2003.

The clinic is one of five similar clinics covering the whole of Norway, all founded upon operational and management principles pioneered by law students at Oslo University in the early 1970s. The Oslo JussBuss (literally the “law bus”) has passed into Norwegian legal legend.