Matti Kurkela, LLD, has a favourite hobby that takes a fair amount of his time and energy: he teaches an optional course in law to students of the University of Helsinki pro bono, or without any compensation.
The global political circumstances have made the course topic, international agreements and US contract law, very current.
“I’ve given the course for two academic years, once per year. The number of students who have wanted to take it has always exceeded the 25 places available. With such positive reception, I’ll be giving the course in both the autumn and spring terms in the coming academic year,” Kurkela says.
Donating time to the University community is one way for Kurkela to pay back his debt of gratitude to Finnish society and the University of Helsinki. Another way to do so is donating money: A fund named after Kurkela, his father and grandfather awards the Kurkela prize every other year to a distinguished student of law at the University of Helsinki.
The acknowledgment is awarded for articles published in English in the field of international commerce.
A distinguished legal expert, Matti Kurkela forged his career in the United States, France and Finland. He is a docent in international commercial law. In 2007 the President of Finland awarded him the title of professor.
While working as a lawyer, Kurkela also wants to teach because he enjoys engaging with students.
“They are active and well-behaved. I really like teaching the course. Then again, I’ve been known to say ‘I love it but it’s killing me.’Teaching is an exhausting hobby if you do it ambitiously,” Kurkela says, chuckling.
Paying a debt of gratitude
Growing up in a free Finnish democracy, Kurkela feels a debt of gratitude.
“We can thank the sacrifices and efforts of previous generations for it. A tenant farmer’s son, my grandfather went on to become a trusted lawyer. This was already possible in democratic Finland a century ago.”
Kurkela is also thankful for his education.
“People always talk about free education, but there is no such thing. My tuition-free education too was paid for by others.”
Now, Kurkela wishes to contribute himself.
“I’ve received pretty much the best education available in the country, and those resources have made it possible for me do things that I’ve enjoyed. That’s where my debt of gratitude comes from.”
Even though Kurkela’s father and grandfather were lawyers, he was not planning to pursue the same path. At a young age, Kurkela dreamt of becoming a paediatrician. By happenstance, he nevertheless ended up studying law at the University of Helsinki.
“I really like children, but after my matriculation examination, I didn’t have the strength to start swotting up for the medical entrance examination. That year happened to be an exception, as you could get into the Faculty of Law solely on the basis of your certificate. I fell down that path, and it wasn’t a bad choice.”
Buoyed by his studies at the University of Helsinki, he was admitted to both Harvard and Sorbonne, earning a master’s degree in law at both.
Interest in international affairs
Kurkela has been interested in international law throughout his career, with particular fascination for the Anglo-American legal system. Compared with the Finnish system, it is ‘flexible and evolving’, in good and bad, which in Kurkela’s eyes makes it interesting.
“It’s not a huge exaggeration to say that you can take almost anything to court in the Anglo-American system. And if you have litigated your case convincingly, you may even prevail. In Finland, it takes years or decades for the Finnish Parliament to enact laws.”