Anttila became an associate professor in criminal and procedural law in 1947, and completed a habilitation thesis in penal law the following year.[1]: 298 In the 1950s, she was the director of a training center for prison staff and published works on criminal law. Anttila was appointed to a full professorship at the University of Helsinki in 1961, becoming the first female professor in criminal law in Finland.[2][3] She became the first director of the Institute of Criminology in Finland's Ministry of Justice in 1963, and led various government commissions on juvenile crime, abortion, and women's rights.[4] During this time, Anttila frequently hosted a "night task force" (yötyöryhmä) at her home as a discussion space where Ph.D. students of criminal law could receive guidance and informal supervision.[3]: 303