How to Become an Attorney in France

French and international students interested in practicing law in France have to learn about the peculiarities of the country's educational system. France, like other European countries, educates its youth on a limited number of topics through secondary school instead of the interdisciplinary course offered in the United States. French public universities offer easy access to higher education than other Western educations, allowing students to take advantage of subsidized education through graduation. An aspiring attorney in France has to go well beyond the initial set of university courses to practice law in Paris, Nice and other French cities.

Instructions

1. Receive your baccalaureate degree from a French secondary school before pursuing legal education in France. This degree is equivalent to an American high school diploma and allows access to any of the country's public universities.

2. Apply to a public university in the French city where you want to practice law. French law professors focus on municipal and regional laws in the first year of legal studies. Municipal agencies and businesses in French cities look for attorneys well-versed in area history and law.

3. Complete the licensing portion of French legal education before proceeding to Master's studies in law. This section of the French law curriculum is designed to weed out students who are not committed to the strong ethical and moral compass required to practice law.

4. Start the M1 stage of French law school on your way to achieving an advanced degree in law. The M1 stage is open to everyone who has passed through licensing and is capable of paying student fees. M1 classes cover broader applications of the law including European Union and international legal standards.

5. Offer your credentials to CRFPA after completing the M1 course to pass the bar under French law. The CRFPA is similar to the American Bar Association and its local chapters in its control over who is licensed to practice law in France. CRFPA requires law students to pass M2 courses and complete an internship before gaining certification as an attorney, a process that takes up to 18 months.

6. Focus on your preferred area of study once you enter the M2 stage of French legal education. M2 courses focus on specific areas of legal practice including criminal law, environmental issues, tort law and legal history.

7. Locate an internship opportunity near your law school to complete the practical aspect of your M2 education. Every attorney in France comes out of the university system with experience in reviewing case law, dealing with French courts and researching client issues due to the internship requirement.

Tips & Warnings

• Develop a relationship with a law professor in your area of study as you progress through your M2 courses. This professor will act as your advisor as well as an invaluable resource if you choose to seek a doctorate in law from the university. Consult with French universities about transfering credits if you have completed a law degree in the United States or Canada. The educational system in France is fairly rigid in terms of separating native French from immigrants. Your law degree may need to be accompanied with an internship and the completion of some M2 courses before gaining certification under the CRFPA.

• Avoid pursuing a legal education in France before proceeding into the M2 stage. M2 students are picked based on their academic accomplishments as well as their commitment to the legal profession. You can leave law school after the M1 stage to steer clear of the rigors of high-level courses and internships if you want to follow a different career path.

Resources

• CRFPA
• HG.org directory of French law schools