There are several career paths to becoming a lawyer. You must first pass the entrance exam for one of the 12 Regional Professional Training Centers for Lawyers (CRFPA), which exam can only be taken 3 times Law Tuition.
· Hold a Master 1 and/or 2
This competition is only accessible to candidates holding a Master 1 (Bac+4) or a Master 2 (Bac+5). These competitive exams being very selective, it is recommended to prepare for them as part of a preparatory class or an Institute of Judicial Studies (IEJ).
· Pass the CAPA
Once admitted to the CRFPA, student lawyers follow an 18-month training course leading to the issuance of a Certificate of Aptitude for the Legal Profession (CAPA). Only then can they take the bar exam to become a lawyer and take the oath.
· Do your scales in a practice
At the start of their careers, young lawyers often join firms in order to get their “first steps”. The importance of a CV with the perfect balance between know-how and interpersonal skills makes all the difference.
· The aptitude test and knowledge check
Foreign lawyers can also practice the legal profession in France after passing an aptitude test or a knowledge control exam.
· Lawyers exempt from certification/training
Finally, certain professionals can become a lawyer by being exempt from CRFPA training and the CAPA test; this is the case for members of the Council of State, magistrates of the Court of Auditors and the judiciary, as well as certain university professors.
The salary of a lawyer
Although the cumulative income of the 70,000 lawyers represents almost 5 billion euros, individual income is extremely varied. They depend on the legal specialty, diplomas, region of practice and above all experience. Indeed, as lawyers’ fees are not regulated, they are freely set.
At the start of their career, the lawyer receives a median monthly income of 2,200 euros net as an employee of a firm. Note that income gaps can be very significant.
These fees can be paid by the client, or paid, in part or in full, by the State according to the legal aid mechanism. These fees can take the form of a flat rate or be linked to the time spent on the files. Operating costs are added, as well as additional fees which vary depending on the result obtained.
The Bars that recruit the most
Wanting to become a lawyer also requires having chosen the Bar in which to practice. In fact, these professionals must belong to a Bar, that is to say a professional order. There are as many Bars as there are judicial courts, formerly high courts. Also, there is no shortage of opportunities to find job opportunities across the four corners of France.
The leading Bar in France, the Paris Bar is one of the most dynamic employment areas. 58% of lawyers practice outside the Paris region and there are strong disparities depending on the region. Thus, in addition to the quality of life that characterizes it , Lyon is the seat of the 2nd most dynamic bar in France with 3,700 lawyers, while Lille has only 1,333.
Thanks to Monster, discover the job offer that matches your future specialty in the region that attracts you. You could be tempted by job offers in:
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Hauts-de-France
Pays de la Loire
Numerous professional opportunities are available in particular from the Bar Associations of the cities of:
Lyon , 2nd bar in France
Marseille , 4th French bar
Bordeaux , 6th national bar
Lille , 7th bar in France
The first step towards an exciting career
To find collaboration with a law firm that shares your values, add your CV to our CV library , and let recruiters and your future employer discover your talents.