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If you seek to immigrate to France as a lawyer, you have come to the right place. Immigration rules and processes differ based on nationality and reason for the move. EU nationals will not need a visa to enter France, although non-EU lawyers can apply for long-stay visas for longer periods. As a lawyer, you may look into getting a professional activities visa, which permits you to operate in France. A French immigration lawyer may assist you with the visa application procedure and immigration to other European nations.

Legal System in France

France has a civil law legal system. Laws are normally codified, but judges must interpret the law, and rulings of higher courts have some effect (but are not binding) on lower courts. France is one of the 28 European Union (EU) member countries and is subject to EU legislation.

France’s court system is divided into two branches: 

  • Judicial. The judicial branch (ordre judiciaire) handles criminal and civil litigation
  • Administrative. The administrative branch (ordre administratif) oversees the government and handles administrative law matters.

Lawyer’s Job Description in France

If you want to immigrate to France as a lawyer, first, you must know what you will be responsible for in the country. A lawyer:

  • Provides legal advice to clients and represents them in criminal and civil proceedings.
  • In civil, criminal, divorce, and other legal cases, conducts research, obtains information, interviews clients and witnesses, writes legal briefs, and creates strategy, arguments, and testimony to formulate defense or to commence legal action.
  • Client representation in court and before quasi-judicial or administrative authorities of the government.
  • Practices legislation throughout its many stages.

Categories of Lawyers in France

Before you immigrate to France as a lawyer, you must learn about their categories to know what you will do in the country. In France, there is just one type of lawyer (avocat). Avocats or lawyers are outside counsel who advise clients on all legal concerns and represent them in court or other conflict resolution organizations (arbitration, mediation, etc.). It is a regulated profession supervised by a professional body and governed by certain ethical guidelines. In France, there are no in-house attorneys.

After attaining a special qualification, certain lawyers can appear before the Highest Courts (Conseil d’Etat) and the Court of Cassation (Cour de Cassation).

Experts in intellectual property (IP) law can help, advise, and represent clients in IP cases before the French National Institute of Intellectual Property (INPI) and the European Patent Office after passing a professional test and meeting certain qualifications and experience requirements (EPO).

Some regulated professions offer legal advice on specific issues, such as:

  • Bailiffs who have the exclusive authority to enforce court orders and serve legal documents.
  • Notaries who have the authority to authenticate acts.

Both are public servants bound by the rules of their respective professional organizations.

Can Foreigners Be Lawyers in France?

Yes. You can immigrate to France as a lawyer and start a new career. The professional body, on the other hand, has established certain requirements. Foreigners wishing to practice law in France must first receive permission from the Ministère Public. To obtain a state license, a person must meet the following requirements:

  • Be born somewhere other than France;
  • Be naturalized under Article 27 of the Constitution;
  • Have completed secondary school and been admitted to a higher education institution
  • Having satisfactorily completed a two-year course leading to professional membership;
  • Take and pass a written exam.

To immigrate to France as a lawyer and practice law, You must hold a legal degree in France or an equivalent degree with at least three years of post-secondary education. In France, the legal system is complicated, multidimensional, and ever-changing. Being a lawyer in France necessitates a thorough understanding of French law, which differs from the legal systems of the UK and the US. To choose whether you want to pursue a law degree in France, you must first determine your required background.

Job Prospects for Foreign Lawyers in France

Attorneys in France are commissioned by the government and are legally protected. They primarily specialize in civil cases and provide efficient legal services to those who cannot afford them. 

Although there is a growing demand for lawyers from businesses, most work in the government or judicial sectors. In recent years, the legal labor market in France has changed substantially. According to the French Bar Association, the number of lawyer jobs will be cut by 30% by 2020. This is because the legal market is becoming more digital, making it difficult for lawyers to find work. 

Many people have begun to enter the legal profession since they realize it is a profitable and steady professional path. Therefore, individuals with a strong interest in the law and fluency in English and French should consider studying law in France.

Infographic How to Work and Immigrate to France as a Lawyer

How to Immigrate to France as a Lawyer?

Attorneys qualified outside France may practice in France under specific requirements, which vary depending on whether they are qualified within or outside the EU.

Immigrate to France as an EU Lawyer

EU attorneys who are eligible in their own countries may practice and represent their clients in court in France under their own names. There are no limits on EU attorneys providing temporary legal services in France. They can seek the title of avocat in France and join through registration with a French Bar organization after three years of regular practice in France.

Immigrate to France as a Foreign Lawyer

Attorneys qualified outside of an EU member state, also referred to as foreign lawyers, can perform temporary legal services in France under their titles. These services provide legal counsel in both international and local law in their native country. The National Bar Association (Conseil National des Barreaux or CNB) grants this competence if the foreign lawyer meets certain qualifications (for example, of morality and insurance).

This authorization can be issued temporarily (for a year) or permanently after being authorized to practice in this capacity by the CNB; the foreign lawyer must contact their local French Bar organization to request inclusion on the list of foreign legal consultants.

Registration Process

EU and foreign attorneys seeking to practice in France must apply to the CNB to be registered with the local Bar association of the area where they intend to settle.

Bar Association Admittance

EU attorneys must demonstrate that they are a lawyer in another EU member state, the European Economic Area (EEA), or the Swiss Confederation, or that they are a lawyer enrolled with a Bar organization in one of these nations.

Foreign attorneys must demonstrate that they are registered with a foreign Bar organization on the date of application and that their state of origin authorizes French lawyers to practice under reciprocal terms.

Since 2009, under a mutual recognition agreement with Québec, applicants must have obtained either an LLB in law or any equivalent degree in Quebec, or a license to practice law in Québec, or be registered with the Québec Bar Association as a practicing lawyer, and demonstrate that their activity is supported by professional liability insurance at least equal to that in force for French attorneys.

Legal Education, Workplace Training and Qualifying Tests

EU and international applicants for the French Bar must make an official request to the CNB. After that, it has two months (for foreign attorneys) or three months (for EU attorneys) to approve the application and permit the candidate to take a specialized legal exam.

EU attorneys can seek to be admitted to the French Bar by passing a French law exam consisting of one to four exams, as defined by the CNB, following an examination of the candidate’s higher education and professional experience.

Regardless of their professional experience or qualifications, foreign attorneys must pass the same French legal exam, which consists of two written examinations and two oral tests.

Non-European nationals who fulfill the education and professional practice criteria are excused from the practical training and the Certificate of Aptitude for the Legal Profession (CAPA), but they must take an examination to test their understanding of French law. Applications should be sent to the Council national des barreaux. This evaluation examination consists of the following components:

  • Two written exams. A civil pleading test and a written test on legal consultation on a topic area chosen by the candidate from business, labor, criminal, or administrative law, each lasting three hours.
  • Two oral tests. A twenty-minute report on a subject chosen at random by the applicant on French civil, criminal, or administrative proceedings or the French legal system, and a fifteen-minute interview with the examination board about professional norms and ethics.

If applicants request it, the Conseil national des barreaux may give an exemption from the examinations on account of their university or scientific studies, including dissertations, theses, or published papers or books. However, this implies that the Conseil national does not consider candidates’ professional experience or degrees.

Furthermore, under a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (ARM), attorneys enrolled with the Québec bar must complete an examination examining their fundamental understanding of French law.

Under a mutual recognition agreement, Quebec candidates only needed to take a single 15-minute oral exam on French Bar rules and ethics.

Note: Both attorneys are exempt from the 18-month training term the Bar School requires.

Local Description

Foreign attorneys can practice as lawyers in France after enrolling with a local French bar association. However, foreign attorneys who do not seek admission to the French Bar or who fail the requisite exam can only advise on their home country’s law as foreign legal consultants. In this regard, once permitted by the CNB to operate in this capacity, they must register to be included on the foreign legal advisor list with the local French Bar of their choosing.

Tips for the Bar Association Registration

Lawyers can establish professional residence when registering with a bar; a previous internship is no longer required. Nonetheless, attorneys have various responsibilities:

Obligations of the Association

Professional residences must be established within the jurisdiction of the district court where they are created. In addition, attorneys must have their own, rent, or sublet office space.

Administrative Obligations 

After eight days of beginning their activity, lawyers must file a statement at a business process center. The business processes center will report this information to the non-salaried employees’ social security fund, the tax center, the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Research (INSEE), and the Social Security and Family Allowance Contribution Collecting Office (URSSAF).

Obligations as a Professional

Fees are payable to the French Bar Association, the CNBF or the National French Bar Fund, the URSSAF, and the Conseil national des barreaux. They must also arrange for professional insurance, operational loss insurance, and supplemental retirement benefits.

Accounting Obligations 

The dual account system is used to keep track of accounts. In addition, attorneys seeking tax assistance receive assistance from the National Association for Administrative and Tax Assistance (ANAAFA).

Continuing Education

Pay the URSSAF a yearly fee for professional training.

What are the Benefits of Immigrating to France as a Lawyer?

There are numerous advantages to becoming a lawyer. The position provides good career options and the opportunity to earn money while helping others. It also gives its practitioners an opportunity; here are a few advantages:

  • More flexibility
  • Job security
  • Better career path
  • Salary
  • Independence
  • Excellent working conditions
  • High social recognition
  • International mobility

How Much is the Salary of Lawyers in France in 2024?

In France, the average annual salary for an attorney is roughly 94,700 EUR. Wages range from 43,600 EUR (the lowest) to 151,000 EUR (the highest).

When comparing lawyer wages across areas, several cities stand out. Lawyers in Paris make more than those in Lyon, Marseille, and Toulouse. Lawyers practicing in the southwest of France earn the highest monthly salary.

The essential criterion in determining pay is the amount of experience. Naturally, the more years of experience you have, the greater your salary. This is what we discovered after breaking down Attorney wages by experience level.

  • A lawyer with two years or less experience earns around 49,500 EUR per year.
  • Someone with two to five years of experience is likely to earn 66,100 EUR per year.
  • Someone with five to 10 years of experience earns 97,600 EUR per year.
  • Attorney(s) with ten to fifteen years of experience earn 119,000 EUR annually.
  • If you have between fifteen and twenty years of experience, you can expect to earn 130,000 EUR a year.
  • Individuals with more than twenty years of experience earn 140,000 EUR per year.

To Sum Up

Foreigners can practice law in France, but they must fulfill specific criteria. For example, candidates must obtain a university law degree, take the Bar exam, and finish a 2-year internship with a qualified lawyer in France to become an Avocat (lawyer) or take a test on French law if they are eligible lawyers from an EU or EEA member state.

French nationals and foreign nationals must meet the same standards to practice law in France. It is crucial to highlight, however, that foreign attorneys may suffer linguistic obstacles and must have a solid command of the French language to practice. Moreover, foreign attorneys may not be able to operate in all fields of law in France and may be subject to extra laws and criteria.

FAQs

Can foreigners be lawyers in France?

Foreign lawyers can practice in France after registering with local French bar associations.

Are lawyers in demand in France?

The French government employs lawyers and provides them with legal protection. So there is a high demand for lawyers.

Do lawyers make a lot in France?

The average annual salary for an attorney is roughly 94,700 EUR

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