Legal Education in France

It is very difficult to draw parallels with the US system, because colleges and universities in the United States are very different from French higher education institutions. In United States, before studying law within law schools, students must earn an Bachelor degree (about 3 years after their high school diploma).

In France, students must obtain a baccalaureat (the highest degree of high schools) in order to begin university study. After their High school diploma, students whom choose legal studies will access directly to a law department of a university.

After three years of legal study, a "Licence en droit" (equivalent to the American Bachelor degree in legal studies) is awarded. One additional year of study is required to obtain a "Maîtrise en Droit" (which is the equivalent of the american J.D. or LL.B.).

Unlike United State, where lawyers are a dominant force, the French practice of law constitutes a meritocracy. In addition, France has a split bar - only those who are licensed as avocats (Attorney at law who could plead a case before courts) are authorized to represent clients in court. England has a similar system - solicitors cannot represent clients in court; only barristers may appear in court.

After the Maîtrise, the french student is qualified to take the exam to enter to a Bar school of law to study practical aspect of law for 1 year. At the end of this late year the student could take the Bar exam. This is only if he or she wants to plead before courts. If not, he or she could practise law as an in house counsel within a legal department of a company. In that case, an in-house counsel could after 8 years of practice take the bar without studying this late one year at Bar school of law.

Licence en droit: Full degree (three years of legal studies after baccalauréat). The licence often marks completion of a student's academic education, though many students go on to take a maîtrise (master's degree), which will authorize the candidates to sit the bar exam.

Maîtrise en droit: Master's degree (four years of legal studies after baccalauréat). The maîtrise is built upon the specialization developed during the degree course. Students are required to submit a thesis (about 50 pages) to conclude this year of study. The Maîtrise en droit is an equivalent of the American J.D.

DEA en droit: Diplôme d'Études Approfondies (advanced postgraduate studies diploma). Postgraduate degree (five years of legal studies after baccalauréat). Students are required to submit a thesis to conclude this year of study (about 100 pages + others mid-term paperworks). It's also an equivalent to the American LL.M.

Doctorat en droit: Ph.D. in Law, nine to twelve years after baccalauréat, Duration: three to six years after a DEA. The doctorate consists of research work, students must have made the necessary arrangements with a research professor willing to take on their project. The title is awarded following presentation of a doctoral dissertation before a professional and academic jury (about 500 pages of an original point of view).

A Comparative analysis of French and US education system [read more]

The French legal education is not the same as the American one. The legal profession, also, is quite different.