CampusFrance

1. CampusFrance French Higher Education System and Law Studies Mars 2009

2. CampusFrance – Higher education in France Specificities of Instruction of Law and Political Science in France • The « Civil Law » system (or Romano Germanic Law) to which French Law is linked, constitues together with « Common Law » the major legal systems in the world. • The French approach to studies of Law, focusing on critical analysis and thought, allows numerous professional directions in civil service, justice, as well as in insurance, banking, real estate, human resources, geopolitics, international relations and management sectors. • Prestigious universities, very good level of instruction in 45 Faculties of Law in France, awarding equivalent national degrees. • Excellent specialities at M and D levels in universities, due to their history, their geographic situation and the economic activity prevailing in their regions. • A window on the important and fast involving law in Europe, a union of 27 countries and the world’s largest market.

3. CampusFrance – Higher education in France L’enseignement du droit Instructionof Law in France • Selective academic path. • Instruction is delivered in French. • Numerous orientations : preparation to a legal profession (magistrate, attorney at law, notary, police) in an Institute of Legal Studies (Institut d’Etudes Judiciaires), in a IUP, or coaching for administrative examinations in an Institute of Preparation for General Administration (IPAG) or find a job in the EU institutions.

4. CampusFrance – Higher education in France Instruction of Law in France For the Bachelor’s Degree, no selection trials upon admission, however significant selection at the end of the first year. The student must choose : - a group of general courses referred to as Law Major « Majeures Droit » (fundamental law courses) - a group of courses referred to as Minor « Mineures » (complementary courses) General instruction is given in lecture halls, while sections are held in smal groups. Access to Master 1 requires holding a Bachelor’s degree in Law, Political Science … Access to Master 2 is selective, and the student should be holder of Master 1 in Law (or degree acknowledged as equivalent thereof). Research Master’s (Masters Recherche): a training for future Doctors of Law ( 8 years oh higher education) Professional Master’s (Masters Professionnel): a training for students to practice a profession For Docorate Degree: Writing a thesis over an original topic, worked on and supervised by a Univesity Professor (or by a Senior Lecturer entitled to supervise research), who will either suggest a topic to the candidate, or approve the one submitted to him.

5. CampusFrance – Higher education in France Branches of Law Law is divided into a multitude of branches, which ramifications are developing continuously. Still, the can be regrouped into Private Law and Public Law. Private Law : Civil Law, Corporate Law (Company Law, Competition Law, Collective Procedure Law, Bank Law, Foreign Exchange Law, Intellectual Property Law), Rural Law, Social Law (Employment Law, Social Security Law), Private Judicial Law, Criminal Law (General Criminal Law, Special Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Penology, Criminology), Private International Law. Public Law : Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Public Finance, Tax Law, Public International Law, European Law.

6. CampusFrance – Higher education in France Short Professionalizing Studies DUT DUT Legal Careers DUT Corporate Management and Administration (GEA) DUT Information and Communication BTS BTS Insurance BTS International Trade BTS Corporate Communication BTS Accounting and Management BTS Real Estate Professions Professional Degrees: - Enrolment thereto increasing constantly. - Meet expectations of professionals and allow better intergration in the employment market. - Taught basically within universities, there are numerous specialties thereof:In charge of real estate assets management, marketing of civil engineering equipment and materials, supervisors of customers’ relations centers, private individuals market, production management, professions of penalties enforcement and a social integration …

7. CampusFrance – Higher education in France Professions Legal Professions can be liberal professions (attorneys at law, solicitors, bailiffs), or be part of civil service (magistrates, clerks, officers of the police, of the gendarmerie or of prison authorities …) • National Magistrature School (École nationale de la magistrature) www.enm.justice.fr • National Clerk’s Office School (École nationale des greffes ENG) • National Training Center for Legal Protection of Youth (Le Centre national de formation de la protection judiciaire de la jeunesse CNFE-PJJ) • Training Center for Lawyer’s Profession (Centre de formation à la profession d’avocat CFPA) • Institutes of Judiciary Studies (Instituts d’études judiciaires IEJ) linked to univesities. • Professions of the business community, often called « legal professions ». In addition to corporate lawyers (who are salaried employees), these professions also include former legal consultants (who are now called lawyers) in addition to the notaries, whose role is not limited anymore to settling estates, but rather extends to be an important advisory role in assets management.With a complementary training, law students can also have to accounting professions. • Professional Solicitor’s Training Center (Centre de formation professionnelle notariale CFPN)

8. CampusFrance – Higher education in France Professions (2) Administrative careers attainable upon competitive examination. Law studies allow to prepare efficiently for all competitive examinations for civil service, not limited to Magistrate or police superintendent competitive examination, but also including – to mention just a few examples – competitive examiniation for admission to Tax School, or that of Councilor for Administrative Tribunals or for Adminsitrative Courts of Appeal. It is even possible to join the University, notably in a teaching post. • National School of Prison Authorities (L‘École Nationale d‘ Administration Pénitentiaire ENAP) • National Tax School (L’Ecole Nationale des Impôts) • National Magistrature School L(’École nationale de la magistrature) www.enm.justice.fr International and European careers: students graduated in European Law can apply for EU Institutions, International Organization, ONG …. Career in Finance: Law studies are necessary requested for Auditor, Accounting expert, financial director… Carrer in Social activities : Social Law is requested for human resources studies

9. CampusFrance – Higher education in France What do international students need to know • Good command in French (and English) : DELF B 2 recommended • Willingness to put in several years of study. It’s only at the second year master’s level that students begin to specialize. • High capacity for work in a very selective curriculum. • Sense of autonomy and individual working mainly during the first years of the studies.