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Just like in Germany and most foreign countries, French lawyers represent their clients in French courts, provide legal advice in non-litigious matters and draft agreements and other legal documents.
However, in Quebec, civil law advocates (or avocats in French) often call themselves "attorney" and sometimes "barrister and solicitor" in English, and all lawyers in Quebec, or lawyers in the rest of Canada when practicing in French, are addressed with the honorific title, "Me." or " Maître ".
There are a number of English-speaking lawyers practicing in France, including British and American lawyers, qualified to practise as lawyers in France; though they are not to be found in every town or city, far from it. To find one, check the local yellow pages, or contact the local Tribunal d'Instance.
It’s unnecessary to employ a lawyer or barrister ( avocat – also the word for avocado pear) in a civil case heard in a tribunal d’instance, where you can conduct your own case (if your French is up to the task). If you use a lawyer, not surprisingly, you must pay his fee. In a tribunal de grande instanceyou must employ a lawyer.
Docteur " ( Dr) is used for medical practitioners whereas " Professeur " is used for professors. The holders of a doctorate other than medical are generally not referred to as Docteurs, though they have the legal right to use the title; Professors in academia used the style Monsieur le Professeur rather than the honorific plain Professeur.
Kings of France used the honorific Sire, princes Monseigneur. Queens and princesses were plain Madame .
Emerging from elite schools formed in the French Revolution, engineers are among the most respected professionals in France. Whereas anyone can call themselves an engineer, only a select few can use the title degreed engineer.
Whereas we may just say “teacher” or “professor” to describe the profession of teaching, the French use enseignant (from enseigner — to teach) to describe anyone who teaches at any level.
If I’m asked specifically what someone’s job is, I’d say “ Il/elle est médecin ” if he or she is a doctor. Literally this translates to “He/she is doctor.” Notice there’s no indefinite article un (a) like we use in English. So, the structure is:
Abbreviations for Certain French Job Titles. The French love abbreviations and acronyms, especially with job titles. Here are a few: AS — Aide-soignant (e) (nursing assistant, home health aide, etc.) Here’s a list of abbreviations for healthcare professions and here’s another for sports and leisure.
France loves its farmers and supports them steadfastly. Food production is one of the most regulated economic sectors in France. For example, calling bread “traditional French bread” means you can only use certain ingredients.
In France, equality is sometimes at odds with grammar (especially as defined by the Académie française !). A debate exists over whether traditionally male job titles, like président (president), médecin or professeur (professor), should be given feminine variants.
The French legal system. 1. The nature of legal systems. Unlike English-speaking countries, which use a system of " Common Law ", France has a system of " Civil law ". Common law systems are ones that have evolved over the ages, and are largely based on consensus and precedent. Civil law systems are largely based on a Code of Law.
They become law as from the date on which they have been passed by Parliament, signed into law by the President, and published in the Journal Officiel , or Official Journal. Statutory instruments ( décrets, ordonnances ) become law on signing by the minister (s), and being published in the Journal Officiel. Publication in the electronic version of the J.O. is sufficient.
Commercial and business law is administered through institutions known as Tribunaux de commerce . These are known as "first degree courts". Appeals are heard in a Cour d'Appel or Court of Appeal, a "second degree court". In France, there is a fundamental right of appeal in all cases.
The two branches of French law. Unlike the English-speaking countries, France has a dual legal system; one branch, known as Droit public , or Public law, defines the principles of operation of the state and public bodies. This law is applied generally through public law courts, known as les Tribunaux administratifs.
The highest echelon, the Supreme Court for public law, is the Conseil d'Etat, or Council of State, the body ultimately responsible for determining the legality of administrative measures. 5. How the courts operate in France. French courts are presided over by Juges (Judges) also known as Magistrats (magistrates).
In France, there is a fundamental right of appeal in all cases. In exceptional circumstances, judgements of the Appeal Court can be contested at the highest level, the Cour de Cassation, the French Supreme Court in matters of private law.
The Code Civil remains the cornerstone of French law to this day, though it has been updated and extended many times to take account of changing society. There are other codes, including notably the Code PĂ©nal, or Penal code, which defines criminal law. 3.
Accessing the legal profession in France. The access routes to the legal profession were established by the Act of December 31, 1971 , as amended by the Act of February 11, 2004 , as well as by the Implementing Decree of December 21, 2004 on professional education for lawyers.
Two oral tests : an approximately twenty-minute report, on a subject drawn at random by the candidate on the French civil, criminal, or administrative procedures, or the French legal system and an approximately fifteen minute interview with the examination board, focusing on professional regulations and ethics.
Candidates must prove that they meet all the requirements to be a fully qualified lawyer in their country of origin; and that, when required, they have completed a legal internship, besides university studies and professional qualification or competency examinations.
This means that the Conseil national does not take into account candidates' professional experience or degrees.
Court dress comprises the style of clothes and other attire prescribed for members of courts of law. Depending on the country and jurisdiction's traditions, members of the court ( judges, magistrates, and so on) may wear formal robes, gowns, collars, or wigs.
Judges in the Court of Appeal, Criminal Division, wear the same black silk gown and court coat as QCs, together with the short bench wig. Judges of the Civil Division did likewise until 2008, but they now wear the new-style robe.
High Court Masters and Insolvency and Companies Court Judges: Masters (in both the Queen’s Bench Division and Chancery Division) and Insolvency and Companies Court Judges (in the Chancery Division) formerly wore black gowns, white collar and bands, with short wigs, when sitting in open court.
Court dress is worn at hearings in open court in all Senior Courts of England and Wales and in the County Court. However, court dress may be dispensed with at the option of the judge, e.g. in very hot weather, and invariably where it may intimidate children, e.g., in the Family Division and at the trials of minors.
The Supreme Court. Members of the old Judicial Committee of the House of Lords (or "Law Lords") and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council never wore court dress (although advocates appearing before them did). Instead, they were dressed in ordinary business clothing.
Wigs are now optional for judges of the High Court. Judges of the Circuit Court also wear similar costume, pursuant to Order 3 rule 1 of the Circuit Court Rules, 2001. The prescribed dress of judges of the District Court (in Order 5 rule 1 of the District Court Rules, 1997) is the same, but does not include a wig.
By virtue of the Consolidated Criminal Practice Direction at I.1.1 (as amended by Practice Direction (Court Dress) (No4) [2008] 1 WLR 257), "Solicitors and other advocates authorised under the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 ... may wear short wigs in circumstances where they would be worn by Queen's Counsel or junior counsel." Other qualified advocates, such as chartered legal executive advocates, will wear the same attire as a solicitor.
Addressing a letter to someone with a law degree but who isn't practicing law means recognizing the J.D. as you would any other advanced degree. For example, "Attn: John Smith, J.D." is the appropriate way to address the envelope, as well as the address block in the letter.
Some attorneys maintain solo law practices , while others work for corporations or government entities. When addressing an envelope or letter to a lawyer, the lawyer's name is followed by the law firm, corporation or governmental agency on the next line before the address. Most organizations maintain websites that list the names and titles ...
Practicing attorneys have taken and passed their state's bar exam. While most practicing attorneys did attend law school and likely have a Juris Doctorate, the J.D. is not noted in correspondence. Instead, address a practicing attorney either as "Esquire" or "Attorney at Law.". These are interchangeable, though most lawyers ...
In practice, legal jurisdictions exercise their right to determine who is recognized as being a lawyer. As a result, the meaning of the term "lawyer" may vary from place to place. Some jurisdictions have two types of lawyers, barrister and solicitors, while others fuse the two. A barrister is a lawyer who specializes in higher court appearances. A solicitor is a lawyer who is trained to prepare cases and give advice on legal subjects and can represent people in lower co…