Although the French word for "lawyer" is the same as the one for "avocado", their etymologies differ. When it comes to the profession, "avocat" comes from the latin verb "advocare" (which gave the verb "to advocate" in English). Ex: Je veux parler Ă mon avocat. => I want to talk to my lawyer.
"Avocat".
Although the French word for "lawyer" is the same as the one for "avocado", their etymologies differ. When it comes to the profession, "avocat" comes from the latin verb "advocare" (which gave the verb "to advocate" in English).
The French translation for “lawyer (masculine)” is avocat.
FrenchBorrowed from French avocat, Latin advocatus.
Maître (spelled Maitre according to post-1990 spelling rules) is a commonly used honorific for lawyers, judicial officers and notaries in France, Belgium, Switzerland and French-speaking parts of Canada.
AvocatsFrench lawyers are called “Avocats”. The legal profession in France is not "split", as in the UK, so the French Avocat is the equivalent of a UK Barrister and Solicitor combined.
avocatThe French Lawyer (avocat)
definition. In France avocats were formerly an organized body of pleaders, while the preparation of cases was done by avoués; today this distinction exists only before the appellate courts.
In lawyer. The most prestigious is the avocat, who is equal in rank to a magistrate or law professor. Roughly comparable to the English barrister, the avocat ’s main function is to plead in court.
Just like German lawyers, French lawyers are considered an independent body of the legal system (“ auxiliaire de justice ”) and promote the achievements of the public services of Justice (“ mission de service public de la Justice ”). The French mentality is very much influenced by this basic idea, which is still very present in current practices: ...
The French mentality is very much influenced by this basic idea, which is still very present in current practices: for example, the official salutatory title for a lawyer in France (as well as for a notary or a bailiff) is “Maître” and the robe of a French lawyer is much more elaborate than those of lawyers in Germany or the USA.
Another important difference in the German lawyers’ code of practice is that the correspondence between French lawyers is confidential as a matter of principal. Therefore, French lawyers are free to carry out confidential negotiations with their lawyer colleagues on behalf of their clients, and the lawyer of the opposite party may not inform the Court about the existence or the content of these negotiations, which could harm his client before the Court. Only correspondence that is explicitly declared “official” (“ official ”) between French lawyers is not confidential. This particularity of the French practice is often very helpful in, for example, the settlement of negotiations between employers and employees.
However, generally speaking, a lawyer specializes in one specific practice area in the course of his or her career. If a lawyer has more than five years of professional experience in a specific practice area, he or she is entitled to take an examination in order to obtain the “specialist lawyer” qualification.
However, a second lawyer (known as an “ avocat postulant ”) who is admitted in the district of the court must intervene in order to officially represent the client in court and carry out the formalities during the proceedings.
Only correspondence that is explicitly declared “official” (“ official ”) between French lawyers is not confidential. This particularity of the French practice is often very helpful in, for example, the settlement of negotiations between employers and employees.
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. Since the global legislative framework is becoming more and more complex and extensive, the counselling aspect is becoming a more and more significant part of a lawyer’s activities.
A solicitor is a type of practicing lawyer who handles primarily office work. The UK has two types of practicing lawyers: solicitors and barristers. Solicitors generally handle office work, whereas barristers plead cases in court. Barristers depend on solicitors to provide them with trial work because they are not allowed to accept work on their own.
France is a civil law country, opposed to common law countries such as the UK and the USA.
An avocat must be registered before a local bar association; registration is mandatory to be able to practice . There was 179 local bar associations on January 1st, 2009.