Lawyer
A lawyer is a legal professional who plays an essential role in defending the rights and freedoms of individuals and companies. They work in a variety of legal fields, from civil law to criminal law and business law. His work involves advising, assisting and representing clients in judicial and extrajudicial proceedings.
Main missions and objectives:
The lawyer's missions are many and varied. They include:
- Advise clients on their legal rights and obligations.
- Draft legal documents such as contracts, writs of summons, pleadings.
- Assist clients during interviews with opposing parties, expert appraisals or hearings.
- Represent clients before courts and tribunals.
- Advocate in defense of clients' interests.
- Negotiate out-of-court settlements to avoid litigation.
The lawyer's main objective is to defend his clients' interests to the best of his ability by ensuring respect for the law and justice.
Job profile: skills expected for the legal profession:
To become a lawyer, you need strong legal skills and excellent command of oral and written expression. It is also important to be rigorous, logical, persuasive and have good analytical skills.
Sought professional skills:
- Mastery of French and European law
- Knowledge of legal procedures
- Legal research skills
- Excellent legal writing
- Litigation skills
- Relational and communication skills
Personal skills required:
- Struthfulness and analytical skills
- Logic and ability to synthesize
- Persuasion and tenacity
- Discretion and confidentiality
- Ability to work as part of a team and independently
Education and qualifications to become a lawyer:
Becoming a lawyer is a demanding but rewarding career choice. To practice this exciting profession, it is necessary to follow a specific university course and pass rigorous exams. The most recommended route to becoming a lawyer in France is to follow a cursus universitaire en droit. This curriculum provides the fundamental legal knowledge needed to practice law. It comprises two compulsory stages:
- The Master in Law (M1 and M2) : This two-year diploma prepared following a BAC +3 level enables students to deepen their knowledge in a specific legal field, such as civil law, criminal law or business law.
- The École de formation professionnelle des barreaux (EFB): This three-year course is open to holders of a Master's degree in law. It provides practical training in the legal profession, covering concrete aspects such as drafting legal documents, pleading and ethics.
To sum up, to become a lawyer in France, you need at least eight years of study after the baccalauréat. In addition to these main courses, there are also complementary courses that can be useful for specializing in a particular area of law or acquiring additional skills.
Career development and prospects:
Lawyers can progress to positions of responsibility within a law firm, become partners or set up their own practice. They may also specialize in a particular area of law, such as business law, criminal law or family law.
Proposed compensation:
The salary of a lawyer in France can indeed vary greatly depending on several factors, including experience, area of expertise, location and status (salaried or self-employed). Here's a closer breakdown of average salary by type of lawyer and experience:
Salaried lawyer:
- Junior (1 to 3 years' experience): Between 2,200 and 3,500 euros net per month
- Confirmed (4 to 10 years' experience): Between 3,500 and 5,000 euros net per month
- Senior (over 10 years' experience): Between 5,000 and 10,000 euros net per month
Freelance attorney:
- Beginner: Between 3,000 and 4,000 euros net per month
- Confirmed: Between 4,000 and 7,000 euros net per month
- Experienced: More than 7,000 euros net per month, possibly reaching very high amounts
Best-paid areas of expertise
- Business law: Between 5,000 and 12,000 euros net per month
- Tax law: Between 4,500 and 10,000 euros net per month
- Intellectual Property: Between 4,000 and 9,000 euros net per month
- Corporate Law: Between 4,000 and 8,500 euros net per month
Lawyers' salaries are also influenced by their location. Lawyers practicing in large cities such as Paris, Lyon or Marseille generally earn more than those in rural areas. It's important to note that these figures are averages, and a lawyer's individual salary may be higher or lower than these estimates.
Jobs related to the position of lawyer:
- Corporate lawyer M/F,
- Magistrate M/F,
- Notary M/F,
- Bailiff M/F,
Alphéa Conseil: your partner for lawyer recruitment:
Alphéa Conseil is a recruitment firm specializing in the legal field. We put our expertise and network at your disposal to help you recruit talented and experienced lawyers. Please contact us to find out more.