Law studies in France

Introduction:

Legal English: the English needed by both law students at French universities and beyond

and by French and foreign law professionals, while performing legal functions and in a

professional context, for:

- Understanding and explaining

=> Foreign legal system

=> Administrations and procedures

- Drafting (brouillons= a draft) legal documents.

- Appearing before a court.

- Dealing with clients and citizens.

- Liaising (a liaison = to be in contact with) and socialising.

- Reading contracts, pieces of legislation and papers.

- Presenting research papers at conferences, etc.

This part of the course is a toolbox to help with the discourse about law in English, law is a type

of discourse. It's not focused in just law but in discourse of law in English. Not just to the UK and

US legal system, we'll also see the French system in English. Go to Dokeos to see screen captures

and videos available (http://edu.u-bordeaux4.fr or through ENT).

www.wordreference.com (office de dictionnaire en ligne) !

Plan:

* Chapter 1 : Law studies

* Chapter 2 : Legal professions

* Chapter 3 : Constitutions

* Chapter 4 : Legislation

* Chapter 5 : Crime and offenses

* Chapter 6 : Proceedings and courts

* Chapter 7 : The Law of persons and family law !

CHAPTER 1 - Law studies in France

!

A. Law studies in France !

* The Baccalaureat and after

Law studies in France generally start after end-of-secondary school degree, or Baccalaureate.

There are several types of Baccalaureat general, technical and vocational (professionnel).

Baccalaureate= sometimes means bachelor’s degree. Holders apply to enter a law university or at

a law faculty. Application through the office of the registrar. Then registration for classes.

Whether former pupils or students have obtained high school degree with or without honors,

they may register at a law university or faculty (= subdivision of the university, there are three

faculties in Bordeaux 4). Actually (en effet), degrees may be awarded (attribué) or granted with or

without honors. !

* Law studies without the Baccalaureat.

French students doesn't need to have the Baccalaureat to register to the law faculty, there are

alternative routes. This is to allow those people who do not have Baccalaureat to study law

provided they have obtained a two-year qualification; it takes two years to obtain the basic legal

qualification. Evening classes. DAEU is the basic general qualification; it gives students who have

a different degree the same right as the other. !

* Law at University Institutes of Technologies.

(=IUT) Law is also taught at UIT, they are part of universities, they belong to it. (IUT carrière

juridique in Narbonne). UIT delivers two-year diplomas. There is a difference between a degree

and a diploma, a degree is more general, and it is used for qualification granted for university and

Grandes-Ecoles whereas a diploma is granted by any other School.

Sometimes on delocalized sites of universities, they deliver two-year diplomas.

Difference between a degree and diploma, a qualification. !

* From undergraduate (étudiant en licence) to Master

Once at university, students take a first year, then a second... then a third of bachelor's degree in

Law. When they have succeeded all 6 diplomas they are graduated. Then students can register to

a first year of Master's degree however to do a second year of Master's degree they have to apply

by providing an application file to fill in. The application file usually contains a transcript of their

marks 'relevé de notes). This is all the easier when students have passed they degrees with flying

colours (facilement). After it students take a doctorate or PhD. The doctorate allows to be

admitted to lawyer school (CFPA or CRFPA) without examination. The doctorate also leads to

international management posts such as International executives or senior lectures, associate

professors (=maîtres de conférence) French doctorates in law are very competitive because tuition

fees (frais d'inscription) are almost negligible, in the UK the tuition fees are capped at 3,375£ (=

4000 euros) for 2011-2012, this does not include living expenses, accommodation, stationery, the

cost of a computer. There is currently a debate in Europe about who should bear the cost of

highest studies. In 2012: the cap will be 9,000£ (1,000£ a year in 1998). In the UK they've chosen a

different option, they want to charge student not the taxpayer, students should pay for what they

get,

...