I guess I wasn't clear : My question was supposed to be about the French bar exam itself. I'm fine with the level of necessary French. What I don't know is if these LLM programs prepare a foreigner to take the French bar exam. Does anyone know the answer? Also, I've been told there is a special bar exam for foreigners that has fewer questions on it.
Any info would be greatly appreciated...

-Gary

Hi, I'm doing the LLM in Assas. This LLM doesn't give you the access to the French Bar Exam. Here, you have to apply to a special school that's called IEJ. The application to the IEJ is not allowed with a simple LLM. You should do a DESS/DEA (now called Master 2). Things changes if you already did the bar exam in your country, then you can pass the french bar exam anytime!

hi, since you're doing the LLM in Assas do you mind telling me what kind of students they accept in the program. I passed my Quebec bar already and I'm doing my internship now. i'll be a lawyer when i apply for the LLM. and i want to know what my chances are of getting in. how many people apply and how many get in? i've done all my studies in french so language is not a problem. thanks

I was wondering if anyone could comment on the reputation of L'Universite de Cergy-Pontoise? I'd be doing a joint J.D/DESS-DJCE with Vermont Law and Cergy in 4 years. I'd like to know the job prospects and reputation of the school before I decide to enroll in the program. Thanks.

Hello. Sorry Toogie, this is not in response to your question. I am a fourth year english student currently attending Simon Fraser University in western Canada. I'll be done this year, and when i finish, i plan on moving to montreal and doing a french course at a language school for a year or so. I want to attend law school in Paris, and earn a J.D or LL.B or whatever a basic law degree is called in France.

My question is this: Assuming that my LSAT score/grades are competative (about an A/A- cummulativly), and I have a language certificate from a good language school, what are some of the barriers I would face if I applied to one of the law schools in Paris? My main concerns are that my Canadian english degree will be invalid, and that the costs for an international student will be incredibly high. I also wonder what the visa situation is like, and how that process works.

Any advice or direction would certainly be appreciated!

I assume that the majority of people on this discussion board are allready practicing lawyers, so feel free to write me a detailed report outlining my options! I'll send you a cheque!

Hi Jdilli, I don't really know how many applications the LLM in Assas receives every year, they don't tell us. I only know that we are 20 students in class, from 20 different countries and with very different accademical background. Some are lawyers, some are not (me for ex.). I think they pay attention to your grades in school and to your professional experiences, they want you to be among the best in the studies you did. If you're fluent in French I'm sure you won't have any problem to get in.

HELP HELP HELP
i need a model motivation letter in french for llm in droit des affaires. it is an emergency .
COULD ANYONE HELP ME PLEASE

HELP HELP HELP
i need a model motivation letter in french for llm in droit des affaires. it is an emergency .
COULD ANYONE HELP ME PLEASE

HELP HELP HELP
i need a model motivation letter in french for llm in droit des affaires. it is an emergency .
COULD ANYONE HELP ME PLEASE

yeah , these were the first things i thought, but i think they dony work :))))). these are too personal motivation reasons :)))). anyway , thaks a lot for your advices.

for the final conclusion on the "who's better" debate read this monster posting http://forums.figaro-etudiant.com/view.php?site=figaro&bn=figaro_formation&key=1112794873 ... pretty interesting, and very entertaining! perso: ....Assas!

I am graduating this year, and I am wondering what the average number of years of experience for the admitted students to Assas might average. Any ideas?

On the Paris 1 v Paris 2 debate, rather than making emptly statements, here is a list of all rankings I have been able to find on the internet:
http://www.ulb.ac.be/polytech/smana/NOUV_OB/Observateur.htm
http://www.smbgrecrutement.com/2_classement/6.html
http://www.smbgrecrutement.com/2_classement/7.html
http://www.smbgrecrutement.com/2_classement/11.html
http://forums.figaro-etudiant.com/view.php?site=figaro&bn=figaro_formation&key=1113522114

Paris 2 as come before Paris 1 in every single ranking I have found.

One should be aware that they both can make the same claim at being the "Sorbonne". Historically, the "Sorbonne" was split into 12 different universities in 1968. 3 include the name in their present denomination (Paris 1, 3, and 4), but should not be mistaken with the original institution.

Hi,

I am a danish law student that would like to follow the LL.M. program in the year 2008/09 at Sorbonne, Paris. Does anyone know how I can improve my chances of being accepted in the program?

Does anyone know if the recommendation letters have to be in french?

Is there in the meantime anything else I can do this year to improve my position, for example take some specific language tests in french (and are some tests more accepted than others)?

Thank You for your help,

Those debates about which is the best between Assas and Sorbonne are quite frivolous since the reputation of french universities depends on the Master 2, each university excelling in different fields.

For example Assas bank and finances law Master 2 has the best reputation while there is no match in France, and probably Europe to Sorbonne's International law Master 2.

And this leads to have smaller universities excelling in their own field (Paris V, Sceaux, Strasbourg, Dijon...)

Contrarily to what has been written, no serious recruiter will discard an application because it does not contain THE diploma they are looking for.

None of those diplomas gives you a direct access to the Bar A french graduate has to go through the EFB (http://www.efb-paris.avocat.fr/).

For foreign lawyers already admitted to a foreign bar read
section 99 (UE) and 100 (none UE) of the Décret dated 27 novembre 1991 : http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/WAspad/Ajour?nor=JUSX9110304D&num=91-1197&ind=1&laPage=1&demande=ajour

As a recent graduate of the LLM at the Sorbonne, I wouldn't wish to comment on the academic element of the course at Assas. What I can comment on however is the administrative element - Assas seem to lack contact with reality, both I and another student applied to Assas early last year, but they were not even prepared to get around to interviewing until September (for a course that was to start in October). At least the Sorbonne had got an offer out by June.

Therefore unless you are prepared to hang on until the very last minute to know if you have been accepted skip Assas. As for the LLM at the Sorbonne, it is useful if you plan on staying in France as the stage/secondment helps you get office based experience which helps trying to find a job.

The Universities here do seem to be in need of M. Sarkozy's reform proposals.

"Does anyone know if the recommendation letters have to be in french?"

Unlike in the US and UK, the french faculties do not require, and even often dislike recommendation letters.

If you are talking about the Sorbonne then there is a format for the letter of recommendation that is available on the site (it's not immediately obvious, it appears as you work through the application process). They do not need to be in French for the Sorbonne. I have no idea about Assas. As it's already mid-July then if you have not already applied you may find that you're too late for the Sorbonne for Oct '07, but in time for the slow moving Assas.

Does anyone have feedback on what happened to you after the LLM? What were your experiences employerwise?

Hi everybody,
I'm planning to study LLM in Paris and would like to know what level of french is necessary, or maybe smth changed and there are courses in english (as the last messages here are written last year).
Also I would like to know what criterions are the most important to enter? (good marks, language skils, etc?)

Thanks!