Hi,

I will be graduating pretty soon from Tier 1 University based in Boston, MA. By 2012 I will have earned my Bachelor's degree in Public Affairs. I have considering attending Law school here in the states, however my plans have changed, and I'd like to head on to Paris where I have family ties ( I am French and American). My goal is to attend law school in France and stay there for a while. However, when attending law school in france, will have to start at the License level given I have no legal background at all?? Or can start on a Master level. Given that I will be graduating soon, I do not see the need of having to start from scratch with a license in Law. I feel that I should be able to jump right in on a Master level ( at least). But of course, I have no idea how things work back in France. If have to start back with a license, then I might as well stay right here in the states, and attend law school here. But, I am trying to save a huge tuition ( law schools are sooo expensive here) and take advantage of my French nationality ( I am also bilingual in French) and attend law school in Paris. So the bottom line, can I jump right into a Masters in Law in France with no prior legal education but a four year American BS degree? Thanks for reading.

Merci d'avance!

11 views no answer?? Where's the love people??

I remember that a conversion course is needed. I believe it is a lower-level masters. Hopefully if I am inaccurate someone will correct me.

Hi,

I think that since you have no law degree you will have to start at a licence level.
That is quite normal for two reasons:
- First, even french people who decide to study law let's say after a master degree in History would have to start all over again. The French system is quiet different to the english system where you can opt for a conversion course. Only a few schools and formations benefit from a bridge (sciences po, HEC ... and all of them have french law courses during their studies) to be admitted directly in master.
- And, you learn all the basis during the Licence, the master degree is just "deepening" and since with a master degree you can take the Paris bar school, that would be weird to have people who just have studied law (and french law in particular) for one year.

All my american friends who studied law at a master degree in France had already finished their JD in the US.

Anyway, it is just my assumption, you should get in touch directly with the admission office in France since you are bilingual it won't be a problem.

Good luck!

Thanks for the invaluable information. Actually, I have already contacted them, but they were not helpful at all, in fact they told me they could not help me nor provide me any information unless I would forward them a copy of my transcripts. I think I'll just study for the LSAT and attend a US law school that has a dual French/American JD program. It might be my best shot, I don't see any ROI having to start with a French law license when I could jump right in to a US law school after I graduate. Thanks though.