Skip to content
Resume example

Lawyer resume example

An avocat in France is a member of a local bar (barreau) and the only professional who can plead before most French courts and represent clients there.

The day depends heavily on the practice. In a business law firm, you draft and negotiate contracts, run due diligence for acquisitions and advise clients by email and call, often in English. In litigation, you prepare written submissions (conclusions), follow procedural deadlines through the courts' digital platform and plead at hearings. In family, criminal or employment law, you meet private clients, sometimes on legal aid, and spend more time in court. Junior lawyers usually start as collaborateurs, self-employed lawyers working for a firm under a collaboration contract, and bill their time to clients. Ethics rules on confidentiality and conflicts of interest apply to everything.

Resume example

[First name Last name]

Avocat (Paris Bar) | Corporate and M&A, French and English

[City] · [phone] · [email]

Profile

Avocat with [x] years in employment law, advising employers and representing them before the Conseil de prud'hommes and courts of appeal. I handle dismissal disputes, collective restructurings and negotiations with staff representatives.

Experience

Avocat collaborateur, business law firm, [City]

[month year] to present

  • Drafted share purchase agreements and shareholder agreements for SME acquisitions
  • Led due diligence on [x] target companies and wrote the summary reports for clients
  • Prepared submissions and pleaded in commercial disputes before the tribunal de commerce
  • Advised foreign clients in English on setting up a subsidiary in France
  • Supervised trainee lawyers (élèves-avocats) on research and first drafts

Resume headlines

  • Avocat (Paris Bar) | Corporate and M&A, French and English
  • Employment Lawyer | Litigation before the Conseil de prud'hommes and Advisory
  • Junior Avocat (CAPA) | Commercial Litigation and Contract Law

Summaries for your profile

Entry level

Newly admitted avocat (CAPA [Year]) with a master's in business law and internships in the corporate team of [Firm] and the legal department of [Company]. I drafted shareholder agreements, prepared due diligence reports and worked on files in French and English.

Experienced

Avocat with [x] years in employment law, advising employers and representing them before the Conseil de prud'hommes and courts of appeal. I handle dismissal disputes, collective restructurings and negotiations with staff representatives.

Career change

In-house legal counsel (juriste d'entreprise) with [x] years in contract and compliance work, now admitted to the bar. I want to join a commercial law firm where my knowledge of how companies use legal advice will help me serve clients.

Tips

  • State your bar and year of admission (CAPA year, oath), as French firms look for it first.
  • Show your practice areas clearly, with the type of clients: companies, individuals, public bodies.
  • List the types of deals or disputes rather than client names, to respect confidentiality.
  • Mention languages with their level and whether you have drafted in them.
  • If you trained abroad, explain your qualifications and the steps taken towards the French bar.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Naming clients or giving deal details that breach professional secrecy.
  • Calling yourself avocat before being sworn in.
  • A CV of three pages listing every internship.
  • Mixing advice and litigation experience without saying which dominated.

Working as a lawyer in France

Avocat is a regulated profession. The usual path is a master's-level law degree, the national entrance exam to a regional bar school (CRFPA), about eighteen months of training, the CAPA certificate and the oath before a court of appeal, then registration with a bar. Lawyers qualified in another EU country can register under their home title, and non-EU lawyers usually go through an aptitude test subject to conditions. Company lawyers without bar admission work as « juriste ». Search with « avocat collaborateur », « avocat » plus the practice area, and « juriste » for in-house roles.

Your job search, on autopilot

Start my lawyer job scan

JobFast searches the major job boards for listings that fit you, scores each one out of 10 and prepares a tailored CV and cover letter. You review, you approve.

Start for free

No credit card · No account to get started

Frequently asked questions

Can a foreign lawyer practise as an avocat in France?

Lawyers qualified in an EU country can practise under their home title after registering with a French bar, and can later become full avocats. Lawyers from outside the EU usually have to pass an aptitude test, subject to conditions. Check the details with the Conseil national des barreaux before applying.

What is the difference between avocat and juriste?

An avocat is a regulated professional registered with a bar, who can represent clients in court. A juriste is a lawyer employed by a company or organisation, often with the same degrees but without bar admission. In-house lawyers in France are not avocats.

Should I write my CV in English for international firms?

International firms in Paris usually accept English CVs and test your legal English during interviews. Prepare both versions, as partners in French firms will expect a French CV and a cover letter written in good legal French.

More resume examples