The Conseil National des Barreaux (CNB) is one of the most important institutions and regulations governing the legal profession in France. This central institution coordinates and represents all French bar associations in their dealings with public authorities and European bodies.

What is the Conseil National des Barreaux?

The Conseil National des Barreaux is a non-profit organization with legal personality, created by the law of December 31, 1990 and governed by articles L4131-1 et seq. of the Code de l’organisation judiciaire. It represents the legal profession as a whole, ensures coordination between the various French bar associations and acts as an advisory body to the public authorities.

This institution brings together all French lawyers, i.e. over 70,000 professionals in 164 bar associations. The CNB plays a central role in the organization and regulation of the profession.

CNB organization and structure

The CNB is organized around several main bodies. The General Assembly is the deliberative body, made up of representatives elected by each bar for a four-year term. The number of representatives varies according to the size of each bar, ensuring proportional representation of the profession.

The Board of Directors, elected by the Annual General Meeting, manages day-to-day business and holds office for four years. It comprises 80 members, distributed according to the size of the Bars, with the possibility of renewal. The President of the CNB, elected for a two-year term by the Board from among its members, leads the institution and represents it officially. He may be re-elected once consecutively, provided he meets the eligibility conditions required for executive positions.

Specialized commissions deal with technical issues such as training, ethics, human rights and new technologies. These commissions are renewed according to a defined schedule, enabling a regular rotation of expertise.

Main tasks and skills

The CNB carries out a wide range of missions essential to the profession. It draws up the national rules of procedure (RIN), which set out the ethical rules common to all French lawyers and are binding. This regulatory power also extends to the definition of conditions of practice and professional training.

Training and admission to the profession: The CNB defines the initial and continuing training programs offered by France’s 15 accredited law schools. It organizes the entrance examination to the regional center for lawyers’ professional training (CRFPA), which each year registers some 4,000 successful candidates out of 12,000 enrolled. The institution validates training courses and can withdraw approval from establishments that fail to meet the required standards.

Institutional representation: The institution represents the profession in dealings with the government, Parliament and the courts. It plays an active role in legislative reforms affecting the justice system, such as the recent reforms of civil procedure and criminal justice. The CNB defends lawyers’ interests by taking part in public consultations and putting forward concrete proposals to improve the legal system.

International cooperation: The CNB develops relations with foreign bar associations and international lawyers’ organizations. It facilitates professional mobility within the European Union by negotiating mutual recognition agreements and participating in the work of the Council of European Bars and Law Societies (CCBE). It also organizes legal cooperation missions in developing countries.

Relations with professional bodies

The CNB maintains close relations with local bar associations. Each bar association retains its autonomy under the authority of its president, while respecting the national rules laid down by the CNB.

This organization makes it possible to reconcile national unity with local specificities. Bars apply the CNB’s decisions while adapting their operations to the specific features of their jurisdiction.

The CNB also coordinates disciplinary action and harmonizes practices between the different bar associations. It can intervene in conflicts between bar associations or resolve questions of regulatory interpretation.

Modernization and current challenges

Faced with technological and societal changes, the CNB is constantly adapting its missions. It supports the digitalization of the profession and promotes innovation in the practice of law.

The institution works to simplify procedures, improve access to the law and develop new modes of professional practice. It also works to maintain the quality of legal services and preserve the independence of the profession.

In this way, the CNB plays a decisive role in the evolution of the legal profession, guaranteeing its adaptation to contemporary challenges while preserving its fundamental values.

Financing and resources

The Conseil National des Barreaux has a solid funding system to ensure its operations and missions. Its financial resources come mainly from compulsory contributions paid by the 164 French bar associations, calculated in proportion to the number of registered lawyers. These contributions account for around 80% of the total budget, supplemented by various public subsidies and institutional partnerships.

The CNB’s annual budget amounts to approximately 15 million euros, with a breakdown of expenditure focused on three major areas:

• Administrative and institutional operations (40%)
• Representing and defending the profession (35%)
• Training and innovation programs (25%)

To carry out its missions, the CNB relies on a permanent team of around 60 employees, including specialist lawyers, communication officers, training experts and administrative staff. The institution also benefits from the voluntary commitment of many elected lawyers, who play an active part in its commissions and working groups.

The Conseil National des Barreaux is headquartered in Paris, in a modern building in the 9th arrondissement that houses its central services. Although centralized in the capital, the institution maintains a territorial presence thanks to regional delegations which ensure links with local bars and facilitate the implementation of national policies.

This organization of resources enables the CNB to effectively fulfill its role of representing and coordinating the legal profession throughout France.