The legal internship is a decisive stage in the career of any lawyer aspiring to practice this regulated profession. This period of practical training, mandatory to qualify as a lawyer, combines on-the-job training with validation of the skills acquired during law studies. In this article, you’ll find out how, what’s at stake and best practices for optimizing this fundamental work experience in your professional development.

What is a legal internship?

The “stage avocat” is a compulsory 18-month period of professional training in France, carried out in a law firm under the supervision of an experienced “maître de stage”. This stage is part of the regulated training program that begins once you have obtained your Certificat d’Aptitude à la Profession d’Avocat (CAPA). During this practical immersion, you alternate between day-to-day practice of the profession and ongoing training, developing the technical, ethical and interpersonal skills essential to independent practice. The internship culminates in a knowledge test and the swearing-in ceremony before the Court of Appeal.

Access and course conditions

To begin your legal internship, you must hold the CAPA and be registered with a French bar association. To register, you need to submit a complete file, validated by the Bar Council. The choice of your training supervisor is crucial to the quality of your training. This experienced professional, who has been a member of the bar for at least five years, will accompany you on a daily basis in your assignments and assess your progress. A tripartite training agreement, signed by you, your training supervisor and the President of the Bar, sets out the practical details of your training.

Course structure and organization

The internship is divided into two distinct periods of nine months each. The first phase, known as the “stage école”, takes place in a law firm in France, where you learn the fundamentals of the profession: managing client files, drafting legal documents, pleading cases and customer relations, with compulsory ongoing training. The second period offers greater flexibility and can be spent in another law firm, in-house or abroad, facilitating your future specialization in a particular area of law.

The trainee’s tasks and responsibilities

During your internship, you will play an active role in the life of the firm and gradually assume increasing responsibilities. Your day-to-day tasks will include legal research, drafting advice and documents, preparing pleadings and attending hearings. You will also develop your interpersonal skills during client meetings and in communication with the courts and colleagues. Trainees have a limited capacity to represent clients in certain jurisdictions, enabling them to plead specific cases on their own. This progressive practice will enable you to acquire the self-confidence and technical mastery necessary for future practice.

Compensation and benefits

Trainee lawyer remuneration is set at a minimum of 1,200 euros gross per month in 2024, according to Conseil National des Barreaux regulations, with variations depending on the law firm and region of practice. Trainees benefit fromaffiliation to the general Social Security system, pension contributions, five weeks’ paid annual leave and access to compulsory continuing training.

The challenges of validating internships

Validation of your internship is based on several criteria assessed by the Conseil de l’Ordre: regular attendance at practice and compulsory training courses (minimum 250 hours over 18 months), as well as positive assessments from your internship supervisor. A final written and oral examination precedes the swearing-in ceremony, and tests your mastery of ethical rules, professional accounting and advocacy techniques. The pass rate is around 95%, testifying to adequate preparation during the internship.

Optimizing your internship experience

To get the most out of your internship, adopt a proactive, inquisitive attitude. Ask for a variety of assignments, document what you’ve learned and ask your supervisor for regular feedback. Time management and task prioritization are essential in the face of a heavy workload: use appropriate planning tools to maintain a lasting professional balance. Cultivate your professional network by taking part in bar association events and legal conferences, thus facilitating your future professional integration.

A legal internship is much more than a mere administrative formality: it’s a period of intense professional transformation that forges your identity as a lawyer. By investing fully in this experience, cultivating your network and developing your technical and human skills, you lay the solid foundations for a fulfilling and recognized legal career.