Law of FranceModule 3
Courts and the legal professions: the two orders of courts, civil and criminal justice, administrative courts, the Court of Cassation, judges, lawyers and notaries
The first thing to know about French courts is that there are **two separate orders**, each with its own courts, judges and supreme court. The **judicial order** hears disputes between private persons and criminal cases, and ends in the **Court of Cassation**. The **administrative order** hears disputes involving public authorities and ends in the **Council of State**. A third body, the **Tribunal des conflits**, decides which order has jurisdiction when it is unclear. The same divided structure shapes the profession: a single body of **magistrates** (judges and prosecutors) is trained together, while lawyers, notaries and bailiffs have their own regulated roles. This module gives the map of the courts first, then the people who work in them.
This course explains the law of France, not US law. Rules that look the same elsewhere may be different.
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See what is included in the Courses & AI Lab Pass →General education on French law, using invented people and businesses. It states constitutional provisions, codes and landmark decisions in simplified form, and it is not legal advice. The law changes and every case turns on its facts. Consult a lawyer qualified in France for any real matter.
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