Pegasus Scholars: Paris–London Bar Exchange

The Pegasus fund and Bar Exchange Committee host the exchange in collaboration with the Paris Bar School (EFB) to organise training and networking for lawyers on both sides of la Manche. Applicants must be within the first seven years of practice and have a ‘working level’ proficiency in French, which may be demonstrated by studying French as part of your degree or taking intermediate to advanced classes in your spare time.

Last September, I spent a month in Paris learning from French lawyers, working in French, and understanding the differences between civil and common law systems. Whilst English and Welsh barristers cannot do advocacy in France (presuming you have not passed the Paris Bar), you will shadow other advocates and be placed with various judges in different courts. The exchange is varied and every week presents new opportunities and challenges.

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I found the variety of this experience particularly enriching. As employment law is one of my main areas of practice, I was placed in a firm that specialises in employment law, Wire Avocats, in the 8th arrondissement. To give an example of one week:

• Monday – I followed my supervisor to the Court of Appeal of Versailles – the case was about unfair dismissal; submissions from both sides only lasted 25 minutes in total (French courts decide much more on paper and very little orally). After I was released, I explored the Palace of Versailles’ gardens.
• Tuesday – I visited the Conseil d’Etat (Supreme Court for public matters) and was led on a private tour by M. Ives Gounin, Counsellor of the State in charge of International Relations. I learned about the two Supreme Courts – the Conseil d’Etat and Cour de Cassation.
• Wednesday – A visit to the Tribunal de Paris in Clichy (the new civil court building built by Renzo Piano, the architect who built Pompidou Centre) shadowing a judge on civil and commercial matters.
• Thursday – I prepared research for a podcast and attended a rhetoric class by avocat Georges Saveur.
• Friday – I attended the cross examination of French rapper ‘MHD’ at the Cour d’Assises (a central criminal trial court), whose car had been used in a gang-related murder. His culpability was in question (I later discovered that he had been found guilty and sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment, but successfully appealed the verdict and was released in February 2024). The day ended with a champagne reception with members of the Franco-British Association.

My supervisor allowed me to explore different courts and allowed me to do cultural activities in the city. I visited the Conseil des Prud’hommes (the Paris employment tribunal), where I witnessed some very good advocacy, though one advocate reminded me exactly what not to do – he started a pompous invective about how the judges were all biased following Macron’s reforms, how claimants can’t win anything, and that his opponent was talking rubbish because his arguments are different from those in a book that the latter had published. It was certainly entertaining.

At the end of the stay, I prepared a mock trial which was held in the old Palais de Justice. Submissions are all in French and you are encouraged to prepare submissions à la française. The case concerned a petty theft and fraud. As a civil lawyer, criminal law was very much outside of my comfort zone, but it was a good exercise and I learned a lot about the style and substance of French legal submissions.

The mock trial was certainly challenging, but I felt supported by those in attendance, so it was quite fun. The drinks reception afterwards was a great opportunity to meet people from the Paris Bar and the Franco-British Association.

The exchange deepened my understanding of both the French language and the French legal system. I have since accepted instructions advising on international matters where most of the documents are in French. Most importantly, though, I now have a diverse network of lawyers who speak French and English who will no doubt be an invaluable resource in the future.

I would strongly recommend anyone interested in the above, and who fits the requirements, to apply in the next round, as it is an enriching and incredibly useful experience for any junior barrister.

Oscar Davies
Garden Court Chambers