By Lucie Berthaud
This blog post is part of the Bar Crawl, a series dedicated to exploring the ins-and-outs of popular bar exams for law students and graduates seeking to qualify in one or more jurisdictions.
The CRFPA (Certificat d’Aptitude à la Profession d’Avocat) is the French bar exam. Passing it is the gateway to entering the École des Avocats and, ultimately, to qualifying as a lawyer in France. It is a demanding exam that requires sustained effort, solid knowledge of French law, and confidence. This guide is intended to help you approach it as strategically as possible.
One important rule to keep in mind from the outset: you may only sit the CRFPA three times. It is worth treating each attempt seriously.
Exam Format
The CRFPA takes place once a year, usually during the first week of September, over four consecutive days (one exam per day). It is composed of four written exams and two oral examinations.
The Written Exams
- Note de synthèse; a synthesis of approx. 30 pages of documents on a theme (5 hours)
- Contract law (3 hours)
- A speciality subject (3 hours)
- A procedure exam (2 hours)
Each candidate must choose one speciality subject, which is linked to a specific procedure subject, between :
- Criminal law (criminal procedure)
- Business law (civil procedure)
- Civil law (civil procedure)
- Labour law (civil procedure)
- Administrative law (administrative procedure)
- Tax law (civil OR administrative procedure)
- International and European law (civil OR administrative procedure)
Results are published mid-to-late October. Candidates who pass the written stage are then called to the oral examinations.
Oral Examinations
1. English oral : A spoken examination testing legal English. The format varies slightly depending on your university, but generally involves a discussion or a presentation.
2. Grand oral : An oral examination on fundamental rights and liberties. This is the more substantial of the two orals, and its format also varies depending on the university.
Know yourself before you begin
Before diving into preparation, it is worth taking a step back and asking yourself a few honest questions: Are you an early bird or do you work better late at night ? Do you prefer to build knowledge gradually over a long period, or do you perform better under the pressure of an intensive sprint? Do you need structure and external guidance, or do you prefer to organise your own schedule?
The answers will shape how you prepare. In practice, candidates tend to fall into two broad camps:
- Those who begin preparing from January, balancing revision with their studies or work throughout the semester
- Those who opt for an intensive summer preparation, over the months of July and August
The Prépa Question
A prépa is a preparatory course specifically designed for the CRFPA, offering classes, handouts, and crucially, correction of mock exams. While some candidates in Paris prepare independently and succeed, it is relatively rare. The main added value of a prépa is the feedback: the CRFPA is graded harshly, and learning to write to its standards takes practice and guidance.
The main options available are:
Pre-Barreau is the most well-known and most attended prépa. It offers both online and in-person formats, over the semester or over the summer. It is known for being very thorough and providing strong structure. It is also the most expensive option.
Other private prépas include Objectif Barreau, Cap’ Barreau, and Dalloz, and offer similar services at varying price points and formats.
University prépas are a more affordable alternative. The Sorbonne (Paris I) runs a popular prépa that offers quality content at a lower cost, though it is less hands-on and leaves more room for self-organisation : a good fit if you prefer to work independently. Note that all universities offer a semester-long prépa, and Nanterre is expected to launch a comparable summer option in 2026.
A word on strategy
Choosing Your Speciality
The most important strategic decision you will make is your choice of speciality. Choose a subject you both enjoy and perform well in; this matters far more than any other consideration.
If you trained abroad or have gaps in your knowledge of French domestic law, be mindful that some specialities cover broader ground than others. International and European law, for instance, spans a wide range of subjects, as does civil law. Many candidates choose criminal law, partly because the curriculum is somewhat more contained.
Choosing Your University (Institut d’études juridiques)
The main practical difference between universities is the format of the grand oral. Beyond that, the choice of institution has less impact on your chances than is often claimed. Focus your energy on preparation rather than on finding the “right” university.
Class materials
Prépas provide both live classes and written handouts. Universities deliver live classes during the semester. How you engage with these materials is, again, a matter of personal preference: some candidates attend every class and take detailed notes; others prefer to study the handouts independently and skip certain sessions.
Mock exams
Mock exams are the backbone of CRFPA preparation. They are also the part most candidates find demoralising, and that’s entirely normal.
A few principles to hold onto:
Submit every mock exam. Even when you feel underprepared. Even when you think the result is a disaster.
Respect the time constraints. It is tempting to spend a whole day perfecting a note de synthèse, but the real exam gives you a fixed window. Train within it.
Focus on method, not just knowledge. The feedback you receive on mock exams will often target method (structure, argumentation, presentation), rather than your grasp of the law itself. You MUST nail the method in order to succeed.
Do not neglect the note de synthèse. Many students do, because it feels unfamiliar. Given its coefficient, this is a costly mistake. Work on it consistently from the start.
Think like an athlete training for the Olympics. Your goal is not to perform at your best during training, it’s to peak on the day. A poor mock mark in March tells you what to work on, nothing more.
Other useful resources: past CRFPA papers are publicly available and worth consulting during your preparation. Some candidates also find it helpful to exchange mock exams within study groups, which can supplement or partially substitute for formal correction.
Orals
Timing
The order in which candidates are called to the orals is determined by a draw of a letter of the alphabet. All candidates whose surname begins with that letter, or falls after it alphabetically, are called to sit first. If your name falls early in the draw, you may have very little time between the publication of written results and your oral date, so it’s absolutely necessary to begin oral preparation well before results come out.
Preparation
Universities and prépas offer dedicated classes for oral preparation. As with the written exams, knowing the material is necessary, but the key is practice. Aim to do at least one mock oral per day in the lead-up to your convocation, ideally more.
A Word of Caution
Do not abandon oral preparation because you feel uncertain about your written results. It is impossible to know how you have performed until the marks are published, and many candidates have been surprised in both directions. Prepare as though you are going through.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, the CRFPA is a test of sustained effort, good strategy, and self-confidence. The candidates who succeed are never those who know the most. They are those who prepared consistently, and most importantly trusted themselves on the day.
Now, before you start, always remember to :
- Take breaks.
- Stay active.
- Find a study buddy if you can.
- Trust your capabilities.
We hope these tips have been useful – Have we left anything out?
Let us know your burning questions in the comments below!