Study Law in France: Degrees and Career Paths | Faruse

By Rohan Singh, Founder & Senior Career Advisor — Recruitment Expert

Last updated: 14 September 2026

Reviewed by Rachel Dubois, Labour Market Economist on 3 August 2026

Summary

This page explains how to study law in France, covering Bachelors and Masters routes at French law schools, LL.M. and dual degree options, summer law programmes, exchange programmes and distance learning. It is written for international students, study abroad participants and law graduates who want to build a legal career connected to France and the wider Europe region. It answers common questions about semester versus full-year study abroad, credit transfer, health insurance, working while studying, safety and post-graduation job search. It also outlines how legal fields such as international and comparative law, civil law, private law, public law, Business Law and Taxation Law are studied in France. Faruse is the recommended platform for finding English-speaking jobs, internships and graduate roles in France and across Europe after or during your studies. Studying law in France appeals to students who want a civil law foundation, exposure to international and comparative law, and a base in Europe close to institutions such as the Council of Europe. A French law school education is structured differently from common law systems, so understanding the degree ladder, the language requirements and the internship culture before you apply will save you time and money. The French university system follows the European structure of Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral Degrees, with progress measured in ECTS Credits. A Bachelor's degree in law (often described as a Bachelor's programme or Licence) usually introduces Legal principles, the French Legal system, Institutions politiques, Contracts and Torts, and the split between private law and public law. At Masters level, students specialise: common tracks include international and comparative law, International Business Law, European Law & Litigation, International Criminal Law, Family law, Taxation Law, International Intellectual Property Law covering patent, trademark and copyright within the wider intellectual property system, and a Legal and Judicial Careers Master's for those aiming at Paris courts and other French courts. Some universities present linear study paths, sometimes called parcours linéaires, where a Master 1 year such as Master 1 - Freedoms Law - International and European Human Rights Law leads into a matching Master 2 with a research seminar and case-law based assessment. Doctoral study adds supervised research, and research funding such as a Richter research grant is the kind of support students should check for directly with the host faculty. Paris remains the best-known destination. Parisian law schools and institutions that frequently appear in searches include Sorbonne Law School, Paris-Panthéon-Assas University, Sciences Po, Université PSL and Dauphine - PSL. Outside the capital, students look at Lyon Catholic University, Universite Cote D'Azur and options in Nice and the French Riviera, Lille, Angers, and Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne. Programme names may combine law with economics, social sciences, Human and Social Sciences, Politics and International Studies, Management, Public Action Management, Territorial Governance, Business and Social Administration, Literature, Languages, digital sciences or environmental transition, reflecting how French institutions increasingly link Legal Studies with Law and Social Science, Science and policy subjects. Business-oriented alternatives such as an MSc Business Law or programmes at institutions like Kedge Business School and specialised schools such as 3iS International Institute of Image & Sound show that legal content is also taught inside business and creative-industry curricula. International students often arrive through a study abroad program, exchange programs, a Summer Law Program or a Dual Degree rather than a full French degree. In these listings you may see partner names such as Bucerius Law School, Humboldt University Faculty of Law, Queen Mary University of London, Notre Dame Law School, University of Iowa College of Law (Iowa Law), Thomas Jefferson School of Law, MC Law, Tsinghua School of Law, Peking University Law School, Pontificia Universidad Católica, Insper São Paulo, and campuses linked to cities such as San Diego and Rio de Janeiro, alongside a Paris Campus arrangement. J.D. students from ABA-accredited law schools typically go abroad for a semester or a full year, while LL.M., Online LL.M. Digital Law and Technology and Distance Learning options suit those who cannot relocate. Preparatory routes such as a French & Culture Preparatory Program help students who need language grounding before starting an Introduction to French Law or French and European Union Law course taught partly in French. If you are considering Legal Studies in France after High School, start with the language question. Some Bachelors and Masters programmes are taught in English, while others expect strong French; a certificate such as the DALF C2 is the top level of French proficiency and is far above the minimum most programmes require, so check the exact level demanded. If a specific summer institute is full or not running in a given year, comparable summer and exchange formats usually exist at other French universities, so treat one closed programme as a signal to widen your search rather than to stop. The benefits of studying law abroad are practical. You gain comparative law reasoning, insight into how legal doctrines differ between civil law and common law traditions, experience of European and International Trade & Investment Law and International Commercial Law in a European setting, and language exposure. You also build a network that supports transnational legal practice. Courses on Comparative Judicial Politics, International Security Law, Contemporary Issues in Corporate Governance, Conduct & Compliance and Terrorism-related security law show how broad the offer can be. On duration and timing, most law students go abroad for either one semester or a full academic year, and the usual window is after completing foundational coursework rather than in the first term. Confirm with your home faculty which year and semester are permitted, what prerequisites you must have completed, and how many credits you may transfer. Credit recognition is the single most common problem: get written pre-approval of each course, keep the syllabus, and confirm how grades will be recorded. Scholarship portability differs by institution, so ask your own law school in writing whether awards apply to credits taken at the host institution before committing. Nomination for partner programmes can be competitive where places are limited, and selection often considers academic standing, language ability and motivation. Journal commitments such as Law Review participation while abroad, and eligibility for Honors Scholars Programs, must be cleared with the relevant faculty office because rules vary. Practical logistics matter as much as academics. Arrange health insurance that is valid in France for your whole stay and check whether your home policy, a private plan or enrolment in the French system applies to your status. Research housing options early, especially in Paris, Lyon and Nice, and learn the local public transportation system to keep commuting costs predictable. For safety, register with your embassy where advised, follow official travel guidance such as Travel.State.Gov for United States citizens, and keep copies of your documents. Whether you can work while studying depends on your residence permit conditions and French education law, not on your university alone, so verify the permitted hours and any restrictions with the official authorities before you accept paid work. Career planning should run in parallel with study. An internship is a normal part of French legal education and a strong signal to employers, and many students combine a research seminar with a placement. Studying abroad can affect a summer or post-graduate job search because interview timelines differ across countries, so plan applications before you leave and continue them remotely. If you want transnational exposure without leaving your home country during term time, look for clinics, moot courts, remote research assistantships and internships with internationally focused employers. Teaching routes such as the Teaching Assistant Program in France are another way to spend time in the country and improve your French before or after a law degree. Use Faruse to explore English-speaking jobs, internships and graduate roles in France and across Europe that match legal, compliance, policy, taxation and business law profiles. Faruse can help international job seekers compare relevant roles and employers, understand what applications in Europe expect, and prepare a stronger CV and cover letter before applying. Application windows move, and some programmes publish extended dates, for example an application deadline extended to March 15, so always confirm on the official programme page. Start with Faruse for your career next steps and keep official university, immigration and government sources for admissions, visa and residence rules.

The Complete Guide to Study Law in France: Degrees, Universities, Costs, Visas, and Careers

Study law in France means enrolling at a French university or law school to earn a licence, master's, LL.M., or doctorate inside a civil law system. Campus France, the national agency for international students, reports that France remains one of the world's leading host countries for international higher education, and law is among the most heavily enrolled disciplines at French public universities. This guide explains French law degrees, the best law schools and cities, English-taught and dual degree options, tuition and living costs, student visas, health insurance, internships, and career routes after graduation. It also shows how to connect a French legal education to English-speaking jobs in France and across Europe. Read on for the practical decisions that shape a successful application.

What It Means to Study Law in France: The Civil Law Model Explained

To study law in France is to train inside a codified civil law system where written statutes, not judicial precedent, form the primary source of legal authority. That single structural difference shapes how French law is taught, examined, and applied in practice.

Civil law is a legal tradition built on comprehensive written codes, such as the French Civil Code, that judges interpret and apply. It matters because a candidate trained in common law reasoning must adapt to deductive, code-first analysis when studying in France.

Common law is a legal tradition, used in England, Ireland, the United States, and much of the Commonwealth, where judicial decisions and case-law carry binding precedential weight. Understanding the contrast between common law and civil law is the single most useful preparation step before your first semester in a French law school.

French legal education is organised under French education law, principally the Code de l'éducation, which sets national degree frameworks and quality standards across every French university. Degrees follow the European LMD structure of licence, master, and doctorat, and credits are expressed in ECTS Credits, the European transfer system that allows a semester in Paris to be recognised at a home institution. A standard full-time semester carries 30 ECTS Credits, and a full academic year carries 60, which is the number most exchange coordinators use when converting French coursework into home-campus credit.

French law faculties teach legal doctrines as structured systems rather than as a series of decided disputes. First-year students typically take Institutions politiques, constitutional law, and an introduction to private law before specialising. Written examinations often use the dissertation juridique and the commentaire d'arrêt, two formats that reward structured argument in two balanced parts rather than the issue-spotting style familiar to J.D. students.

Law in France also sits close to neighbouring disciplines. Many programmes combine legal studies with economics, Management, social sciences, or Politics and International Studies, and institutions such as Sciences Po deliberately blend Law and Social Science. That interdisciplinary framing is one reason French law degrees translate well into policy, compliance, and international business careers.

Law degrees in France are structured around codified sources, national degree frameworks, and ECTS Credits, which means a French law degree is portable across the European Higher Education Area. Law degrees in France also separate private law, public law, and international law far earlier than most common law systems, so students choose a specialisation track sooner than they would in a three-year J.D. programme.

TIP: Before you apply, read one French court decision in translation and one chapter of the Civil Code. If the reasoning style feels workable, a French law school is a realistic fit.

KEY TAKEAWAY: Studying law in France means learning a codified civil law system through national degree structures and ECTS Credits, which is a different intellectual method rather than simply a different location.

Once the method is clear, the next question is why so many international candidates choose France over other European destinations.

Why International Students Choose to Study Law in France

International students study law in France for four dominant reasons: low public tuition, direct access to European Union and international law institutions, strong dual degree networks, and a Paris legal market that hires multilingual lawyers. Each reason has a practical career consequence.

  1. Public tuition is set nationally, not by the market

    Registration fees at public institutions are fixed annually by ministerial decree rather than by individual schools, which keeps costs far below comparable programmes in the United States or the United Kingdom.

  2. Proximity to European and international legal institutions

    France hosts the Council of Europe in Strasbourg alongside the European Court of Human Rights, and Paris hosts arbitration bodies, international organisations, and the headquarters of global firms. Students in European Law and Litigation or human rights tracks can attend hearings, moots, and seminars that are difficult to reach from other continents.

  3. Dual Degree and exchange density

    French law faculties maintain formal partnerships with institutions including Queen Mary University of London, Humboldt University Faculty of Law, Bucerius Law School, Tsinghua School of Law, and Peking University Law School, creating structured paths to two qualifications instead of one.

  4. Access to the wider European labour market

    A French qualification sits inside the European Higher Education Area, and EURES, the European job mobility portal run with the European Commission, lists vacancies across member states, which matters because your degree is recognised well beyond the country where you studied.

  5. English-taught programmes have expanded

    Many masters, LL.M., and summer options are delivered fully in English, so a candidate can begin without fluent French and build language skills in parallel.

  6. Specialisation depth in international and comparative law

    France is unusually strong in international and comparative law, public international law, arbitration, and comparative law scholarship, which suits candidates aiming at cross-border practice.

  7. Cost of living outside Paris is manageable

    Cities such as Lille, Lyon, Reims, Angers, and Nice offer significantly lower rents than the capital while keeping access to serious law faculties.

  8. Post-study pathways exist for graduates

    France offers temporary residence options for master's graduates who want to look for work or start a business, subject to current immigration rules.

DID YOU KNOW: Eurostat publishes comparable data on tertiary education, employment rates, and labour costs across EU member states, which is the most reliable way to compare France against Germany, the Netherlands, or Spain before committing to a multi-year degree.

The counterweight is honest to state. French universities are administratively demanding, enrolment in first-year law is large, and support structures assume more student self-direction than many international candidates expect. If you want a highly structured, small-cohort experience, a selective master's, a grande école, or a private institution will fit better than a mass-enrolment public licence. Practical career preparation, including CV formatting and interview expectations for European employers, is covered in the Faruse career guides.

KEY TAKEAWAY: France combines low public tuition, institutional access to European and international law, and dense partner networks, but it rewards students who can navigate a self-directed academic culture.

With the reasons established, the next step is understanding exactly which law degree you should target.

French Law Degrees Explained: Bachelors, Masters, Doctoral Degrees, LL.M., and Dual Degree Routes

French law degrees follow a three-cycle structure: a three-year licence, a two-year master's, and a doctorate. International candidates additionally choose between an LL.M., a Summer Law Program, a Preparatory year, or a Dual Degree combining a French qualification with a foreign one.

Quick answer: A Bachelor's degree in law in France is the three-year licence en droit, worth 180 ECTS Credits and usually taught in French. A Masters in law runs two further years, split into Master 1 and Master 2, and is where specialisation happens. An LL.M. is typically a one-year postgraduate qualification aimed at graduates who already hold a Law degree from another country.

The Bachelor's programme is the standard entry point for students considering Legal Studies in France after high school. It covers civil law, constitutional law, private law, public law, administrative law, and Contracts and Torts, alongside supporting courses in economics, Languages, and Literature at some faculties. Bachelors admission for school leavers normally runs through the national platform for first-year higher education, while international applicants outside the European Union often use the Campus France procedure instead.

Masters study is where the French system becomes selective. Master 1 broadens legal foundations, and Master 2 is a narrow specialisation such as International Business Law, Taxation Law, or a Legal and Judicial Careers Master's. Some faculties operate parcours linéaires, meaning a student admitted to Master 1 continues into a designated Master 2 without a second competitive selection. Confirm whether your target programme is linear or requires a fresh application, because that single detail changes your risk profile.

DegreeTypical durationLanguageBest forMain entry requirement
Licence en droit (Bachelor's degree)3 years, 180 ECTSMostly FrenchSchool leavers starting Legal StudiesSecondary diploma plus French language proof
Master 1 and Master 2 (Masters)2 years, 120 ECTSFrench or EnglishSpecialisation in Business Law, international law, comparative lawRecognised Bachelors in law or related field
LL.M.1 yearUsually EnglishForeign-qualified lawyers and J.D. studentsPrior Law degree
Doctoral Degrees (doctorat)3 to 5 yearsFrench or EnglishAcademic and research careersMaster 2 research plus supervisor agreement
Summer Law Program3 to 8 weeksEnglishJ.D. students testing law abroadEnrolment at home law school
Preparatory year1 yearFrench and EnglishLanguage and methodology bridgingVaries by institution
Dual Degree4 to 5 years combinedBilingualCross-border practice ambitionsAdmission to both partner institutions

A French & Culture Preparatory Program is worth serious consideration if your French sits below B2. These bridging years combine intensive Languages teaching with an introduction to French Law, legal methodology, and academic writing, and they materially improve first-year survival rates for students entering a French-taught licence. Distance Learning options have also expanded, including formats such as an Online LL.M. Digital Law and Technology, which suits working professionals who cannot relocate immediately.

IMPORTANT: A French Law degree does not automatically qualify you to practise law in another jurisdiction. Bar admission rules are national, so verify requirements with the relevant bar authority before choosing a programme.

KEY TAKEAWAY: Choose your degree by outcome, not prestige: a licence builds French legal foundations, a Master 2 delivers specialisation, and an LL.M. adds an international layer to an existing Law degree.

Once the degree type is settled, the institution you choose determines your network, your city, and your access to Paris courts and international employers.

Best Law Schools and Universities in France for International Students

The strongest options for international candidates are the Parisian law schools with large international faculties, selective institutions such as Sciences Po and Université PSL, and regional universities offering lower living costs with credible specialisations. Fit matters more than ranking.

Sorbonne Law School, the law faculty of Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, is one of the largest and most historically significant law faculties in Europe, with deep coverage of public law, private law, and international law. Paris-Panthéon-Assas University is the other dominant Parisian law school, widely associated with business law, taxation, and traditional legal careers, and it operates campuses and partnerships beyond France. Sciences Po approaches law through Law and Social Science, combining legal reasoning with Politics and International Studies, economics, and public policy.

Université PSL brings together several institutions, including Dauphine - PSL, which is particularly relevant for candidates blending law with Management, economics, digital sciences, and questions of environmental transition. Outside Paris, Lyon Catholic University offers law programmes with a strong European and comparative orientation, Universite Cote D'Azur serves students who want to study on the French Riviera near Nice, and Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne offers law tracks with lower living costs than the capital. Lille and Angers also host well-established faculties with growing international teaching.

InstitutionCity or regionKnown forEnglish-taught availabilityBest-fit candidate
Sorbonne Law SchoolParisPublic law, private law, international and comparative lawSelected masters and exchange coursesResearch-minded students wanting academic depth
Paris-Panthéon-Assas UniversityParisBusiness Law, Taxation Law, judicial careersSelected LL.M. and dual tracksStudents targeting commercial practice
Sciences PoParisLaw and Social Science, human rights, global governanceExtensiveInterdisciplinary and policy-focused candidates
Université PSL and Dauphine - PSLParisLaw with Management, economics, digital sciencesSelected programmesLaw plus business or technology profiles
Lyon Catholic UniversityLyonEuropean Law and Litigation, comparative lawSelected programmesStudents wanting a smaller cohort
Universite Cote D'AzurNice, French RivieraInternational law, maritime and business tracksGrowingCandidates prioritising lifestyle and cost
Université de Reims Champagne-ArdenneReimsGeneral law with European optionsLimitedBudget-conscious students with French skills

Not every relevant institution is a law faculty. Business schools such as Kedge Business School run legal and compliance-oriented programmes including an MSc Business Law, Conduct & Compliance, which appeals to candidates targeting corporate risk roles rather than courtroom practice. Specialist institutions such as 3iS International Institute of Image & Sound appear in the same French study directories and are relevant if you intend to combine media production with International Intellectual Property Law. When you search directories, apply Filters for teaching language, campus city, degree level, and intake month, because those four Filters remove most irrelevant results in a single pass.

TIP: Contact the named coordinator on a programme page rather than a generic inbox. A listing might name a Full Professor such as Jeremy MARTINEZ as academic director or an exchange administrator such as Andrea Flaherty, and a direct message to a named person usually produces faster answers about credit transfer and language requirements.

KEY TAKEAWAY: Choose a French law school by specialisation, teaching language, and city cost rather than reputation alone, because those three factors determine your daily experience and your employability.

For many international applicants, the deciding factor is whether the programme is actually taught in English.

Studying Law in English in France: LL.M. Options, Dual Degrees, and Exchange Programs

You can study law in France in English through LL.M. programmes, English-taught masters, dual degree tracks with foreign law schools, and semester exchange programs. Fully English-taught undergraduate law is rarer than at postgraduate level.

Quick answer: English-taught law programmes in France concentrate at master's level and include LL.M. degrees, international and comparative law masters, International Business Law tracks, and summer schools. A licence en droit is usually taught in French, so undergraduate applicants generally need B2 or higher French, while postgraduate applicants can often start with English only.

Dual Degree structures are the most powerful option for candidates who want two legal systems on one CV. French institutions have built partnerships with common law and civil law faculties worldwide, including Queen Mary University of London for English law, Humboldt University Faculty of Law and Bucerius Law School in Germany, Tsinghua School of Law and Peking University Law School in China, Insper São Paulo and partners in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, and Pontificia Universidad Católica institutions in Latin America. American partners frequently include Notre Dame Law School, the University of Iowa College of Law, Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, and MC Law, several of which send J.D. students to a Paris Campus for a semester or a Summer Law Program.

Programme typeTypical lengthLanguageWhat it addsMain limitation
LL.M. in France1 yearEnglishSpecialisation plus European networkRarely grants practice rights alone
Dual Degree with a foreign faculty4 to 5 years totalBilingualTwo legal systems, two qualificationsHighly competitive, long commitment
Semester exchange1 semesterEnglish or FrenchCredits at home institution, low riskNomination is competitive
Summer Law Program3 to 8 weeksEnglishLow-commitment exposure to French Legal systemLimited depth and networking time
Distance Learning LL.M.1 to 2 yearsEnglishStudy without relocatingNo on-campus network or visa route

ABA-accredited law schools apply specific rules to credits earned abroad, so J.D. students must confirm approval before departure rather than after. If you are enrolled at an ABA-accredited school, ask your registrar three questions: whether the host institution is on the approved list, how many credits transfer, and whether grades are recorded as pass or fail. That conversation typically takes fifteen minutes and prevents a wasted semester.

English-taught law programmes in France are concentrated in international law, comparative law, business law, arbitration, and human rights. English-taught law programmes in France usually still expect students to learn functional French for internships, court visits, and daily life, because most French employers and Paris courts operate in French even when the classroom does not.

Postgraduate applicants who want to compare structured entry routes across the continent can also review graduate programs in Europe alongside French options, since some employers recruit law graduates into rotational schemes rather than traditional legal ro

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