According to the Code of Ethics applicable to French lawyers (“Règlement Intérieur National de la Profession d’Avocat – RIN“), each lawyer has an obligation to provide its clients with the best possible legal advice, which must be up-to-date as regards applicable laws and regulations.
In addition, article Law n ° 71-1130 of 31 December 1971 (a French law reforming certain judiciary and legal professions) imposes on French lawyers to follow a continuous legal education program (“formation continue”). Article 14-2 of the above law states that the continuous legal education is compulsory for lawyers registered with a French bar.
Such continuous legal education is mainly intended to ensure that the legal knowledge which French attorneys must have to practice is up-to-date. All French lawyers are consequently required to participate in or attend legal seminars and/or write and publish articles on legal topics.
The obligations of French attorneys as regards their continuous legal education are detailed in a decision No. 2005-001 of the National French Bar Council.
