What to check before instructing a French property lawyer

What to check before instructing a French property lawyer

Here are a few points one should always check before instructing a solicitor that claims to be a "French Property specialist":


1. Am I dealing with a qualified French lawyer, i.e. a French "Avocat" qualified to practise French law? Obviously, a trained, qualified French lawyer is much more able to represent you than a lawyer qualified in another jurisdiction. It takes at least 7 years to qualify as solicitor in France. The knowledge and experience required to practise law as French property lawyer is immensely higher than what a foreign lawyer may learn by attending a couple of French Property Law seminars for example;

2. Is this lawyer registered in France with a local Law Society (this is called "Ordre des Avocats")? Registration is indeed compulsory to practise French Law as a French lawyer, but some people purporting to be "French lawyers" are registered neither in France or the Country where they are established!

3. Does he have a dual qualification: e.g. French lawyer and UK or Irish Solicitor? Customers expect to get legal advice in English, but using English legal terms can be totally misleading if used in the wrong context. There are many false cognates, which only a dual-qualified lawyer can identify and avoid. There are very few lawyers claiming to be "French law specialists" who actually hold such a dual qualification;

4. Does this lawyer hold Professional Indemnity Insurance specifically covering advice on French Law? In most cases, the answer is simply no. Don't be fooled by those so-called French property specialists purporting to be insured, who mention an insurer's name on their website. Contact the lawyer's professional indemnity insurers and check for yourself.

5. Is this lawyer based in France? If something goes wrong, a local solicitor will find it much easier to defend your interests than a lawyer that is established overseas. A qualified French lawyer established in France can officially act for you when corresponding with French Notaries, local authorities, banks, etc. It may be wrong but, the fact is, in France overseas lawyers do not have the same credibility as French Advocates...

6. Use your common sense: let's face it, if you were French buying property in Ireland for example, would you rather instruct an "Ireland property specialist" based in France or an Irish trained, qualified and registered solicitor?

We hold a list of French qualified solicitors registered either in France and/or with the UK law society which we can make available to our customers by request.