Your litigation lawyer in France for every dispute

Local context

How litigation works in France

France has a codified civil-law system with two parallel court orders: the judicial order for private and criminal matters, and the administrative order for disputes involving public authorities. Lawyers (avocats) are regulated by the Conseil national des barreaux and local bars, and representation is mandatory in most civil claims above €10,000. The following points summarise the framework you should know before instructing a litigation lawyer in France.

Two court orders, one Tribunal des conflits

France maintains two fully separate court systems: the judicial order (tribunal judiciaire, cour d’appel, Cour de cassation) for private and criminal cases, and the administrative order (tribunal administratif, cour administrative d’appel, Conseil d’État) for disputes involving public authorities. The Tribunal des conflits resolves conflicts of jurisdiction, while the Cour de cassation and Conseil d’État unify case law in their respective orders.

Who may represent you as an avocat

A French avocat must hold a Master 2 degree in law and the Certificat d’aptitude à la profession d’avocat (CAPA), obtained after an 18-month training and an entrance exam. Lawyers take an oath before the cour d’appel and register with a local bar. Representation is mandatory before the tribunal judiciaire for most civil claims above €10,000, before the cour d’appel, and before the Cour de cassation where only specialised avocats aux conseils may act.

Justice is in principle free, but costs remain

Court acts are free following the abolition of stamp duties, but filing a civil claim or a prud’hommes claim requires a €50 fiscal stamp, and an appeal with mandatory representation requires a €225 electronic stamp. Administrative proceedings are free. Lawyers’ fees are freely agreed and usually set out in a convention d’honoraires; legal aid (aide juridictionnelle) may cover all or part of the costs based on income thresholds.

Deadlines you cannot ignore

French law imposes strict time limits. An employment dismissal claim must be brought within 12 months; general civil and commercial debt claims within 5 years; consumer debt claims within 2 years; rental lease actions for unpaid rent within 3 years; and administrative appeals within 2 months. A litigation lawyer in France will confirm the period that applies to your matter.

Specialised courts with lay judges

Employment disputes are heard by the conseil de prud’hommes, composed of equal numbers of elected lay judges representing employers and employees; if the bench is tied, a professional juge départiteur decides. Business disputes fall within the tribunal de commerce, where parties may appear in person. These procedures differ from ordinary civil proceedings.

Notarial deeds and reserved heirs

Succession litigation often involves forced heirship rules: descendants are entitled to a reserved portion of the estate, so total disinheritance of children is impossible. Real-estate transfers require an authentic notarial deed for land-registry registration. A litigation lawyer can guide you through these constraints in inheritance or property disputes.

Key time limits — Litigation & Dispute Resolution

All data are from official French sources (Ministry of Justice, CNB, Legifrance) and e-Justice, last accessed February 2026.

• Organisation of courts and tribunals
• Conditions of access to the legal profession
• Labour Code – Article L1471-1
• Civil Code – Extinctive limitation (Articles 2224 et seq.)
• Consumer Code – Article L218-2
• Civil Code – Article 780
• Law No. 89-462 of 6 July 1989 – Article 7-1
• Administrative Justice Code – Article R421-1
• Costs of justice: the cost of a trial
• Civil Code – Reserved portion
• Civil Code – Article 710-1 (notary)
• The French legal and judicial system
• Civil Code – Divorce (section)