The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-06
THE LAWYERS OF PARIS.
They Have a Hard Time Compared
with American Attorneys.

hOcneSter Union anu AuNeTtlSeT.
Lawyers of France, according to a Roch-
ester gentleman who has just returned
from a three. years sojOurn in Paris, do
not have such an easy time as they do in
the bright young men of the land TO enter
into the legal profession, it would seem that
they are discouraged and every obstacle
thrown in their path. the result generally
being that it is a rich man who can be a
lawyer.
Under the regulations at present in force
there" says the Rochester gentleman,
''barristers, after they have kept their
terms and passed their bar examinations,
have to pass through a sort Of three years
of advocate, but have no voice in the de-
alterations of the council of discipline, and
are not Inscribed on the rolls. They can
plead during the three years of probation,
but it is a sort of empty privilege in nine
cases out of ten. When an eminent bar
orally. some one inscribed on the roll;
should he employ the probationer, the hon.
or thus accorded him must suffice. He does
But he must live, and here is where the
problem comes in, which is much more
easily solved by the American or English
brother. In the first place there is the out
lay for his gown or .beretta. which comes
close to 50 FRANCS; unless he prefers to hire
must engage some one to teach him de-
pertinent, for this is an essential qualifica-
ton in this land where King Etiquette
professor Of the conservatory must also be
called in to train his voice, unless nature
has been kind to him in that respect. But
these expenses are mere incidents. He must
above all not live In small m and
not rent dingy offices: Poverty is a poor
Partisan barrister has personal interviews
with his clients. and the direct consequence
of these interviews is that he must be able
TO show them into a nicely furnished re-
ception room and private office, though he
may sleep in a garnet. He cannot well an
swer the bell himself. hence he must en-
ploy a servant, even If he has no money
with which to pay one. The visitor must
not see bare walls, consequently there must
The client will not consider that a !" laWverss
library is often a luxury. and that the bar
%rister's studies might just as we'll be pur-
he must be able to glance at so many calf
bound volumes.
"Voltaire, well summed up the essentials
OF a French lawyer when he said: An adj
vocate is a man who for three years studies
the laws of Theodosius and Justinian in
and who. having matriculated at last Mas
the right to plead for money provided he
has a strong voice The only way / would
modify Voltaire's definition is by adding
that the modern French client does not
even expect to be asked a fee, although he
requires just as much of his advocate as
they did in Voltaire's time. The younger
practitioner does not hint at such a thing
as a retainer, least of all ask for IL. The
regulations forbid il.
" VI all, II young Ddrr1Ster, once
inscribed on the rolls, has to paw a license
This is computed. not by the amount OF
money he may earn. but by the rent Of
that there are hundreds of impecunious
but worthy young men who cannot meet
the charges. In France no career is oper
to them after they have wasted at least
six years in the study of law, exceptini
journalism and politics. Forty per cent
of the present Chamber of Deputies ar,
barristers and that body in consequenc,
is sometimes alluded TO as the Palais d,
Justice burlesque.
The Palace of Justice in Paris is
handsome monument of the days of Phil
ippe-le-Bel and Saint Louis. when ii wa,
first built. There are nine chambers o.
tribunals, the president of the first cham
Der being the First President He is as
sisted by sixty counselors. one of the mar
wells OF the Palace of Justice is the cham
Der in which these judges hold their ses
sions. 1t is an immense room lined Will
delicate woodwork and grayish blue mans
ing. The only furniture consists of scorei
of magniicently carved fauteuils. Benin,
the presidential armchair. i'm a gilt frame
is a picture OF the crucihXion. a che
d'oeuvre on which volumes have beer
written. which hung for close upon tw,
centuries in the grand chamber without tn
name of it's author ever having been dis
covered.
The Court of Appeal in the Palace o
Justice has also "a fine home. Its ceilin,
can boast of some of Bonnat's best paint
ings, surrounded by some admirable cary
ings. Justice has indeed a beautiful HON,
] in Paris. but unfortunately for suitors liti