The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-09
THE LAWYERS OF PARIS.
They Have "A Hard Time Compared
With American Members of the


With American Members of the
Bar.
From the Rochester Union and Advertiser
Lawyers in 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
this country. There far from encourag-
ing 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 lawyer.
"Under the regulations at present in
force there" says this Rochester gentle
man, "barristers, after they have kept
their terms and passed their bar eXamina-
tons, have to pass through a sort of three
years novitiate, during which they have
the title of advocate, but have no voice in
the deliberations of the council of disci-
pine, and are not inscribed on the rolls.
They can plead during the three years of
probation, but it is a sort of empty priv
ilege in nine case out of ten. When an
eminent barrster in France employs a
junior it is generally some one inscribed
on the rolls; should he employ the proba-
toner, the honor thus accorded him must
suffice. He does not pay him.
''But he must live, and here is where
the problem comes in which is much more
easily solved by the American or English
young lawyer than it is by his Partisan
brother In the first place there is the
outlay for his gown or beretta, which
comes close to 80 francs, unless he prefers
to hire 1t at the rate of 10 cents per day.
Then he must engage some one to teach
him department for this is an essential
qualification in this land where King Ell
quette rules with an iron hand. Inc ser
vices of a professor of the conservatory
must also be called in to train ms voice
unless nature has been kind to him in that
respect. But these expenses are mere IN
cidents.. He must above all not live in
small chambers and rent dingy Offices
Poverty is a poor key to open the pockets
of clients The Partisan barrister has
personal interviews with his clients ana
The direct consequence of these interviews
Is that he must be able to show them INTO
q nicely furnished reception room and prl-
yate office. though he may sleep in gar
ret He cannot well answer the bell him.
self hence he must employ servant, even
a. ha has no money with which 10 pay
one The visitor must not see pare Wills,
consequently there must be display Oh
a well stocked library. Inc ciieht WIZ
not consider that lawyers lprary -
oFtan a luxury, and that the barristers
etndias might lust as we'll be pursued at
the Ct Genevieve Library, but he must De
abIa Ia glance at so many calf-bound vol
,'voItaire well summed up the essentials
Of a French lawyer when he sald' An au-
vocate is a man who for three years stu
dies the laws Of Theodosius ana justin
Ian i'm order to learn the common law OF
paris ana who, having matriculated at
Iast. has the right to plead for money pro-
,rided he has a strong voice.. the only
NV would modify Voltaires definition
is bv adding that the modern French en-
ent does not even expect TO be asked
fec although he requires just as much
of his advocate as they did in Noltalre's
time The young practitioner does not
hint at such a thing as a retainer, least
Of all ask for 1t. The regulations FORBID
'.Worst of all, the young barrister, once
inscribed on the rolls has to pay a license.
This is computed, not by the amount OF
money he may earn, but by the rent of
the apartment he occupies. The result is
that there are hundreds Of impecunious
but worthy young men who cannot meet
the charges In France no career is open
to them after they have wasted at least
six years in the study of law, excepting
journalism and politics. Forty per cent
barristers, and that body is sometimes
alluded to as the Palais de Justice bur-
lesque
"The Palace Of Justice in Paris is a
handsome monument Of the days of Phil |
ippe-le-Bel and Saint Louis, when 1t was
first built There are nine chambers or
tribunals the President of the first cham
her being the First President He Is as
sisted by sixty counsellors. One of the |
marveIs Of the Palace of Justice is the |
chamber in which these judges hold their |
sessions. 1t Is an immense room lined |
with delicate woodwork and grayish-blue |
hanging. The only furniture consists OF |
scores of magniicently carved fauteuils. |
Behind the presidential armchair, in a |
Gilt frame, Is a picture Of the crucifxion, |
a chef doeuvre on which volumes have |
been written, which hung for close upon |
two centuries In the grand chamber with
out the name Of its author ever having |
been discovered.
"The court of appeal, in the palace Of |
Justice, has also a fine home. It's ceiling |
can boast OF some Of Bonnats best paint- |
ings, surrounded by some damirable carv-
ings. Justice has indeed beautiful home |
In Paris, but, unfortunately for suitors, |
litigation Is as expensive as the building |
IS costly. This sort OF thing Is true TO /
many other countries, but not to the ex- l
tent that IL is in France. Here. for exam /
ple. the total expense of obtaining debt /
OF 50 sometimes runs as high as $50 and /
more"