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100+ Free Burundi Bar Test de Passage Practice Questions

Prepare for the Burundi Bar Test de Passage du Petit Tableau au Grand Tableau exam with instant access — no signup required.

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: Burundi Bar Test de Passage Exam

2 years

Minimum duration of the stage on the petit tableau required before taking the test of passage

Loi n°1/17 du 24 juillet 2023, Article 7, 2°

6 months

Mandatory initial vocational training required for stage admission

Loi n°1/17 du 24 juillet 2023, Article 6, 3°

1 year

Maximum stage extension permitted following an initial failure of the test of passage

Loi n°1/17 du 24 juillet 2023, Article 29

6 years

Magistracy seniority conferring statutory exemption from stage and test

Loi n°1/17 du 24 juillet 2023, Article 7 in fine

1 year

Maximum duration of a disciplinary suspension imposed on an avocat, alongside avertissement, blâme and radiation

Loi n°1/17 du 24 juillet 2023, Article 64

3 years

Mandate of the members of the conseil de l'ordre, renewable once

Loi n°1/17 du 24 juillet 2023, Article 13

500,000–2,000,000 FBu

Fine, with one year of servitude pénale principale, for unlawfully performing acts of the profession of avocat

Loi n°1/17 du 24 juillet 2023, Article 38

Statutory end-of-stage test for Burundian avocats stagiaires transitioning from the petit tableau to the grand tableau under Loi n°1/17 of 2023. Free 100-question English MCQ study aid.

Sample Burundi Bar Test de Passage Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your Burundi Bar Test de Passage exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under Article 7 of Loi n°1/17 du 24 juillet 2023 modifying the Statut de la profession d'avocat in Burundi, what are the statutory conditions required for an avocat stagiaire to be admitted to the grand tableau (full roll)?
A.Satisfy Article 6 conditions, have completed at least two years as an avocat stagiaire, and have passed the test de passage du petit tableau au grand tableau
B.Complete a three-year stage under an authorized maître de stage and submit a single written thesis to the Ministry of Justice
C.Hold a licence en droit and obtain unanimous written approval from all members of the Conseil de l'Ordre without any examination
D.Pass an entrance examination (concours d'entrée), complete six months of pupillage, and receive a certificate from the Cour Suprême
Explanation: Article 7 of Loi n°1/17 du 24 juillet 2023 establishes three cumulative conditions for admission to the grand tableau: 1° satisfaire aux prescrits de l'article 6; 2° avoir été avocat stagiaire pendant au moins deux ans; and 3° avoir réussi au test de passage du petit tableau au grand tableau. The pre-2023 regime that admitted stagiaires on the maître de stage's report alone was replaced by this mandatory statutory test.
2Which educational qualification is required under Article 6 of Loi n°1/17 du 24 juillet 2023 for admission to the stage (petit tableau) in Burundi?
A.A Master 2 or Doctorat en droit exclusively from a foreign accredited university
B.At least a Baccalauréat or equivalent in law from a university recognised in Burundi, or a recognised foreign equivalence
C.A Certificat d'Aptitude à la Profession d'Avocat (CAPA) issued by a regional East African bar
D.A five-year Licence en droit under the legacy francophone system without initial training
Explanation: Article 6 of Loi n°1/17 du 24 juillet 2023 updated the educational threshold to align with the BMD (Baccalauréat-Master-Doctorat) higher education structure, requiring at least a Baccalauréat en droit (or recognised equivalence), followed by a mandatory six-month formation professionnelle initiale organised jointly by the Ministère de la Justice and the Comité National des Barreaux.
3According to Article 7 in fine of Loi n°1/17 du 24 juillet 2023, which category of legal professionals is exempted from both the stage d'avocat and the test de passage au grand tableau?
A.Magistrats with at least six years' seniority, docteurs en droit, university law lecturers, and jurists with at least two years as avocat de l'Etat or at the Office Burundais des Recettes (OBR)
B.Any legal graduate who has completed a one-year internship at a commercial bank or microfinance institution
C.Court clerks (greffiers) and judicial police officers with at least three years of active service
D.Notaries and licensed private bailiffs (huissiers de justice) with at least one year of practice
Explanation: Article 7 in fine of Loi n°1/17 explicitly provides that magistrates with at least six years of seniority, docteurs en droit, university law lecturers/professors, and jurists having served at least two years as avocat de l'Etat or at the Office Burundais des Recettes (OBR) 'sont dispensés du stage d'avocat et du test de passage au grand tableau.'
4What is the statutory consequence under Article 29 of Loi n°1/17 du 24 juillet 2023 if an avocat stagiaire fails the test de passage du petit tableau au grand tableau or has an inconclusive stage?
A.The stagiaire is immediately and irrevocably disbarred with no possibility of re-examination
B.The stagiaire may be authorized by the Conseil de l'Ordre to continue the stage for one additional year, with radiation (disbarment) following in case of subsequent failure
C.The stagiaire automatically becomes a permanent legal adviser without the right of audience in any court
D.The stagiaire must complete a new three-year university degree before reapplying to the bar
Explanation: Article 29 of Loi n°1/17 states verbatim: 'L'avocat stagiaire dont le stage n'a pas été concluant ou qui n'a pas réussi le test de passage du petit tableau au grand tableau peut être autorisé à poursuivre son stage pendant une année à l'issue de laquelle sa demande d'inscription au grand tableau est réexaminée par le conseil de l'ordre. En cas d'échec, la radiation s'en suit.'
5Under Article 12 of Loi n°1/17 du 24 juillet 2023, before which authority does an avocat take the professional oath (serment), and what does that oath require?
A.Before the cour d'appel, on presentation by the bâtonnier or a duly mandated delegate, swearing to respect the Constitution, obey the law, and exercise the defence and counsel with dignity
B.Before the Cour Suprême, on presentation by the Minister of Justice, swearing loyalty to the Government in office
C.Before the conseil de l'ordre in closed session, swearing to accept without exception every case the bâtonnier assigns
D.Before the procureur général, swearing to disclose any client confidence the prosecution requests
Explanation: Article 12 requires every avocat, before entering into function, and the avocat stagiaire, on presentation by the bâtonnier or a duly mandated delegate, to swear before the cour d'appel: 'je jure de respecter la Constitution, d'obéir à la loi, d'exercer la défense et le conseil avec dignité, de ne rien dire ou publier de contraire aux règlements, aux bonnes mœurs, à la sûreté de l'Etat et à la paix publique et de ne jamais conseiller ou défendre aucune cause que je ne croirais en mon âme et conscience.' The oath is renewed when the stagiaire is inscribed on the grand tableau at the end of the stage, on any new admission to that roll, and after a period of suspension.
6Which of the following professional activities is strictly incompatible with the exercise of the profession of avocat in Burundi under Articles 2–4 of the bar statute?
A.Teaching law courses as a university professor or lecturer
B.Carrying out commercial acts as a registered sole trader (commerçant) or serving as managing director of a commercial company
C.Publishing academic law articles in a peer-reviewed legal journal
D.Serving as an appointed arbitrator in an international commercial arbitration
Explanation: Under the statutory rules on incompatibilities, the profession of avocat is incompatible with all commercial activities, employment in trade, or acting as an active manager (gérant/administrateur délégué) of a commercial entity. University teaching and acting as an arbitrator are expressly permitted.
7Under Article 13 of Loi n°1/17 du 24 juillet 2023, how long do members of the conseil de l'ordre of a Burundian barreau serve, and what seniority must a candidate already have?
A.Three years renewable once, and the candidate must already have three years' seniority as an avocat inscrit au grand tableau
B.Two years renewable without limit, and one year on the petit tableau is enough
C.Five years non-renewable, and only docteurs en droit may stand
D.One year renewable once, and any avocat stagiaire may stand
Explanation: Article 13 provides that members of the conseil de l'ordre are elected by their peers regularly inscribed on the grand tableau for a mandate of three years renewable once, and that nobody may sit on the conseil without already having completed three years' seniority as an avocat inscribed on the grand tableau. The grand tableau avocats then elect a president from among those members, who bears the title of bâtonnier and must have five years' seniority on the grand tableau, including seniority acquired in foreign bars.
8Under Article 26 of Loi n°1/17 du 24 juillet 2023, what restrictions qualify the avocat stagiaire's exercise of the profession?
A.The stagiaire exercises the plénitude des fonctions d'avocat, but may appear before the Cour Suprême only in collaboration with an avocat inscribed on the grand tableau, cannot be designated to the charges listed in Article 3, and cannot vote in the election of the conseil de l'ordre
B.The stagiaire may never appear before any court and is confined to drafting written consultations inside the cabinet
C.The stagiaire may appear alone before the Cour Suprême once the Minister of Justice grants written permission
D.The stagiaire may plead before every court but is barred from signing any written brief
Explanation: Article 26 states that the avocat stagiaire exercises the plénitude des fonctions d'avocat. It then adds three limits: the stagiaire may not act before the Cour Suprême except in collaboration with an avocat inscribed on the grand tableau; the stagiaire may not be designated to the functions listed in the first paragraph of Article 3 (administrateur judiciaire, curateur de faillite, séquestre, arbitre, commissaire aux comptes); and the stagiaire may not take part in the election of the conseil de l'ordre.
9What is the statutory role of the Comité National des Barreaux under the Burundian bar regime?
A.To serve as the supreme appellate court for all criminal convictions in the country
B.To coordinate the bar associations (Barreau de Bujumbura and Barreau de Gitega), represent the profession nationally, and coordinate initial and continuing vocational training
C.To directly appoint judges and public prosecutors to the commercial courts
D.To collect national taxes on behalf of the Office Burundais des Recettes
Explanation: Article 20 institutes the comité national des barreaux, composed of members representing the different conseils de l'ordre (at most three per ordre) and presided over by a serving bâtonnier in rotation for a two-year non-renewable mandate. Article 21 lists its missions, which include unifying the rules and usages of the profession such as the indicative fee tariff, settling disputes between avocats from different ordres, maintaining the national roll, vetting foreign advocates who wish to practise in Burundi, coordinating initial and continuing training (Article 21, 5°), and receiving appeals against decisions taken by the different conseils de l'ordre (Article 21, 6°).
10How is the vocational and practical training of avocats stagiaires structured under Article 27 of Loi n°1/17 du 24 juillet 2023?
A.Exclusively through online distance-learning modules provided by international non-governmental organisations
B.Through theoretical and professional instruction organized by the Bâtonnier in collaboration with universities and the CFPJ (Centre de formation professionnelle de la justice), plus practical pupillage in law firms on the grand tableau
C.Through mandatory military service followed by two years of judicial clerkship at a Tribunal de Résidence
D.Solely by attending public court hearings without any supervision or academic coursework
Explanation: Article 27 mandates that the Bâtonnier organizes stagiaire training: 1° à travers un enseignement théorique et professionnel en collaboration avec les universités et le Centre de formation professionnelle de la justice (CFPJ, created by décret n°100/178 du 8 décembre 2003); and 2° par des stages pratiques dans des cabinets d'avocats inscrits au grand tableau.

About the Burundi Bar Test de Passage Exam

The Test de Passage du Petit Tableau au Grand Tableau is the statutory bar examination in Burundi required by Article 7, 3° of Loi n°1/17 du 24 juillet 2023 (modifying Loi n°1/014 du 29 novembre 2002). Avocats stagiaires who complete at least two years on the trainee roll (petit tableau) must pass this assessment to be inscribed on the full roll (grand tableau) and practice independently. The official format and delivery language of the test are not published. This practice bank is a free English-language multiple-choice study adaptation of the governing Burundian law, covering deontology, civil procedure, criminal procedure, the 2023 judicial organisation reform, commercial disputes, labour litigation, and administrative remedies.

Assessment

Statutory end-of-stage bar assessment governed by Loi n°1/17 du 24 juillet 2023. Avocats stagiaires admitted to the petit tableau (after a 6-month formation professionnelle initiale) must complete at least two years of stage under a maître de stage and pass the Test de Passage du Petit Tableau au Grand Tableau. Under Article 29, a stagiaire who fails may be authorised to continue the stage for one additional year; failure on re-examination leads to radiation. The official modalities and delivery language of the test are not published by either barreau. This bank is an English-language MCQ study adaptation of the underlying Burundian law, not an official translation, not a simulation of the official format, and not a substitute for the stage, the maitre de stage's report, or the sitting.

Time Limit

Not published by either barreau.

Passing Score

Not published. Article 7, 3° of Loi n°1/17 du 24 juillet 2023 requires only that the candidate have passed the test; no threshold is published.

Exam Fee

Not published by either barreau. (Ordre des Avocats (Barreau de Bujumbura and Barreau de Gitega) and Comité National des Barreaux)

Burundi Bar Test de Passage Exam Content Outline

~22% of this bank

Professional Ethics & Bar Regulations

Statut de la profession d'avocat (Loi n°1/17), serment, independence, professional secrecy, incompatibilities, stage regime, Conseil de l'Ordre, Bâtonnier, Comité National des Barreaux, and disciplinary proceedings.

~22% of this bank

Civil Procedure & Litigation Practice

Code de Procédure Civile (Loi n°1/010 du 13 mai 2004, as modified by Loi n°1/27 du 28 décembre 2023, which introduced the juge de mise en état and shortened delays): action requirements, jurisdiction, writs and notifications, interlocutory measures, injunctions, default judgments, enforcement seizures (saisies), and civil appeals.

~20% of this bank

Criminal Procedure & Rights of Defence

Code de Procédure Pénale (Loi n°1/09 du 11 mai 2018): investigation led by the Officier du Ministère Public, garde à vue, mandats de justice, détention préventive reviewed in chambre de conseil, trial rights, opposition and appeal.

~14% of this bank

Judicial Organisation & Competence

Loi organique n°1/26 du 26 décembre 2023: single-judge system, competence of Tribunaux de Résidence over land disputes, Tribunaux de Grande Instance, specialised commercial and administrative courts, and Cour Suprême.

~10% of this bank

Commercial Law & Litigation

Commercial status and acts, baux commerciaux, injonction de payer, commercial securities inscribed in the Registre du crédit mobilier, company forms, and insolvency before the Tribunaux de Commerce. Burundi is not an OHADA member state.

~6% of this bank

Labour & Social Law

Code du travail (Loi n°1/11 du 24 novembre 2020): employment contract rules, dismissal justification, mandatory conciliation before the Labour Inspectorate, and litigation before Tribunaux du Travail.

~6% of this bank

Administrative Litigation

Administrative decisions, the compulsory prior administrative appeals (recours gracieux and hiérarchique), annulment for excess of power and plein contentieux, and the two-chamber Cour Administrative created by the 2023 organic law.

How to Pass the Burundi Bar Test de Passage Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Not published. Article 7, 3° of Loi n°1/17 du 24 juillet 2023 requires only that the candidate have passed the test; no threshold is published.
  • Assessment: Statutory end-of-stage bar assessment governed by Loi n°1/17 du 24 juillet 2023. Avocats stagiaires admitted to the petit tableau (after a 6-month formation professionnelle initiale) must complete at least two years of stage under a maître de stage and pass the Test de Passage du Petit Tableau au Grand Tableau. Under Article 29, a stagiaire who fails may be authorised to continue the stage for one additional year; failure on re-examination leads to radiation. The official modalities and delivery language of the test are not published by either barreau. This bank is an English-language MCQ study adaptation of the underlying Burundian law, not an official translation, not a simulation of the official format, and not a substitute for the stage, the maitre de stage's report, or the sitting.
  • Time limit: Not published by either barreau.
  • Exam fee: Not published by either barreau.

Keys to Passing

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Burundi Bar Test de Passage Study Tips from Top Performers

1Work from the 2023 consolidated bar statute (Loi n°1/17 du 24 juillet 2023) and never from Loi n°1/014 of 2002 alone: the 2002 Article 7 required a licence en droit and imposed no test de passage.
2Read Loi organique n°1/26 du 26 décembre 2023 for judicial organisation — the single-judge principle, the Tribunaux de Résidence's land jurisdiction whatever the value, the Cour d'Appel du Commerce and the two-chamber Cour Administrative — and check which of the new structures are actually operating.
3Memorise the timelines the primary texts actually state: garde à vue of seven jours francs extendable by the Officier du ministère public to a ceiling of double (Art. 34, Loi n°1/09 du 11 mai 2018); an ordonnance of détention préventive valid thirty days then renewable month by month; and a criminal appeal within thirty days.
4Learn the discipline chapter as a clock: eight days for the avocat to justify himself, sixty days for the conseil de l'ordre to rule, eight days to oppose a default decision and fifteen days to appeal, with recourse to the comité national des barreaux and then to the cour d'appel ruling in last resort.
5Anchor deontology in the statute rather than in French practice: secret professionnel (Art. 44), searches of the cabinet in the bâtonnier's presence (Art. 42), the four interdictions of Art. 47, conflicts under Art. 49, and client money handled through receipts and the livre journal 'client' (Arts. 56 and 59) — Burundi has no CARPA.
6Because Loi n°1/27 du 28 décembre 2023 shortened civil and administrative delays across all jurisdictions and phases, verify every civil time limit against the consolidated code instead of the 2004 text.
7Study the mandatory pre-litigation steps: conciliation before the Inspection du Travail before any Tribunal du Travail action, and the recours gracieux or hiérarchique before any administrative court action.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Burundi bar test of passage a multiple-choice examination in English?

No. The Ordre des Avocats does not publish the format or the delivery language of the test de passage, and there is no basis for describing it as a multiple-choice paper or as an English sitting. Burundi's bar legislation is promulgated in French in the Bulletin Officiel, and Article 56 of Loi n°1/17 requires certain notices in an avocat's office to be posted in French and in Kirundi. This question bank is a 100-item English-language multiple-choice study adaptation of the underlying law — not an official translation, not a simulation of the official format, and not a substitute for the stage or the sitting.

What is the legal basis for the Test de Passage du Petit Tableau au Grand Tableau?

The test is established by Article 7, 3° of Loi n°1/17 du 24 juillet 2023 portant modification de la loi n°1/014 du 29 novembre 2002 portant réforme du statut de la profession d'avocat, published in BOB n°7TER/2023.

What happens if an avocat stagiaire fails the test of passage?

Under Article 29 of Loi n°1/17 du 24 juillet 2023, an avocat stagiaire who fails the test or whose stage is inconclusive may be authorised to continue the stage for one additional year. If the stagiaire fails upon re-examination, radiation (disbarment from the stage roll) follows.

Who is exempt from the stage and the test of passage in Burundi?

Under Article 7 in fine of Loi n°1/17, magistrates with at least six years of seniority, docteurs en droit, university law lecturers/professors, and jurists with at least two years of service as avocat de l'Etat or legal counsel at the Office Burundais des Recettes (OBR) are exempt from both the stage and the test.

What degree is required to enter the bar stage in Burundi?

Under Article 6 of Loi n°1/17, candidates must hold at least a Baccalauréat en droit (under the BMD system) or an equivalent recognised university law degree, and must have completed the mandatory six-month formation professionnelle initiale organised jointly by the Ministère de la Justice and the Comité National des Barreaux.

What restrictions apply to an avocat stagiaire before the Cour Suprême?

Under Article 26 of Loi n°1/17 du 24 juillet 2023, the avocat stagiaire exercises the plénitude des fonctions d'avocat but may act before the Cour Suprême only in collaboration with an avocat inscribed on the grand tableau. The article attaches no seniority figure to that colleague; the two-year seniority requirement in Article 27 applies to the maître de stage instead. Article 26 also bars the stagiaire from the functions listed in Article 3 and from voting in the election of the conseil de l'ordre.