Free Practice Questions for CRFPA

The Examen d'accès au CRFPA (Centre Régional de Formation Professionnelle d'Avocats) is the national competitive entrance examination for aspiring lawyers in France. Established under Loi n° 71-1130 and the Arrêté du 17 octobre 2016, it is organized nationally by the Conseil National des Barreaux (CNB) and sat at university Instituts d'Études Judiciaires (IEJ). Passing the CRFPA is mandatory to enroll in an École d'Avocats (EDA) for the 18-month training program leading to the Certificat d'Aptitude à la Profession d'Avocat (CAPA).

The examination comprises two phases: written admissibility (épreuves écrites d'admissibilité) in September and oral admission (épreuves orales d'admission) in November/December. Admissibility consists of four papers: Note de synthèse (5 h, coef 3), Droit des obligations (3 h, coef 2), Épreuve de spécialité (3 h, coef 2 in civil, business, social, criminal, administrative, international/EU, or tax law), and Procédure (2 h, coef 2). Admission consists of the Grand oral on fundamental freedoms (1 h prep, 45 min test, coef 4) and an English language oral (15 min, coef 1).

Candidates must achieve a minimum weighted average of 10 out of 20 (at least 40 points out of 80) across the four written admissibility tests to be declared admissible and qualify for the oral phase. To achieve final admission, candidates must obtain an overall weighted average of at least 10 out of 20 across all written and oral tests combined (at least 70 points out of 140).

Under Article 54 of Décret n° 91-1197 du 27 novembre 1991, a candidate cannot sit the CRFPA entrance examination more than three times in total, across all Instituts d'Études Judiciaires in France.

To take the examination, candidates generally must have obtained the first 60 credits of a law master's degree or a recognized equivalent and comply with the IEJ registration deadlines. Since 1 January 2025, the separate degree requirement for access to the avocat profession is generally a Master 2 or equivalent; candidates should not confuse exam-sitting eligibility with the later professional-access rule.

The Grand Oral (Grand O) is the decisive oral admission exam, weighted at coefficient 4. Following one hour of preparation on a subject drawn by lot, the candidate delivers a 15-minute structured exposé on a question concerning the protection of fundamental liberties and human rights, followed by 30 minutes of cross-examination by a four-member jury comprising an academic, a magistrate, and two practicing lawyers.

Article 66-5 of the Law of 31 December 1971 and Article 2 of the RIN protect professional secrecy across counsel and defense work. A current answer must analyze the communication, the participants, and any specific statutory rule rather than assume that every document involving a lawyer receives identical treatment; the current RIN and legislation control.

The CRFPA is the initial entrance examination that admits law graduates to an École d'Avocats (EDA). The CAPA (Certificat d'Aptitude à la Profession d'Avocat) is the final certifying credential awarded after completing the 18-month curriculum and internships at the EDA, required to take the oath and register on the roll of a French bar.

The four written papers and the fundamental-rights Grand oral are in French, while the language test is an English oral. OpenExamPrep provides 30 English-language MCQs as an analytical study aid; it is not an official translation or format simulation and does not replace French consultations, case studies, note de synthèse drafting, or oral practice.