The month of November is of utmost importance for any aspiring lawyer. It’s time for the Grand Oral, known as “Grand O”, for eligible students after the written tests in September. If successful, the student lawyer joins a CRFPA (Regional Professional Training Center for Lawyers) for 18 months. It is in this structure that the student will prepare for their second (and final) exam: the Capa (Certificate of aptitude for the profession of lawyer) Law Tuition. He will “only” have to take the oath and request registration with the Bar of his choice.
The oral exam, which requires rigorous and methodical preparation, is made up of two parts. First, the candidate produces a 15-minute presentation based on a random topic that he or she has one hour to prepare. At the end of his presentation, he talks for 30 minutes with the jury about his legal culture, his ability to argue and his knowledge. Secondly, a language test gauges the candidate’s ability to make themselves understood and their mastery of legal vocabulary.
- Already be a lawyer
If the “Grand O” is a less technical test than the written ones, it allows students to be evaluated on their knowledge beyond specializations. “ We assess the future lawyer’s ability to be a general lawyer who is capable of having a global vision of the law and not necessarily the technician of his specialization ,” explains Pascal Beauvais, director of the IEJ La Sorbonne (Paris 1).
“ Basically, the candidate must show that he is capable, when he receives a client, of having answers to provide them. When in a negotiation, have the ability to support a position. When he pleads, to be clear , lists the director of the Parisian IEJ. We will also look to see if he has momentum within him. But be careful not to overplay the lawyer .”
- Work all year round
It goes without saying: the “Grand O” is a demanding oral. Whether in terms of knowledge or judicial and legal culture. “ It’s long-term, long-term work ,” recalls Anne-Sophie Chavent-Leclère, director of the Judicial Studies Unit (IEJ) at Lyon 3 University and lawyer at the Lyon bar. “We have to work all year round, go much further than pure fundamental rights, go into basic culture. » An obvious fact, she admits. But every year, candidates present a very insufficient level. “ Similarly, you need to read the news that affects fundamental rights and be aware of the reforms. All this allows us to gain perspective on the material ,” she continues. - Focus on human contact
“ We must stimulate the jury (made up of a lawyer, a magistrate and a teacher, editor’s note) , capture their gaze, their interest. It’s less a question of rhetoric and spin than of exchange and contact with your audience ,” insists Anne-Sophie Chavent-Leclère.
The stress of the Grand Oral should not encroach on the courtesy of the exchange. “ It is above all a moment of human relations ,” warns Guillaume Guisset, director of Objectif barreau which prepares for the CRFPA. The people in front of the candidates are also having an experience. We must not confuse seriousness and asceticism. But refuse euphoria. » This also applies, and especially, when the jury’s questions are destabilizing.
- Manage your time
Again, work and practice are the key. “ Time is managed from the preparation stage ,” continues Pascal Beauvais. You must have enough material so as not to have a presentation that is too short and give a feeling of inadequacy. » At the time of the presentation, you must control your speech rate, as stress causes it to accelerate.
“ Too often, we have presentations that last 7 minutes. We must occupy the land. This necessarily involves training with a dictaphone and a stopwatch ,” advises Anne-Sophie Chavent-Leclère. “ It’s a question of general attitude ,” says Guillaume Guisset. During the Grand Oral, the student is in the school anteroom. He must therefore show that he is rigorous. »
- Structure your words
This applies as much to the form as to the substance. The presentation is based on rules expected by the jury. Reminding them is never too much. The hook, first – often forgotten by students, caught up in stress – which can be a quote or a current event. Then the introduction: “ Often they are done in 1 minute. It’s way too fast. It should be at least 3 minutes. This introduction must define the terms of the subject, which is often rarely seen. The students sin on this ,” notes Anne-Sophie Chavent-Leclère. The same goes for the plan: everything is a question of rigor because a speech that is not structured is sanctioned. “ It must appear very clearly ,” warns Pascal Beauvais. Finally, in the conclusion, “ we are waiting for an opening and for the students to give their point of view ”, continues the director of the IEJ Lyon 3. Attention: “ You must position yourself, but not politicize your remarks ”, warns Pascal Beauvais.
The same goes for the interview, while the student is bombarded with questions from the jury. “ The candidate must mobilize all the techniques learned in his studies: reasoning by assimilation or reasoning a contrario, broad or restrictive interpretation of a principle… It is a test of intellectual seduction. There is no perfect answer, but you have to show that you reason and know how to research. Above all, the most important thing is to explain how we arrive at the answer ,” advises Guillaume Guisset.