The People

Lawyer

The lawyer is an expert in law who advises, assists and represents the person brought before the court to be judged. Whether one is the victim of, or accused of committing an offence, everyone is entitled to this legal assistance, even if they don’t have the money to pay. Depending on the nature of the case and the competent jurisdiction, it may not be compulsory to be represented by an lawyer, who takes a sermon of professional secrecy.
Lawyers can plead before any court, as long as they have been admitted to the bar, a professional organisation attached to each Tribunal de Grande Instance (French court of first instance in civil and criminal affairs).
[See also: procureur]