Grenoble Law SchoolLaw at the top

What is your academic and professional background?

I studied at the Institute of Political Studies (IEP) in Aix-en-Provence, then took the competitive exam for the Regional Institutes of Administration (IRA) in Nantes. I began my professional career as a prefecture attaché. At the time, I thought that the competitive exam for the judiciary was out of reach... I finally took the second entrance exam for the National School of Magistrates (ENM), reserved for civil servants, which I passed. I started as a magistrate in Saint-Etienne, where I served as a deputy prosecutor. I then moved to Grenoble, still as a deputy prosecutor. I subsequently worked in Valence as a family court judge, then in Bourgoin-Jallieu as vice-president in charge of proceedings and then vice-president in charge of the civil chamber. Last year, I arrived at the Grenoble Court of Appeal, where I was assigned to the family division. Since September 1, 2020, I have been assigned to the civil division.

That's a lot of successive positions in many different cities!

That's what makes the job so interesting to me. But these changes are not inherent to the profession of magistrate. Some choose to remain in the same position throughout their career. Personally, I prefer change. In this case, geographical mobility is often necessary, either if you want to move from the second grade (judge, deputy prosecutor) to the first grade (vice-president, deputy prosecutor), or if you want to change roles, because it is relatively rare to be able to take on new roles within the same court, with the exception of certain less attractive jurisdictions.

Is this your first year as a university professor?

No, I started in 2007, teaching general culture classes to students at the Institute of Judicial Studies (IEJ) at the Faculty of Law in Grenoble. After a break during my years in Valencia, I resumed my classes at the IEJ.

Why did you choose to become a teacher?

I am really delighted to teach because, for me, this activity complements my work as a judge very well. Teaching is very rewarding; it allows me to meet a different, younger audience and stay intellectually alert. Students sometimes ask questions that we would never have thought of, and that is very stimulating!
I am also very attached to the concept of public service. It is important to me to show that you can be just as successful through an IEJ as through a private institution. Everyone should have the opportunity to succeed in a major civil service exam.

What are your expectations for your new role at the Grenoble Law School?

I want to help people understand the legal world, because it often seems intimidating. I want to demystify the roles associated with it and encourage students who are interested in pursuing this path to do so.
In class, I draw heavily on my professional experience. I want to show, particularly in general culture classes, that it's not about memorizing facts. Being informed gives you a broader ability to reflect on society. You can't do the job of a magistrate without keeping up with current events. Changes in society mean changes in certain cases, which is very true when you're a family court judge, for example. You have to learn to think in order to be able to work differently.

How will you manage your dual schedule?

It's a wonderful challenge! I spent part of my summer preparing my new courses, and it will take up some of my evenings. I can extend my working days by working in the evenings. My job mainly involves writing, so I can organize myself however I want.

What subject will you teach at the Faculty and to which students?

At IEJ, I will continue to teach general culture, but also civil procedure. In the master's programs in Economic Civil Law, Personal and Family Law, Litigation and Enforcement Procedures, I will teach courses on civil procedure practice. Finally, I will teach dispute resolution in the master's program in Banking and Asset Management Law.