Grenoble Law SchoolLaw at the top

What is your academic background?

After obtaining a high school diploma in economics and social sciences with a specialization in mathematics, I pursued a bachelor's degree in law, choosing public law tutorials in my third year. This year, I completed a Master 1 in domestic public law at the Grenoble Faculty of Law, with a specialization in local government.

I joined the Law College at the end of my second year of my bachelor's degree because I liked the concept: introductory subjects that complemented my course, in small groups, with students from different backgrounds (in M1, almost all master's degrees are represented, which enriches reflection and debate). I particularly liked the fact that these were lectures that allowed students to acquire general, para-legal, and even extra-legal knowledge, and which helped to develop critical thinking skills.

How were your years at law school?

The Law School sessions take place before the start of the academic year in September and after the midterm exams in April/May, lasting one or two weeks. This avoids adding to the workload during the academic year, allowing students to complete both courses successfully.

During those years, I enjoyed meeting professionals: first doctors and medical examiners, who shared their views on situations in which the law is not easy to apply (e.g., end-of-life legislation), and then a criminal lawyer. The "anecdotes" and personal stories they told were always memorable and fascinating.
I also enjoyed the lectures, which provided an opportunity for discussion among ourselves and with the professor on current events (feminism, human rights, legal issues, etc.). I loved the lectures where politics and/or philosophy were confronted with law, as well as the topics on ecology.
A real effort is made to offer us original and enriching presentations: for example, this year, we had a lecture with a lawyer from the International Organization for Migration. This is an opportunity that does not necessarily arise outside the framework of the university diploma and is extremely rewarding!

What conclusions do you draw from this training?

This program has brought me many benefits, first and foremost a certain fluency in speaking, and in any case good preparation for oral exams in front of a panel: since there is a Grand Oral exam at the end of each semester to validate the program, and rhetoric exercises throughout the course, it really is excellent preparation, which is something we lack in traditional programs! Secondly, it provides a broader general knowledge than the legal education received during a bachelor's and/or master's degree, and therefore additional elements of legal culture, which enrich the student's curriculum (and their exam papers, at the same time!).
The university diploma also helps to create a certain cohesion among students in the same year, which is a significant advantage compared to the usual anonymity of university life, especially at the bachelor's level.

I didn't encounter any particular difficulties during the training. However, I know that some people may have had trouble finding an internship (a three-week internship is required to validate the university diploma), but the professors are very attentive and helpful in this regard.

Ultimately, I think this diploma is a real asset to your resume because the faculties that offer this type of university diploma know what it corresponds to and what it means. Those that don't offer it are aware of it, and if not, it piques the recruiter's curiosity. I think it demonstrates a certain level of seriousness on the part of the student who has invested in the degree and a broad base of personal knowledge.

What are your future plans?

Ideally, I would like to enroll at the IEP in Aix-en-Provence to pursue a Master 2 in public careers alongside general preparation for civil service exams. This is my first choice, which is still related to (public) law. As Master's 2 programs are selective, I have also applied for a Master's 2 in fundamental public law, offered by the Law Faculties of Lyon II and Lyon III, as well as Saint-Etienne, and for a Master's 2 in the history, theory, and practice of human rights at the Law Faculty of Grenoble.

Next year, I would like to take the Regional Institutes of Administration (IRA) exam to become a civil servant, more specifically a State Administration Attaché, preferably with the Ministry of Education. However, I know that this may change during my training if I am accepted into the school.

What advice would you give to students who wish to enroll in law school?

The first piece of advice would be to be diligent and serious in your undergraduate studies, because it is primarily your grades that will determine whether you graduate. Next, don't limit yourself to what you learn in class; seize other opportunities that may come your way (public speaking competitions, writing articles, etc.) and be curious and aware of current events. These are habits that will help you improve your work (and therefore your grades) and immerse yourself in the spirit of the DU.