Suche
Mein Konto
Mystery surrounding the role of Greffière: An insight into the justice system in Toulouse!
Isabelle, Greffière in Toulouse, explains her essential role in the justice system and the current shortage of court clerks.
Mystery surrounding the role of Greffière: An insight into the justice system in Toulouse!
Today's episode of the podcast featured an impressive interview with Isabelle, an experienced Court clerk, led. She deliberately chose the setting in the magnificentSalle d'audiencetheCour d'appelin Toulouse. The room impresses with its majestic red curtains, fine parquet flooring, a wooden ceiling and old chandeliers that create a venerable atmosphere.
Isabelle has over 25 years of experience as a greffière. Although she does not embody the image of a classic lawyer, prosecutor or judge, she plays a crucial role in the **French justice system**. As an expert in procedures, she ensures that all relevant documents are countersigned by the judge. It is important to emphasize that Greffiers are not judges' secretaries, as is often mistakenly assumed.
The path to becoming a greffier
Interestingly, Isabelle originally sought a career in the police force. Ultimately, however, she decided to complete the Greffière competition. For Isabelle, this profession means much more than a job - she sees it as a service to the justice system. She is currently managing a considerable number of around 800 ongoing cases together with another Greffier. Unfortunately, there is a notable shortage in this profession, resulting in a buildup of cases. To counteract this, this starts Ministry of Justice now a targeted recruitment campaign for Greffiers.
Registrations for the upcoming competitions have already opened. You can register fromMay 6th to July 15th, 2025. There are a total of three national competitions: the external competition for university graduates, an internal competition for employees in the public service and another competition for people with a corresponding commitment to public administration. But be careful: it is not possible to register for several competitions at the same time!
A look into the French legal system
TheFrench legal systemis diverse and has a number of specialized dishes. The tribunal judiciaire, comparable to a German regional court, covers all civil disputes that do not involve a specialized court. These include, but are not limited to, divorces, real estate matters and inheritance matters.
In general, legal representation is required, although there are exceptions, for example if the amount in dispute is less than 10,000 euros. Specialized judges act within the tribunal, such as the juge des contentieux de la protection for rental agreements or the juge aux affaires familiales for divorce and custody issues. The obligation to provide legal representation can vary, depending on the respective application.
Overall, it is clear that the role of the Greffiers in the justice system is enormously important, even if they are often overshadowed by the judges. The new recruitment campaign is now trying to put this essential profession back in the spotlight and address an acute shortage of skilled workers. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop and what new faces are expected in the French justice system.