Legal capacity

Established on March 13, 1804 (22 Ventôse, Year XIII) and now governed by the decree of September 25, 202, the Capacité en Droit is a national Level 4 diploma (equivalent to the high school diploma).

A true second chance for those without a high school diploma who wish to pursue a university degree in law, the Certificate of Proficiency in Law enables students to acquire knowledge and skills in the main legal subjects.

Affiliated with the Faculty of Law and Political Science and administered by theUniversity of Montpellier’s Continuing Education Department, the Certificate in Law program is open to all applicants, regardless of prior academic qualifications. The only enrollment requirement is that applicants must be at least 17 years old.

Program

The primary objective of this degree, the Capacité en Droit, is to provide students with the legal knowledge necessary to pursue various legal and paralegal professions.

To this end, students will primarily take courses in private law and criminal justice, public law, civil law, commercial law, administrative law, constitutional law, and criminal law. 

Classes are held over a two-year period from September to April, three days a week (Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday) from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The weekly course load is 9 hours, for a total of 180 theoretical hours per year.

Only candidates who have achieved a passing grade on the written exams are eligible to take the oral exams. Advancement to the second year is contingent upon passing the first-year exams.

Regional Funding

Job seekers may be eligible for funding from the Occitanie Region (subject to official notification from the Region).

To be eligible for this funding program, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• You must be registered with Pôle Emploi
• Have completed initial training more than two years ago
• Be in the process of earning a degree or certification with the goal of entering the workforce

Job seekers who meet these criteria must then obtain a referral from one of the following agencies: Pôle Emploi, Missions Locales, Cap Emploi, CIDFF, APEC, Departmental Councils, or Fongécif.

Once the prerequisites have been verified, the prescriber approves the project and completes the prescription form to be submitted to our Continuing Education Department.

Further education

Holders of the Capacité en Droit who have achieved an average grade of at least 10 out of 20 may enroll in the first year of the Bachelor’s degree in Law.

Holders who have achieved an average grade of at least 15 out of 20 may enroll in the second year of the Bachelor’s degree in Law.

The Certificate of Proficiency also grants access to certain civil service competitive exams for Category B positions.

In terms of career opportunities, obtaining the Certificate of Proficiency in Law opens the door to jobs such as legal assistant to a lawyer, bailiff’s clerk, notary’s assistant, judicial administrator, or legal consultant.

Are you interested in this training course?

To apply, please send a cover letter, your most recent academic transcripts, and a copy of your ID to the Admissions Office of the Faculty of Law and Political Science:dsp-inscriptions-licences@umontpellier.fr

For any administrative and/or financial inquiries, please contact us 😉