Posted on April 09, 2018
Job description: how to become a notary? /iStock.com – Gwengoat
In the legal field, the profession of notary is much less known and practiced than that of lawyer. However, each year, in France, several million people go through the doors of a notarial office to authenticate a marriage certificate, a will, or to seek advice in setting up a business. Multidisciplinary public officers, notaries intervene at key moments in the lives of their clients. Skills, opportunities, salary, training: discover the technical sheet of the profession of notary.
Summary
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What is the profession of notary?
The notary is a public officer who benefits from a delegation of public power – here, the State. As such, the notary works with private or corporate clients, within an office, and is bound by professional secrecy. It is placed under the control of the departmental or interdepartmental chamber of notaries on which it depends and of the Public Prosecutor. Its mission is to authenticate acts (marriage contracts, wills, inheritance regulations, etc.). He is also required to provide an advisory service to his clients in relation to the drafting of these acts by making his legal knowledge available. The notary is also authorized to administer the affairs of his clientele, in particular everything relating to the management of the family patrimony, real estate and furniture. In some cases, he may be called upon to provide advice on financial investments intended to make the assets he administers grow. The function of notary tends to develop vis-à-vis companies. Today, the notary can accompany a business creator (drafting of the statutes, negotiation of the commercial lease), or provide legal or tax advice to companies.
What are the opportunities ?
The diploma of notary is exercised in several possible frameworks.
The qualified notary can associate with other notaries within a professional civil society (SCP) or a liberal exercise company (SEL). This is the most common outlet. It implies a pecuniary contribution (cash or industry, that is to say a specialty or a skill sought). The associate notary can specialize in a specific branch of law.
A notary may also practice alone, as holder of a notarial office. The offices are managed directly by the Ministry of Justice. The creation of offices, under the control of the Ministry of Justice, is very rare. The value of an office is de facto very high, and its acquisition is difficult.
A notary can also be a simple employee of an office. He is recognized as an employee, and remains subject to the same regime as a partner or individual notary.
What skills are needed?
The profession of notary requires many interpersonal skills. Working with clients requires a good understanding of human relations and a keen sense of diplomacy. The mission of adviser also requires a certain mastery of pedagogy. The notary must indeed be able to clearly explain to an uninitiated public certain legal mechanisms with sometimes complex jurisdictions. Linked to professional secrecy, he must also be able to exercise discretion. In the event of a breach of this professional obligation, the notary exposes himself to legal proceedings and severe penalties.
One profession: two training courses
Training as a notary requires no less than seven years of post-baccalaureate studies. After the master 1 in legal studies (bac + 4), two types of training are available to students, university training and professional training. Both of these pathways include a mandatory, paid internship.
The university course is spread over two years and takes place in a university which has signed an agreement with the National Center for Professional Notarial Education (CNEPN). This training, which takes place in parallel with the office internship, leads to the higher notarial diploma (DSN) and confers the title of “assistant notary”. In France, about twenty universities prepare for the DSN.
The professional path requires registration in a regional notarial professional training center (CRFPN). The CRFPNs are accessible by competition after the validation of a master 1 in law. At the end of a one-year training (including 2 months of internship), the center issues the diploma of aptitude for the function of notary (DAFN), and the title of “trainee notary”. The training is then completed by a paid internship lasting two years in office, and the writing of a report. After which the trainee notary becomes “assistant notary”.
A third way, internal, is accessible to employees of qualified notaries with a certain seniority.
What is the salary of a junior notary?
At the beginning of his career (as a trainee or assistant notary), a notary earns between €1,550 and €1,800 gross per month. Remuneration then evolves rapidly depending on the importance of the office in which he exercises. On average, a notary practicing as a liberal can earn from 2,000 to 7,500€ per month. Most notaries declare very comfortable incomes, current salary estimates indicate a net annual income of €200,000.
What are the possible developments?
Once in office, the evolution of the attributions of the notary goes through a specialization. After 4 years of practice in one of the recognized areas of specialization (urban planning and environmental law, rural and agricultural business law, business and company law, private international law, etc. ), he can apply for certification from the CNEPN.
