In some legal systems, the bâtonnier is the head of the legal profession (the

bar Bar or BAR may refer to: Food and drink * Bar (establishment), selling alcoholic beverages * Candy bar * Chocolate bar Science and technology * Bar (river morphology), a deposit of sediment * Bar (tropical cyclone), a layer of cloud * Bar ( ...

Jersey

Jersey Jersey ( , ; nrf, Jèrri, label= Jèrriais ), officially the Bailiwick of Jersey (french: Bailliage de Jersey, links=no; Jèrriais: ), is an island country and self-governing Crown Dependency near the coast of north-west France. It is the ...

, the Bâtonnier is head of the profession of

advocate An advocate is a professional in the field of law. Different countries' legal systems use the term with somewhat differing meanings. The broad equivalent in many English law–based jurisdictions could be a barrister or a solicitor. However ...

. The role includes administering the

legal aid Legal aid is the provision of assistance to people who are unable to afford legal representation and access to the court system. Legal aid is regarded as central in providing access to justice by ensuring equality before the law, the right to c ...

system for the island (the day-to-day administration is carried out by an Acting Bâtonnier, while the Bâtonnier decides appeals against the decision of the Acting Bâtonnier). The Bâtonnier formerly had a role in dealing with disciplinary matters involving advocates, but that role was removed in 2005.

France

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

, the role is ''

primus inter pares ''Primus inter pares'' is a Latin phrase meaning first among equals. It is typically used as an honorary title for someone who is formally equal to other members of their group but is accorded unofficial respect, traditionally owing to their se ...

'' (first among equals).

Election and function

Elected by the members of the bar for a term of two years, the Bâtonnier is the spokesman for lawyers registered in his bar. But in addition, it has a real function of arbitration between lawyers and a function as mediator when a dispute arises between a lawyer and his client. He is also the one who appoints lawyers for the court. The successor of the Bâtonnier is elected before the end of the term of the latter. For one year, the designated Bâtonnier can increase his competence on various issues that he will have to address upon his entry into service.

Etymological origin

The location of the

Sainte-Chapelle The Sainte-Chapelle (; en, Holy Chapel) is a royal chapel in the Gothic style, within the medieval Palais de la Cité, the residence of the Kings of France until the 14th century, on the Île de la Cité in the River Seine in Paris, France. ...

on the

île de la Cité The Île de la Cité (; English: City Island) is an island in the river Seine in the center of Paris. In the 4th century, it was the site of the fortress of the Roman governor. In 508 Clovis I, the first King of the Franks, established his pal ...

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. Si ...

was in the 10th century a chapel dedicated to

Saint Nicholas Saint Nicholas of Myra, ; la, Sanctus Nicolaus (traditionally 15 March 270 – 6 December 343), also known as Nicholas of Bari, was an early Christian bishop of Greek descent from the maritime city of Myra in Asia Minor (; modern-day Dem ...

, who is one of the patron saints of lawyers. It was famously the site for the annual reopening of the parlement of Paris. The members gathered there to form the brotherhood of Saint-Nicolas, which was both a corporation and a religious order. The elected Chief of this brotherhood, at first called the prior, carried the banner of the order suspended from a pole or baston, during processions. This banner was sometimes decorated with a representation of St. Nicholas or St. Yves (another patron saint of lawyers). An order of 23 October 1274 recognized lawyers as members of a constituent body in Parliament, bound by professional secrecy. In 1690, the Dictionnaire universel des sciences et des arts Dictionnaire Universel des Sciences et des Arts
/ref> stated that the bastonnier (or the bastonniere) is "he or she who carries for a while the baston of a brotherhood, and who carries it or follows it in processions. In terms of the Palace of Justice, it is a former lawyer chosen annually according to the order of the Tableau, to be the head of the community of lawyers and prosecutors, to be the master of their Chapel and their brotherhood, and preside over the tribunal that they hold for maintaining the discipline of the Palace and its regulations. He also manages the commission of inquiry of lower judges during their ban. "

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Batonnier Jersey law Law of France Lawyers by type * Barristers and advocates