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

Jersey

Jersey Jersey ( ; ), officially the Bailiwick of Jersey, is an autonomous and self-governing island territory of the British Islands. Although as a British Crown Dependency it is not a sovereign state, it has its own distinguishing civil and gov ...

, the Bâtonnier is head of the profession of

advocate An advocate is a professional in the field of law. List of country legal systems, Different countries and legal systems use the term with somewhat differing meanings. The broad equivalent in many English law–based jurisdictions could be a ba ...

. 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 ...

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 located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

, the role is ''

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 seniority in office. H ...

'' (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 (; ) 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. Construction b ...

on the île de la Cité in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

was in the 10th century a chapel dedicated to

Saint Nicholas Saint Nicholas of Myra (traditionally 15 March 270 – 6 December 343), also known as Nicholas of Bari, was an early Christian bishop of Greeks, Greek descent from the maritime city of Patara (Lycia), Patara in Anatolia (in modern-day Antalya ...

, 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

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