ECTS
120 credits
Duration
2 years
Training Structure
School of Law and Political Science
Overview
The Criminal Law Practices track aims to foster a deeper understanding of the entire field of criminal law in a practical, cross-cutting, and multidisciplinary manner. Current practices in all areas of economic, social, cultural, and family life are examined from the perspective of criminal enforcement, using a cross-cutting approach. This allows for an in-depth study of all disciplines related to general criminal law, criminal procedure, and special criminal law—which were never covered in the previous curriculum—or for students to delve deeper into subjects they have already been introduced to.
Exposure to a multidisciplinary and cross-cutting curriculum—combining public and private law with a comparative and international perspective—is a significant asset in helping students enter the job market. All the developments affecting criminal law are thus addressed and conveyed to students: in particular, the program highlights the shift toward digital formats and the incorporation of new technologies and the Internet into criminal law.
Through the study of clinical case studies led by professionals, students engage in role-playing and scenario-based exercises. This is very helpful in preparing them for entrance exams or for their immediate entry into the professional world.
In this sense, the program serves as a true professional training ground in criminal law and criminal sciences.
The program is affiliated with the Montpellier Criminal Law Research Group (EDPM), a renowned research group in criminal law and criminal sciences.
Objectives
- To enable students in initial training to enter the workforce quickly.
Through interactive work in small groups and the analysis of real-world case studies, students are prepared to respond quickly and work effectively in teams. By studying writing and public speaking techniques taught by professionals in these fields, students become job-ready and prepared to enter the workforce quickly. A 4-month internship (divided into two 2-month periods) also helps students transition quickly into the professional world.
- Offer a wide range of career opportunities
Thanks to its multidisciplinary and cross-functional nature—encompassing business criminal law, criminal law related to new technologies, and criminal audits that prepare companies and their executives for criminal liability—the program offers numerous career opportunities that align with its objectives and curriculum.
- Offer a specialization for professionals
The program enables professionals to gain specialized expertise through continuing education. Accommodations—including adjustments to the internship requirements if the participant is already employed—are available.
Organization
Program
SEMESTER 1
> CORE SKILLS IN CRIMINAL LAW
Lecture Series on Business Criminal Law 6C + 2C
- Business Criminal Law (33 hours of lectures + 15 hours of tutorials)
- Criminal Auditing - Accounting and Financial Analysis (10 hours of lectures)
Course Unit: Criminal Procedure 1: The Criminal Trial Process (33 hours of lectures + 15 hours of tutorials) 6C + 2C
Course Unit: Criminal Labor Law (33 hours of lectures) 5C
> CRIMINOLOGY COURSES
Course: Science and Sociology of Crime and Profiling (22 hours of lectures) 2C
> ADDITIONAL SUBJECT-SPECIFIC SKILLS
Course Unit: Civil Law—Security Interests (33 hours of lectures) 2C
Course Unit: Civil Law—Matrimonial Property Regimes (33 hours of lectures) 2C
> LANGUAGE SKILLS
Course: Language (8 hours of lectures + 12 hours of tutorials) 1C
SEMESTER 2
> SPECIALIZED COURSES IN CRIMINAL LAW
Course: Special Criminal Law (33 hours of lectures + 15 hours of tutorials) 6C + 2C
Course: Criminal Procedure 2: The Framework of Criminal Trials (33 hours of lectures + 15 hours of tutorials) 6C + 2C
Course Module: International Criminal Law (33 hours of lectures + 15 hours of tutorials) 5C + 2C
> ADDITIONAL DISCIPLINARY SKILLS
Course Unit: Insolvency Law (33 hours of lectures) 2C
Course Unit: Advanced Civil Procedure and Enforcement Remedies (33 hours of lectures) 2C
Course Unit: Private Digital Law (33 hours of lectures) 2C
> PRE-PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
Course Unit: Internship or 3C Thesis
Legal Clinic
SEMESTER 3
> CRIMINAL LAW AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE COURSES
Course: Law and Practice of Criminal Procedure (40 hours of lectures) 5C
Course: Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure Applied to Natural and Legal Persons (40 hours of lectures) 5C
Course: Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure Applied to Public-Law Legal Entities and Public Officials (40 hours of lectures) 5C
Course Unit: Comparative and International Criminal Law (9 hours of tutorials) 2C
> SKILLS OPTION: “RESEARCH IN CRIMINAL LAW AND CRIMINOLOGY”
Course Unit: History of Criminal Law (18 hours of lectures) 3C
Course Unit: Training in and through Research (20 hours of tutorials) 8C
> "CRIMINAL PRACTICE" SKILLS OPTION
Course Unit: Criminal Practice Applied to Business Activities (30 hours of lectures) 3C
Course Unit: Practical Case Studies (35 hours of tutorials) 8C
> LANGUAGE SKILLS
EU Language (8 hours of lectures + 12 hours of tutorials) required: 2C
SEMESTER 4
> COURSES IN EUROPEAN CRIMINAL LAW
: EU Criminal Law under the ECHR (15 hours of lectures) 3C
: EU Criminal Law (15 hours of lectures) 3C
> COURSES IN CRIMINAL LAW RELATED TO NEW TECHNOLOGIES
EU Course on Criminal Law Related to New Technologies (12 hours of lectures) 3C
> SKILLS OPTION: “RESEARCH IN CRIMINAL LAW AND CRIMINOLOGY”
Course Unit: Liability Law (12 hours of lectures) 3C
Course Unit: Research Thesis 10C
Course Unit: Comprehensive Oral Exam 8C
Or
Course Unit: Comprehensive Oral Exam (6C) + Student Engagement (2C)
> "CRIMINAL PRACTICES" SKILLS OPTION
Course Unit: Criminal Law and Criminal Practices Applied to Business Entities - Criminal Audit Practices (40 hours of lectures) 4C
Course Unit: Criminal Law and Criminal Practices Applied to Business Partners (20 hours of lectures) 1 credit
Course Unit: Criminal Risk Management – Internal and International Strategy (9 hours of tutorials) 1 credit
Course Unit: Professional Integration 8 credits
Internship or apprenticeship
Course Unit: Supervised Project 3 credits
Course Unit: Comprehensive Oral Exam 4 credits or Course Unit : Comprehensive Oral Exam (2 credits) + Student Engagement (2 credits)
Select a program
Master's Degree (Year 1) in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Practices
Insolvency Law, Group 2 (ST)
EU Special Criminal Law
8 creditsSpecial Criminal Law Course
6 creditsTD: Special Criminal Law
2 credits
Digital Skills - Pix+Droit Prep
EU Criminal Procedure 2
8 creditsEU International Criminal Law
7 creditsCM International Criminal Law
5 creditsTD International Criminal Law
2 credits
Choosing Between an Internship and a Thesis
Choose one of the following two options:
Thesis
3 creditsInternship
3 credits
In-Depth Civil Procedure: Enforcement Remedies (ST)
Private Law of Digital Technology (ST)
Optional
Master's Degree (Year 2) in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Practices
Criminal Law & Criminal Procedures as They Apply to Individuals
5 creditsOption Block Selection
Choose one of the following two options:
Language - Legal English
Criminal Law & Criminal Practice: Application to Public Law and Legal Persons
5 creditsComparative and International Criminal Law
2 creditsCriminal Procedure Law and Practice
5 credits
Criminal Law Related to New Technologies
3 creditsEuropean Union Criminal Law
3 creditsOption Block Selection
Choose one of the following two options:
Specialization in Criminal Law and Criminal Sciences
Choose one of the following two options:
Criminal Law and Criminal Sciences - Option 2
21 creditsResearch Thesis
10 creditsTort Law
3 creditsOral Exam
8 credits
Criminal Law and Criminal Sciences - Option 1
21 creditsOral Exam
6 creditsResearch Thesis
10 creditsTort Law
3 creditsStudent Engagement
Criminal Procedure Option
Choose one of the following two options:
Criminal Law Practices - Option 1
21 creditsCriminal Audit Practice
4 creditsElective: Thesis/Supervised Project
Choose one of the following two options:
Supervised Project
Thesis
3 credits
Criminal Risk Management—Domestic and International
1 creditCriminal Law and Applied Criminal Procedure: Partners of the Firm
1 creditStudent Engagement
Employment Placement
8 creditsOral Exam
2 credits
Criminal Practice - Option 2
21 creditsCriminal Audit Practice
4 creditsElective: Thesis/Supervised Project
Choose one of the following two options:
Supervised Project
Thesis
3 credits
Criminal Risk Management—Domestic and International
1 creditCriminal Law and Applied Criminal Procedure: Partners of the Firm
1 creditOral Exam
4 creditsEmployment Placement
8 credits
Criminal Law under the ECHR
3 credits
Admission
Target Audience
The admission criteria for the transition from the first year of the Master’s program to the professional second-year Master’s program in Criminal Justice Practices include a systematic review of the applicant’s application materials; in most cases, this is supplemented by interviews and motivation tests (though these are not mandatory).
A class of 20 to 25 students.
Recommended Prerequisites
To be eligible for the Professional Master’s 2 program in Criminal Practice, the recommended course of study during the Master’s 1 year consists of taking the “Criminal Procedure 1” course with tutorials, the “Business Criminal Law” course with tutorials, and the “Criminology” course in the first semester, and the “Special Criminal Law” course with tutorials, the “Criminal Procedure 2” course with tutorials, the “International Criminal Law” course and the “Professional Integration: Internship” course in the second semester.
And then
Continuing Education
Students can enroll in preparatory courses to take various entrance exams at the end of their second year of the Master’s program (including the ENM Prep Course, Preparation for the CRFPA entrance exam, and preparation for competitive exams in the field of criminal law organized by the Montpellier Criminal Law Team (Director: Mr. Olivier Sautel, MCF-HDR, Montpellier Criminal Law Team; Director of Studies: Mr. Eloi Clément, MCF, Montpellier Criminal Law Team).
Students may take certain exams and competitive exams open to Master 2 degree holders directly.
Students may also continue their studies by pursuing the University Diploma in Criminal Sciences offered by the Montpellier Criminal Law Team (EDPM—headed by Mr. Olivier Sautel).
Students may enroll in a doctoral program upon completion of their second year of the Master's program.
Students can prepare for a career as a researcher at the CNRS by taking the competitive exams for research associate or research director.
Employment Placement
Graduates can enter the workforce immediately (as corporate lawyers or compliance officers) because they are ready to work upon completion of the Criminal Law Practice Track, thanks to the 4-month internship and the diverse coursework taught by academics and professionals.
Employment may be contingent upon passing an exam or a competitive examination upon completion of the Master 2 program.
Career Opportunities:
Magistrate (judicial and administrative branches)
Lawyer
Clerk
Police Recruitment Exam
Gendarmerie Recruitment Exam
Customs Exam
Tax Contest
Civil Service Exams
Prison System Recruitment Exam
Youth Judicial Protection Competition
Employee or Company Executive
Compliance Officer
Employee at organizations such as TRACFIN or at banking institutions
Faculty Member and Researcher at the University
Researcher at the CNRS