Commissaire de Justice CI exam-day guide
Commissaire de Justice CI · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Convocation and exam authorization
Print or download the convocation issued by the organizing body (typically the Chambre nationale des commissaires de justice or the regional chamber for the French profession). Verify the date, session time, room, and address. If you have not received it, contact the organizing body immediately; do not assume the venue or schedule.
Valid photo ID
Bring the identity document specified in your convocation (national ID card or passport are the usual choices). Check that it has not expired. If the accepted documents are not explicitly listed, confirm with the provider before the exam day.
Proof of registration or payment, if required
Some sessions ask for a receipt or confirmation email alongside the convocation. Keep a printed copy in your folder. Whether this is mandatory varies by session; confirm with the provider.
Permitted writing materials
Bring several black or blue ballpoint pens, a pencil, an eraser, and a small ruler. Do not bring correction fluid, highlighters, or colored pens unless the instructions explicitly allow them. If you are unsure whether a particular item is allowed, confirm with the provider.
Non-programmable calculator (only if authorized)
Check the convocation or instructions to see whether a calculator is permitted for the practical exercises. If permitted, use a basic non-programmable model with no memory or communication features. If the rules are unclear, confirm with the provider.
Any authorized reference documents
Some practical sessions allow designated legal or professional texts. Bring only the editions listed as authorized. Do not annotate them beyond what is permitted. If the list is not stated, confirm with the provider.
Watch or small clock
Wear a simple watch so you can pace yourself through the timed exercises. Do not rely on a phone, which is usually prohibited or must be switched off and stored.
Phone switched off and stored
Plan to turn off your phone before entering the room and store it as instructed. Smartphones, smart watches, and earpieces are typically banned; using them can lead to exclusion. Confirm the exact rule with the provider if it is not in your convocation.
Water and a light snack
Bring a clear bottle of water and a small snack for before or after the session, subject to the venue's rules. Check whether food and drink are allowed in the exam room.
Transport and route plan
Reconfirm the route, travel time, and parking or public transport options the day before. Aim to arrive well before the reporting time, since late entry is often refused. Check the venue's access instructions in the convocation.
Emergency contact and provider number
Save the organizing body's contact number and the venue address on paper as well as on your phone, in case of a transport problem or last-minute change.
Review of practical procedures
Prepare a one-page summary of the core procedural steps you will be tested on, such as drafting an acte, service formalities, and enforcement steps, and read it the morning of the exam. Keep it outside the exam room.
Plan the day
Read the convocation again line by line: confirm the address, reporting time, duration, and the list of authorized materials. Resolve any ambiguity with the organizing body now, not on the day. Print the convocation and ID copies, and prepare your folder with pens, pencil, eraser, ruler, and any authorized documents.
Do a focused review of the practical core: drafting and structure of procedural documents, calculation of deadlines, service and notification formalities, and the sequencing of enforcement steps. Practice one full timed exercise under exam conditions so you know your pacing.
Rehearse the route to the venue at the same time of day if possible, and identify a backup transport option. Check the weather forecast and plan clothing accordingly. Confirm accommodation if you are travelling.
Pack your bag: convocation, ID, pens, pencil, eraser, ruler, authorized documents, water, snack, and watch. Lay out clothes. Charge your phone but plan to switch it off at the venue. Re-read your one-page procedural summary and stop studying early enough to sleep well.
Set two alarms and arrange a backup wake-up. Check the organizing body's website or message channel for any last-minute change of room or schedule. Note the provider's phone number on paper.
Eat a proper breakfast, leave earlier than you think necessary, and arrive at the venue ahead of the reporting time. Keep your convocation and ID in your hand for the check. Switch off your phone before entering the building and store it as instructed.
Read the whole paper first and allocate time per exercise, leaving a margin for checking. Start with the exercises you are most confident about, but do not overrun your allocation on any one of them. Write legibly, structure answers with clear headings, and show your reasoning where marks are given for method.
Watch the clock at each quarter of the session. If a question blocks you, note it and move on. Before the end, check that every required document is completed, that names, dates, and figures are consistent, and that you have not left a section blank. Hand in only what is requested.
Rules to check
Bring the exact identity document named in your convocation and keep it visible on the desk. If the accepted documents are not clearly listed, confirm with the provider before the exam day; an unacceptable document can bar you from sitting the test.
Arrive before the reporting time. Late candidates are commonly refused entry once the session has started, and no extra time is granted. If you are delayed, contact the organizing body immediately, but do not assume you will be admitted.
Phones, smart watches, and connected devices must be switched off and stored as instructed. Using or even holding such a device during the session is typically treated as a breach of conduct and can lead to exclusion. Confirm the exact rule with the provider.
Bring only the materials listed as authorized. Unauthorized documents, annotated texts, or notes are usually removed and may lead to a sanction. If you are unsure about an item, leave it outside the room.
Follow the invigilators' instructions on seating, filling in headers, and handing in papers. Do not communicate with other candidates during the session. Raise your hand for any issue rather than leaving your seat.
If you need to leave the room for a break, expect supervision and possible loss of time; breaks are usually limited to what the instructions allow. Confirm the break policy with the provider if it is not stated in your convocation.
Scoring is based on the published marking scheme for the session. Write answers that address each part of the question, and show method where marks are awarded for reasoning. Do not leave blanks; a partial answer can still earn marks.
Any incident, illness, or technical problem during the session should be reported to the invigilator immediately and recorded. Ask how to formalize a claim afterwards; the procedure and deadlines must be confirmed with the provider.