The Institut Monégasque de Formation aux Professions Judiciaires (IMFPJ) launched its 2026-2027 academic year on the evening of Thursday, September 10 at the Auditorium Rainier III, in front of an audience of trainees, lecturers, legal professionals and representatives of Monégasque institutions.
Samuel Vuelta Simon, Secretary of State for Justice, Yves Strickler, the Institute’s Scientific Director, and Delphine Lanzara, Executive Director, all spoke at the event, outlining the key highlights planned for the year ahead.
The Institute plays a central role in helping legal professionals deepen their understanding of Monégasque law, drawing on the expertise of both academic law professors and practising legal professionals. Beyond training, it also serves as a space for dialogue around the particular legal specificities that define the Principality’s own legal system.
The IMFPJ was created by Sovereign Ordinance on April 12, 2021, at the initiative of Robert Gelli, then Director of Judicial Services, in response to a pressing concern at the time: a high failure rate among bar exam candidates and a shortage of applicants for the magistracy. Until then, Monaco’s courts had relied heavily on French magistrates on secondment, a solution that left the Principality dependent on France’s own capacity and goodwill. The Institute was designed to close that gap by offering a genuine centre for preparing candidates for Monaco’s legal exams and competitive entrance examinations.
Since then, the Institute’s remit has expanded well beyond magistrates and lawyers. It now offers tailored training to a broader range of professionals with an interest in Monégasque law, including chartered accountants, insurers, real estate agents and family offices, developed in partnership with the relevant professional bodies to provide certified pathways in Monégasque law. The IMFPJ has also relaunched a Monégasque legal journal, absent since 2015, publishing twice yearly with a mix of topical features, professional profiles, interviews and analysis of major judicial rulings.
Image courtesy of Direction de la Communication – Stéphane Danna