In the Indian Ocean, there is a small rock with volcanic activity and a tremendous multicultural population. And amongst them, one lawyer with a great experience of the place.
How about opening a lawfirm in a little haven in the middle of the ocean? How about La Réunion, a part of the French Republic located next to Madagascar, in the Indian Ocean? With a tropical climate, a population of more than 800,000 people forming a melting-pot of African and European origins, La Réunion has everything to please, despite the presence of a big active volcano and serious economic challenges. One lawyer already did it: Alain Antoine (EJ France) has opened a lawfirm in one of La Réunion's main cities, Saint Paul, where he is active in various sectors of private law such as labour, family, commercial, and penal law.
Originally from mainland France, Alain first came to La Réunion as a young man. “I was supposed to do a six-month internship here”, he recalls, “and now I have been living here for 25 years!”. Although he loves his life in the tropical island, he reminds us that this lifestyle is not without setbacks as well. “Living in La Réunion can seem like paradise but you must not idealise it. Everything is very expensive here, prices of commodities are on average 35 per cent higher than in Metropolitan France. Living in such an insular place also weighs heavily on you sometimes, so be sure to plan a lot of trips!”
At first glimpse, La Réunion is not an obvious place for a lawyer to work. “La Réunion is a French Overseas Département”, explains Alain, “which means it has no differences from Metropolitan France: the same laws apply here and there. Procedures are exactly the same”.
But before you pack your bermuda shorts, diving equipment, and French Civil Code to relocate to the island, Alain has another word for you: “Keep in mind the market for lawyers is narrow on a small island, and it gets more and more narrow. A growing number of young people here are eligible for legal aid”. This reflects one of the biggest challenges faced by Réunion islanders: “Let's not forget that the unemployment rate is nearly 60 per cent amongst young people on the island”, says Alain. In short, although the island has magnificent nature, it comes with serious economic limitations.
Nevertheless, Alain has made a good place for himself on the island. His lawfirm of two associates employs half a dozen people. In 2013, Alain was awarded the National Order of Merit by decree of the French President. His website sports a congratulatory message written by incumbent Minister of Justice, Christiane Taubira. His recipe for success? “Get specialised, do not hesitate to work abroad, and speak three languages!”
