The major challenges of electronic communication in legal proceedings has been illustrated by decree no. 2005-1678 of 28 December 2005 and modificationof articles 748-1 through 748-7 of the Civil Procedure Code. Rolled out to proceedings before the Commercial Court, this method of communication allows for generalisation of new technologies in management of instances. The General Conference of Consular Judges of France (CGJCF), the National Council of Bar Associations (CNB) and the National Council of Clerks to the Commercial Courts (CNGTC) came together to work on joint computerisation of proceedings before the consular jurisdictions.

Common resolutions were signed on 7 May by the CNB, the CGJCF and the CNGTC. This joint signature falls within continuity of decree no. 2010-1165 of 1 October 2010 pertaining to the oral procedure and the ruling of 21 June 2013 for electronic communication between lawyers and between lawyers and the courts in proceedings before the commercial courts.. They set out the specific legal remit of this type of communication, indicate the electronic systems used, the necessary training actions and underline the need for joint approval of this new portal as an essential driver in harmonisation of practices.

Electronic communication will allow lawyers through the "lawyer's private virtual network" (RPVA) under the liability of the CNB to exchange with consular jurisdictions. A protected connection point is constituted between the RPVA and the platform for exchanges and secure supervision named "i-greffes", operated under the responsibility of the CNGTC.

The first roll out of the platform has already been undertaken in the following commercial courts:

• Paris
• Lyon
• Versailles
• Belfort
• Saint-Etienne
• Créteil
• Besançon
• Caen
• Nîmes
• Nantes
• Pontoise
• Saintes
• Perpignan
• Bourges
• Angoulême
• Meaux
• Poitiers
• Niort
• Tours
• Avignon
• Bayonne

Roll out of the lawyer platform will be rolled out to all jurisdictions by the end of November 2014.