Léon Gambetta – Wikipedia

Gambetta was called to the bar in 1859. He was admitted to the Conférence Molé in 1861 and wrote to his father, “It is no mere lawyers club, but a veritable political assembly with a left, a right, a center; legislative proposals are the sole subject of discussion. It is there that are formed all the political men of France; it is a veritable training ground for the tribune.”

: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9on_Gambetta