This success is particularly significant, as the agrégation of 1882 was referred to as the "Great examination" (French: grand concours), because of its notable participants: Maurice Hauriou at 1st place, Henry Berthélemy at the 4th, Léon Duguit at the 6th, Léon Michoud at the 15th.

These figures, alongside Adhémar Esmein and Raymond Carré de Malberg are considered the "founders of modern French public law"[3] as per Philippe Malaurie.

[2] He was distant from the rest of the faculty due to his quarrels with his Dean, and the refusal of his demand to be transferred to Paris.

On the January 17, 1883, he obtained a chaire d'État, a permanent position as a Professor to teach the Digest, and gave a course of the history of French law until 1888.

[4] However, a few months later on 24 March 1888, he was tenured as Professor of administrative law in his chair d'Etat.