Out of about 300 members of the Council of State, more than half are active within the institution, about 70 are on secondment in the administration, independent administrative authorities or public companies, about 20 serve as ministerial advisers and 10 have entered politics. Only a small minority have left the public sector for the private sector, a majority for law firms. Beyond this snapshot, a constant movement back and forth between the various positions of judge, adviser and agent of the administration characterizes the career pattern of the members of the Council and contributes to the strength of the institution.