Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy will appeal the verdict, which sentenced him to prison on Monday for corruption, said Sarkozy's defense attorney Jacqueline Lafon.
A court in Paris found Sarkozy guilty of corruption and trading in influence and sentenced him to one year in prison and another two years probation.
The defense attorney assessed the verdict as "extremely difficult" and "completely unfounded and unjustified". She added that Sarkozy was "calm but determined to prove his innocence."
Sarkozy, 66, who was president from 2007 to 2012, is awaiting another trial in the spring. He and 13 others will be tried on charges of illegally financing his 2007 presidential campaign.
Before Sarkozy, whose trial is considered a precedent in France, another president faced trial after leaving office - Jacques Chirac for embezzlement, but not during his presidency, but earlier, while he was mayor of Paris.
