The Gateway To —
The Civil Law Tradition
From the Roman jurists and Justinian’s great compilation to the modern codes: the legal tradition of continental Europe, Latin America and large parts of Asia and Africa. Free articles, organized by subject, growing every week.
24 articles published so far.
Who This Page Is For
This gateway explains the civil law tradition as a whole: where it came from, how its codes, courts and legal reasoning work, and what sets it apart. It is not the law of one country, and it is not “civil law” in the sense of the opposite of criminal law. Where a topic differs from country to country, the article says so. Everywhere else on this site, content reflects US law unless a page says otherwise.
Civil Law
Foundations of Law
Legal Interpretation in Civil Law Jurisdictions: Statutory Interpretation, Legal Doctrine, and Judicial Reasoning
The Distinction Between Substantive (Material) Law and Procedural Law: The Structural Separation of Legal Rights and Their Enforcement in Civil Law Systems
The Structure of Private Law: The Distinction Between Public Law and Private Law
The Hierarchy of Legal Norms: Constitutional Supremacy, Legality, and the Structure of Written Law
The Sources of Law in Civil Law Jurisdictions: Constitutions, Codes, Statutes, and Regulations
The Civil Law Legal Tradition: Historical Origins, Development, and Modern Characteristics
Civil Law
Constitutional Law
Constitutional Review and the Protection of Constitutional Rights
Separation of Powers and the Organisation of Public Authority
The Supremacy of the Constitution and the Hierarchy of Legal Norms
Constitutional Government in Civil Law Systems: Constitutional Orders and Institutional Organisation
Civil Law
More Topics
Legal Education and the Legal Professions in Civil Law Systems: Judges, Prosecutors, Notaries, Advocates, and Judicial Careers
Legal Scholarship and the Role of Legal Doctrine: How Academic Thought Shapes Civil Law
Civil Procedure in Civil Law Systems: Litigation, Evidence, and Judicial Decision-Making
Criminal Procedure in Civil Law Jurisdictions: Investigation, Prosecution, Evidence, and Trial
Criminal Law in Civil Law Systems: Offences, Criminal Responsibility, and General Principles
Business Law in Civil Law Systems: Commercial Relationships and the Legal Regulation of Enterprise
Family Law in Civil Law Jurisdictions: Marriage, Divorce, Parental Responsibility, and Family Relations
Property Law in Civil Law Systems: Ownership, Possession, and Real Rights
Contract Law in Civil Law Jurisdictions: Formation, Validity, Performance, and Breach
Civil Law and the Law of Obligations: Legal Relationships, Duties, and Liability
Administrative Law in Civil Law Systems: Public Administration, Administrative Acts, and Judicial Control
The Judiciary in Civil Law Systems: Courts, Judicial Hierarchy, and Judicial Independence
Where this tradition lives
Jurisdictions in this tradition
Study and practice
Qualify and practise in the civil law world
Exam prep
EPSO Prep
Timed verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning practice for the EU institutions’ competitions, with one free test.
App and glossary
Inglés Jurídico (Spanish)
Legal English for Spanish speakers: 500+ terms and contract clauses, with the civil-law and common-law differences explained. A free glossary online and an app.
App on Google Play
Inglês Jurídico (Brazil)
Legal English for Brazilian lawyers: 500+ terms, 40 contract clauses and 31 comparisons between Brazilian and common law.
App on Google Play
Legal English for Arab Lawyers
Legal English for Arabic-speaking lawyers: 500+ terms, 40 contract clauses and 31 comparisons with Arab civil law.
Course
Legal English for Foreign Lawyers
For lawyers trained in a civil-law system who work in English: the layers of legal English, with the first module free.
Continue The Journey
The Legal Families Atlas
A map of every country’s legal family, with side-by-side comparisons of civil law, common law and the systems in between.
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