The second edition of this invaluable guide is a comprehensive exploration of how the French legal system operates, from court structure and the legal professions to matters of proof and procedure before the criminal, civil and administrative courts.
The roles of the Conseil d'Etat and the Conseil Constitutionnel are examined, as well as the place of case law in the courts and the operation of the inquisitorial system of criminal procedure.This book is an ideal reference source for practitioners and students of the common law tradition. It assumes no prior knowledge of French law, and explains all terms clearly and concisely.
A full glossary and bibliography is supplied, as well as the text of the 1958 Constitution. In addition a wide range of other materials, including draft pleadings and a judgment for an imaginary civil case are provided to help the reader come to a full understanding of the workings of the French legal system.