This book outlines the fundamentals of European civil law for readers more familiar with common law jurisdictions such as Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the US.
This fully revised and updated second edition retains the successful structure of the first. The four chapters in Part A provide the general framework, covering the concept and method of comparative law, historical foundations, the concept of a civil code and codification, and the role of legislature and the judiciary.
More specific and practical material is provided in Part B, with chapters on the law of contract, the law of tort, labour law, commercial law and court procedure. Part C looks to the future, examining differences between civil law and common law and the impact of the European Union.
The focus throughout is on private law, particularly the civil laws of France and Germany, except where European Community law has made inroads into the (private) civil law. Each chapter thus incorporates the relevant materials on European Community law.