Comparative Law In Practice

What does doing comparative law involve? Too often, explicit methodological discussions in comparative law remain limited to the level of pure theory, neglecting to test out critiques and recommendations on concrete issues. This book bridges this gap between theory and practice in comparative legal studies. Essays by both established and younger comparative lawyers reflect on the methodological challenges arising in their own work and in work in their area. Taken together, they offer clear recommendations for, and critical reflection on, a wide range of innovative comparative research projects.

This book provides a practical introductory guide to comparative law. Fernanda G. Nicola and Günter Frankenberg present and examine conventional and critical approaches to legal comparison, exploring its ramifications in the field and political effects. Comparative Law begins by outlining the theory and methodology of this critical legal practice. Chapters present real-world problems that the law faces in eight specific fields: property (informal property), contracts (specific performance), tort (wrongful birth), family law (same-sex marriage), administrative law (COVID-19 measures), constitutional law (veiling), legal transfers (gun control), and legal histories (indigenous property claims). Whilst examining various approaches to legal comparison, Nicola and Frankenberg crucially recognise how legal knowledge can be perpetually reconstructed, abstracted and re-contextualised in diverse settings across space and time. Pairing real-world contemporary examples with established legal principles and practices, this book is an essential resource for teachers and students of comparative law and legal anthropology. Its practical case application will also be of interest to political scientists and journalists engaged in international legal regimes, problems and solutions.

Whereas many modern works on comparative law focus on various aspects of legal doctrine the aim of this book is of a more theoretical kind - to reflect on comparative law as a scholarly discipline, in particular at its epistemology and methodology. Thus, among its contents the reader will find: a lively discussion of the kind of 'knowledge' that is, or could be, derived from comparative law; an analysis of 'legal families' which asks whether we need to distinguish different 'legal families' according to areas of law; essays which ask what is the appropriate level for research to be conducted - the technical 'surface level', a 'deep level' of ideology and legal practice, or an 'intermediate level' of other elements of legal culture, such as the socio-economic and historical background of law. One part of the book is devoted to questioning the identification and demarcation of a 'legal system' (and the clash between 'legal monism' and 'legal pluralism') and the definition of the European legal orders, sub-State legal orders, and what is left of traditional sovereign State legal systems; while a final part explores the desirability and possibility of developing a basic common legal language, with common legal principles and legal concepts and/or a legal meta-language, which would be developed and used within emerging European legal doctrine. All the papers in this collection share the common goal of seeking answers to fundamental, scientific problems of comparative research that are too often neglected in comparative scholarship.

This book examines how law functions in a multitude of facets and dimensions. The contributions shed light on the study of comparative law in legal scholarship, the relevance of comparative law in legal practice, and the importance of comparative law in legal education. The book will particularly appeal to those engaged in the teaching and scholarship of comparative law, and those seeking to uncover the various significant dimensions of the workings of law. The book is organised in three parts. Part I addresses scholarship, with contributors examining comparative legal issues as critique and from a theoretical framework. Part II outlines practice, with contributors discussing the function of comparative law in such comparatively diverse areas as international arbitration, environment, and the rule of law. Part III appraises comparative law in education.

Provides an in-depth study of the theory, history, practice, and interpretation of customary international law.

This book examines an unexplored method of interpretation: the use of domestic law in the interpretation of international law.

This book provides a comparative study of contract law, examining the interaction of common law and civil law approaches to contract law. Drawing extensively upon English, French and European law, the book explores how the law of contract of Jersey, Channel Islands, has been influenced by both civil law and common law sources. It is argued that this jurisdiction is a striking example of comparative law in action, given that Jersey contract law is made up of a blend of common law and civil law approaches. Jersey law is premised upon a subjective approach to contracts, in which civil law concepts such as cause (rather than consideration) and vices de consentement are the foundational aspects, but is nonetheless highly influenced by the common law in areas such as remedies (damages, termination, etc). The book analyses a series of key issues from a comparative and European perspective, including the principles underlying contract law (comparing and contrasting civil and common law approaches), the formation of contract, requirements of reciprocity (cause vs consideration), the structure and approach of precontractual liability, the role of good faith in a mixed system, the architecture of remedies, and more.

This volume features papers written in honor of Mauro Bussani, and celebrates the work and contributions of this renowned scholar of comparative law. The content reflects the various theoretical and practical areas in which he has already left a lasting mark. The essays explore the theory and practice of comparative law in different areas and contexts, and highlight innovative approaches to a large variety of hot-topic private and public law subjects. The authors include young scholars, lawyers, legal consultants, human rights activists, and practitioners, all of whom Professor Bussani has trained, supervised, and supported throughout their careers. The contributions emphasize the many ways in which Professor Bussani’s teaching and scientific output have enriched, revolutionized, and challenged both theory and practice. They cover e.g. the law of secured transactions, Western law and legal pluralism, fashion law, contract law in China and in the Arab World, contract and tort in the West, scientific evidence, risk regulation, global finance, human rights indicators, anti-discrimination laws, democracy and climate change law.