Law of France

In academic terms, French law can be divided into two main categories: private law (droit privé) and public law (droit public). This differs from the traditional common law concepts in which the main distinction is between criminal law and civil law. In academic terms, French law can be divided into two main categories: private law (droit privé) and public law (droit public). This differs from the traditional common law concepts in which the main distinction is between criminal law and civil law. Private law governs relationships between individuals. It includes, in particular: Public law defines the structure and the workings of the government as well as relationships between the state and the individual. It includes, in particular: Together, these two distinctions form the backbone of legal studies in France, such that it has become a classical distinction