Principles of French Law / Edition 2

by John Bell, Sophie Boyron, Simon Whittaker

Overview

Principles of French Law offers a comprehensive introduction to French law and the French legal system in terms which a common lawyer can understand. The authors give an explanation of the institutions, rules and techniques that characterize the major branches of French law. The chapters provide the reader with a clear sense of the questions that French lawyers see as important and how they would answer them.

In the ten years since the publication of the first edition, French law has changed in significant ways. European Union law and the European Convention on Human Rights have had a significant impact especially on procedural law and family law. There has been a new Commercial Code, major legislation on divorce, succession and criminal law, as well as significant developments in the Constitution. In addition, there have been very considerable developments in the case-law and a much discussed proposal for reform of major areas of the law of obligations.

The chapters present not only the rules of law, but, where appropriate, the principles and values underlying the system. Considerable use is made of juristic literature and of examples from French case law.

The book is designed for students studying French law at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, and as preliminary reading for students about to study in France. It will also serve as an initial point of reference for scholars embarking on a study of French law.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199541393
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	06/02/2008
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	616
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

John Bell is Professor of Law at the University of Cambridge and is an authority on French Law. He taught the subject extensively in Oxford and Leeds and has written major books on French constitutional law, administrative law and the judicial profession. He has been a visiting professor in Paris and Le Mans.

Simon Whittaker is Fellow and Tutor in Law, St. John's College, Oxford and Professor of European Comparative Law, University of Oxford. He has published widely in the areas of contract and tort law in English law and in French law and on EC legislation harmonizing these areas. He has taught comparative law for over twenty years and has been visiting professor at the Universities of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne and Paris II Panthéon Assas. Sophie Boyron is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Birmingham, where she teaches French law and public law.

Table of Contents

John Bell and Simon Whittaker: Introduction: The Spirit of French Law
Part I: The System
1: John Bell and Sophie Boyron: Sources of Law
2: John Bell: Court Institutions
3: Sophie Boyron: People Administering Justice
Part II: The Law
4: John Bell and Simon Whittaker: Legal Procedure
5: Sophie Boyron: Constitutional Law
6: John Bell: Administrative Law
7: John Bell: Criminal Law
8: Helen Stalford: Family Law
9: Andrew Bell, John Bell, and Sophie Boyron: The Law of Property
10: Simon Whittaker: The Law of Obligations
11: Andrew Bell: Commercial Law
12: Mark Freedland: Employment Law
Part III: Studying French Law
13: Sophie Boyron: Bibliographical Guide and Legal Methods
Appendix: Bibliographical Sources and Legal Methods

Editorial Reviews

"A thorough and yet concise expose of the basic tenents of French Law. Every student approaching the subject should consider buying this one."—D Flondas, Enseignant, Academie de Paris

The present book ... covers virtually the whole of French law, the division between public and private law being a pervasive and illuminating theme./ The book reads very well. The presentation is distinctly good. Cross-referencing is abundant. ... to those who want a single book on French law, one can strongly recommend it and say 'il faut en profiter.'—Tony Weir, Law Quarterly Review, Jan 1999.

"Very comprehensive, these "principles" are also of a high quality...Clear, well-structured, complete, the book has managed to find a good balance between an English and a French presentation, The references and ruling are also well chosen and there are neither too many or too few", Denis Tallon, Extrait de als Revue Internationale du Droit Compare, No.4 1999

From the Publisher