3. Concept of private and public law

Private law applies to relationships between individuals in a legal system. e.g. contracts and labor laws.

Public law applies to the relationship between an individual and the government. e.g. criminal law.

Private law governs relationships between individuals, such as contracts and the law of obligations. In countries where it is known as “common law,” it also includes contracts made between governments and individuals.

Public law is law governing the relationship between individuals (such as citizens and companies) and the state.

Private law includes civil law (such as contract law, law of torts and property law), labor law, commercial law, corporations’ law and competition law.

Public law includes constitutional law, administrative law and criminal law. Constitutional law considers the relationship between the state and the individual and between different branches of the state. Administrative law regulates bureaucratic managerial procedures and defines powers of administrative agencies. Criminal law involves that state imposing sanctions for defined crimes.

Private law is that part of a civil law legal system which is part of the jus commune that involves relationships between individuals, such as the law of contracts or torts (as it is called in the common law), and the law of obligations (as it is called in civil legal systems). It is to be distinguished from public law, which deals with relationships between both natural and artificial persons (i.e., organizations) and the state, including regulatory statutes, penal law and other law that affects the public order.