Common law

Definition

Common law is a legal system based on judicial decisions and precedent rather than statutory laws. It evolves over time through the outcomes of individual cases, creating a body of law built on previous judgments.

Related terms

Precedent:

A legal decision or form of proceeding serving as an authoritative rule or pattern in future similar or analogous cases.

Statutory Law: Laws passed by a legislature or governing body that are written and codified as statutes.

Case Law:

The collection of past legal decisions written by courts and similar tribunals in the course of deciding cases, which influence future judgments on similar issues