Private law

Private law is that part of a civil law legal system which is factor of the jus commune that involves relationships between individuals, such(a) as the law of contracts together with torts as it is called in the common law, and the law of obligations as it is for 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. In general terms, private law involves interactions between private individuals, whereas public law involves interrelations between the state and the general population.

Private law in common law jurisdictions

The concept of private law in common law countries is a little more broad, in that it also encompasses private relationships between governments and private individuals or other entities. That is, relationships between governments and individuals based on the law of contract or torts are governed by private law, and are not considered to be within the scope of public law.