Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE) Practice Exam

Which legal system is primarily based on codified laws inspired by Roman law?

1. Common law

2. Equity law

3. Civil law

4. Statutory law

The correct answer is: Civil law

The legal system primarily based on codified laws inspired by Roman law is the civil law system. Civil law is characterized by comprehensive sets of laws, often organized into codes, that govern the rights and obligations of individuals and institutions. This system relies heavily on written statutes and legal codes, where judicial decisions are generally not a primary source of law, unlike in common law systems where case law plays a significant role. Civil law systems are found in many countries around the world, especially in continental Europe, Latin America, and parts of Asia and Africa. These systems derive their structures and principles from the legal traditions established in ancient Rome, making them distinct from other legal frameworks that may incorporate more case law-based approaches, such as common law. In contrast, common law is primarily based on judicial precedents and the interpretations made by judges in courts over time, while equity law focuses on fairness and remedies that aren't strictly available under the common law. Statutory law consists of laws enacted by legislative bodies and can be part of either common or civil law systems, but does not exclusively represent a legal tradition inspired by Roman law. Therefore, civil law stands out as the correct answer due to its adherence to codified statutes and its historical connections to Roman legal principles.