In my field of practice as a lawyer, I mainly deal with civil law cases that are heard and determined under statutory laws, which are enacted by Congress, and the state as well as local governments. Examples of cases that I have worked on include divorce, drunken driving, theft, defamation, property damage, breach of contract, trips and fall, and negligence resulting in physical harm. Civil law primarily deals with cases in which people’s behavior cause harm or damage to an individual or an organization.
Civil law is divided into 4 groups: family relations, property, contracts, and tort. Civil law cases usually involve disagreements or conflicts between people and organizations, primarily over financial matters. They are characterized by the presence of a plaintiff and a defendant. The former accuses the latter of causing harm through their actions, and they file a complaint in order to ask for assistance from the court. The court’s role is to mediate and offer a solution.
Unlike criminal law cases, civil law cases do not involve imprisonment. Disputes between individuals and organizations are settled through the award of financial compensation. The main goal is to determine whether a defendant has a duty of care toward a plaintiff. For instance, it is the duty of an employer to take care of an employee. Divorce, road traffic accidents, medical negligence, dissolution of civil partnerships, and breach of contract cases only end in compensation.
Civil cases have two possible outcomes. First, the plaintiff may request the court for the award of damages, which refer to the money offered as compensation for the harm caused. Second, the plaintiff might request the court to give an injunction that orders a defendant to either do or refrain from doing something. In that regard, the plaintiff might seek a declaratory judgement in which the court interprets the rights of each of the parties based on a contract that they signed or a specific law.