The Civil Law Tradition, 3rd Edition: An Introduction to the Legal Systems of Europe and Latin America |  | Authors: John Merryman, Rogelio Perez-Perdomo
Publisher: Stanford University Press
Category: Book
List Price: $20.95
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Seller: 2L-2012
Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 505070
Media: Paperback
Edition: 3
Pages: 192
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6
ISBN: 0804755698
Dewey Decimal Number: 340.56
EAN: 9780804755696
ASIN: 0804755698
Publication Date: May 21, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Designed for the general reader and students of law, this is a concise history and analysis of the civil law tradition, which is dominant in most of Europe, all of Latin America, and many parts of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. This new edition deals with recent significant events—such as the fall of the Soviet empire and the resulting precipitous decline of the socialist legal tradition—and their significance for the civil law tradition. The book also incorporates the findings of recent important literature on the legal cultures of civil law countries.
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| Customer Reviews:
Useful, clear, and interesting November 5, 2007
Philippa
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This work, now in its third edition, is a useful primer for those who would like to understand the basics of the civil law tradition. Civil law systems are unfamiliar to most people who live and study in common law countries like the UK and US, but they're the predominant type of legal system in much of the world, so it's worth learning about them. Merryman's classic work gives a concise history of the development of civil law, which helps to explain some of its foundational principles and forms. He also explains how systems in this tradition generally operate today. An excellent and highly readable book.
Nice overview May 31, 2009
M. Young
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This book presents a very nice overview of the Civil Law Tradition for Common Law students and lawyers. I found it very useful at providing a foundation for understanding my course covering Civil Law in its various forms throughout the world.
The material is "general" rather than "specific," meaning the broad areas of criminal procedure, civil procedure, educational models, etc. are presented in a series of roughly 10-12 page chapters in this small paperback. The material appears to be based largely on previously published material. Often the material appeared to be from articles that appear in expanded form in Merryman's much larger and more comprehensive book -- The Civil Law Tradition: Europe, Latin America, and East Asia (Contemporary Legal Education Series)
The Classic Introduction to the Civil Law Tradition May 30, 2010
Edward J. Barton (Mill Creek, WA)
Increasing globalization makes the knowledge of the civil law tradition important. The civil law tradition - the descendant of the Roman Justinian 12 tables - is the predominant legal tradition for much of the world - including Central and South America, Continental Europe, Africa and Asia. The emphasis of the civil law tradition is on legal drafting and legislation, not interpretation.
Proefssor Merryman wrote the bible for the introduction over 30 years ago. This book is great for the layman and legal practitioner desiring exposure to and an explanation of the civil law tradition. Merryman discusses the history, law making, legal scholarship, practice and court systems of the civil law - including legal roles, responsibilities and key differences between the civil and common law traditions.
The amazing thing is the book is enjoyable and easy to read, full of interesting facts and information, and written at a level and style that most anybody interested in the topic will enjoy. If you have interest in comparative legal studies, start here.
 An Excellent Primer June 28, 2010
W. W. Moncure III (Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA)
This book was my academic introduction to the civil law tradition, having purchased it on eBay after reading a handful of Amazon reviews. If there is anyone who is a layman with respect to law at the point at which this review was written, `tis me. This book has served as an excellent primer for my autodidactical path of learning in comparative legal history, and a good framework upon which to build a continuing course of study.
With a North American audience in mind, and with a subtextual prejudice favoring the common law tradition, Merryman provides a well-written and well-organized historical and fundamental summary of the civil law tradition as found in Europe and Latin America. In an easy to read and engaging manner, the author presents civil law from its origins in the "jus commune" of Justinian to its present manifestations in the codified national legal systems found in Latin America and Europe. Merryman moves between subjects such as comparative legal history and civil procedure with ease, and paints a general picture of the tradition of civil law so that the lay reader can more clearly understand the origin, meanings, and historical significance of such complex systems as the Napoleonic Codes.
In short, the author presents his subject with unparalleled ease and clarity for what is ostensibly a textbook. This was an enjoyable read and an excellent choice for a neophyte in the subject of law - civil, common, or otherwise.
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