French Legal Research
Unlike the United States and other common law jurisdictions, France derives its legal system from the civil law tradition. Therefore, researching French law does not follow the same methodology as legal research in common law jurisdictions, like the United States.
A basic understanding of the French Constitution, the supreme law, and its provisions is a sound first step when starting research on French law.
In accordance with the civil law tradition, much greater emphasis in the French legal system is placed on codified law, the many codes, rather than on case law and precedent, as in common law jurisdictions.
However, bear in mind that there has been an expanding body of case law, so legal research must include a look at the court system of France.
As with research in common law countries, looking at the legislative process and the resulting legislation is also important, particularly for pending legislation or for constructing a legislative history.
Of course, a look at international agreements, or treaties, and their provisions is also necessary.
In addition to these basic sources, there are many additional resources to assist with French legal research, including dictionaries.
A bibliography is provided to assist with finding out more about French legal research and the French legal system, on the Internet, as well as in print and commercial on-line sources.
With research in any non-English speaking jurisdiction, most of the resources are in the native language, in this case, French. If English translations are available, they have also been referenced. However, bear in mind that these are unofficial translations, even if provided by the French government, as the pages' disclaimers indicate.
This guide is an overview of French legal research. It is not meant to be a complete list of all resources available; there are many other sources available for French legal research and topics not covered by this guide.
And remember to check with the ILS reference staff if you need assistance with or have questions about your research.