Question: You should research how the current system of family law is performing and make recommendations as to improvements that could be made, making reference to preferable systems in other jurisdictions.

Your article should include explanations of the following:

• The difference between civil and criminal law.
• The structure of the family law courts.
• The composition of the relevant court.
• The legal personnel involved in family law proceedings.
• The remedies that are available to applicants.

Civil law vs. criminal law: The basics

If you’re at all curious about the topic, you’ve likely already employed the tried-and-true method of checking the Merriam-Webster dictionary.* Here’s what they have to offer:

Criminal law definition: The law of crimes and their punishments

Civil law definition: The law of civil or private rights

While these statements are accurate, they’re hardly the all-inclusive definitions you’re looking for. You’re probably left with even more questions, so let’s dig into some of the basic differentiators between civil and criminal law.

The main difference between civil and criminal law deals with people who committed a wrong against another person. Robert Odell, a Hollywood employment lawyer, helps us break down the definitions of civil and criminal law based on the parties involved.

So what is civil law? To put it simply, civil law deals with disputes between one entity and another. The guidelines for these disputes are outlined in official documents like the Business and Professions Code, the Health and Safety Code and other governmental rules and regulations