Intro to Paralegal Studies Practice

What type of law creates rights and obligations for individuals?

1. Procedural law

2. Statutory law

3. Substantive law

4. Common law

The correct answer is: Substantive law

Substantive law is the correct choice because it defines the rights and obligations of individuals, along with the rules that govern their interactions. It encompasses various areas of law, such as contract law, tort law, and criminal law, providing the essential principles that determine how individuals can act and what legal consequences they may face based on their actions. In other contexts, procedural law refers to the rules that govern the process of litigation and how court proceedings are conducted, but it does not create rights or obligations itself. Statutory law consists of laws enacted by legislative bodies, often functioning as a specific application of substantive law, but it’s not solely responsible for creating rights and obligations. Similarly, common law, which is developed through judicial decisions and precedents, helps shape legal standards and can influence substantive rights, but it is not the primary source responsible for creating the rights and obligations themselves. Thus, substantive law is the key element that directly establishes the rights and duties of individuals within the legal framework.