About the Law: Civil law is a body of rules that defines and protects the private rights of citizens, offers legal remedies that may be sought in a dispute, and covers areas of law such as contracts, family law, torts, and property law. Civil law systems are governed by doctrines compiled by legal scholars having its roots in ancient Rome. Legislators and administrators in civil law countries use these doctrines to fashion a code by which all legal controversies are decided.