Common law is a legal system where courts rely heavily on precedents—previous court decisions in similar cases—to decide current disputes. Judges interpret statutes but also develop legal principles through their decisions, which then guide future cases. Most of Canada uses common law for provincial matters like contracts, property, and torts (civil wrongs). Quebec is the exception, using civil law (based on the Civil Code) for these areas. Both common law and civil law jurisdictions apply the same federal laws, including the Criminal Code. Understanding whether common law or civil law applies affects how legal disputes are approached and resolved.