Quebec operates under a civil law system for private matters (contracts, property, family law), based on the French legal tradition and codified in the Civil Code of Quebec. This differs from the common law system used in other provinces, which developed from English legal traditions and relies heavily on judicial precedent. In civil law, comprehensive codes provide primary legal principles, with less emphasis on past court decisions. For public and criminal law, Quebec follows the same common law-based system as the rest of Canada. Quebec's civil law tradition influences municipal matters like property transactions and contracts, requiring lawyers trained in both systems.