Comparative Law is the most systematic paper of the third semester: seven units, four legal families, and one comparison table that carries most of the marks. Here is the unit-wise list of the most important questions for the B.A.LL.B. 3rd Semester (New Course) paper Comparative Law (LAW5207), in the order of the official 2025 syllabus.
Who is this for? B.A.LL.B. 3rd Semester (new 2025 course) students preparing for the LAW5207 board examination — and LL.B. students of Comparative Law and Nepalese Legal System (LAW501). Full marks 100 (40% internal + 60% board), pass marks 50%.
Unit-wise important questions
Unit 1: Comparative Law and Legal Systems
- Define comparative law. Explain its genesis, nature and distinction from other legal disciplines. (15)
- Explain the importance, functions, objectives and uses of comparative law. (15)
- Discuss the problems of studying foreign law. (10)
- Examine the nature and position of comparative law in the era of globalization. (15)
- Explain the concept and origin of a legal system and its components. (15)
- Explain the criteria for grouping legal systems into major legal families and identify the major legal systems of the world. (15)
- Write short notes on: (a) the division of comparative law; (b) micro-comparison and macro-comparison. (2×5)
Unit 2: Common Law System
- Explain the concept, origin and development of English law and American law. (15)
- Explain the sources of English law and American law. (15)
- Compare the court structure of the English and American legal systems. (15)
- Discuss the legal profession in the English and American legal systems. (10)
Unit 3: Civil Law System
- Explain the origin, development and sources of the civil law system. (15)
- Explain the concept and origin of Roman, French and German law. (15)
- Compare the court structure of Roman, French and German law. (10)
- Discuss the legal profession in the Roman, French and German legal systems. (10)
Unit 4: Socialist Legal System
- Explain the concept, origin and development of the socialist legal system. (15)
- Explain the sources of socialist law. (10)
- Write short notes on the decline of the socialist legal family after 1991. (10)
Unit 5: Religious Legal System
- Explain the concept and origin of Muslim law and Hindu law. (15)
- Explain the schools of Muslim law and of Hindu law. (15)
- Explain the sources of Muslim law and of Hindu law. (15)
- Write short notes on the role of religious law in Nepal’s legal system. (10)
Unit 6: Comparison of Legal Systems
- Distinguish between the inquisitorial and adversarial systems of trial. (15)
- Compare the common law system and the civil law system as to sources, courts, precedent and legal profession. (15)
- “Nepal’s legal system is a hybrid that borrows from both the common law and the civil law traditions.” Discuss. (10)
Unit 7: Confucian Law, Modern Laws of South Asia and East Asia
- Explain the concept of Confucian law and its influence on the Chinese legal tradition. (15)
- Explain the concept and sources of modern Chinese law, and its court structure and legal profession. (15)
- Explain the concept and sources of Japanese law, and its court structure and legal profession. (15)
- Explain the concept and sources of the Indian legal system, and its court structure and legal profession. (15)
- Compare the Chinese and Indian legal systems as to sources and court structure. (15)
How to answer Comparative Law questions well
- Answer in clusters: for each legal system the examiner wants four things — sources, court structure, legal profession and origin/development. Learn them as a four-point framework and apply it system by system.
- Use comparison tables: a short table contrasting common law and civil law (precedent vs code, adversarial vs inquisitorial, bar structure) earns marks quickly and reads well.
- Do not neglect Unit 1: the heaviest unit of the paper is the theory of comparative law — its definition, functions, uses and problems are almost guaranteed short questions.
- Finish with Nepal: wherever a comparison is possible, add one sentence on where Nepal’s own system stands — examiners reward the local application of comparative material.
Free resources
Start with the free Unit 1: Comparative Law Unit 1 (free). Unit 1 of every subject is free to read on this site.