1.3 Functions, Objectives and Utility of Comparative Law

The functions (the exam's banker): (1) cognitive (the knowledge's function — the legal systems' understanding); (2) legislative (the model-laws' supply — the reform's drafting aid); (3) interpretive (the meaning's illumination — the courts' comparative canons); (4) unifying (the convergence's promotion — the international instruments' base); (5) critical (the own system's evaluation — the "better law" debate); (6) bridge-building (the legal cultures' mutual comprehension — the cooperation's foundation). The objectives: the scholarly (the legal- science's universalisation); the practical (the practice-and-reform service); the pedagogical (the education's internationalisation). The utility's catalogue: the legislator's (the comparative- drafting desks); the judge's (the persuasive authorities — the constitutional courts' comparative practice); the lawyer's (the cross-border transactions); the treaty-maker's (the harmonisation's groundwork); the scholar's (the theory's testing).