The legal system in Spain is characterised by following the “continental mode”. This mode is known for the separation between the public and private sectors of the legal system, and the primacy of statute and written law. Also, the judiciary is hierarchically organised with a system of judicial appeals. The current Spanish legal system is regulated by the Spanish Constitution of 1978. However, the legal system has faced many points until arriving to the current situation. (European Justice)

All European Union countries have rules; points that citizens and foreigners need to obey. It is a general statement all over the EU that each country is going to have rules, normally conceived inside a certain book or document, which need to be followed, otherwise the person would be acting “illegally” and would suffer negative consequences, from fines to jail time. However, what are all these rules? And more importantly, where can they be found?

These rules are a simple, not very adequate way of referring to the laws of a country. And these laws are normally registered inside the legal system, which is the legal regimen of a country, in which laws are included but also interpreted; this means, the legal system is the place where anyone can look up the rules of a country, how those rules work and should be followed, and what would happen if a person did not comply with them.

In the first chapter of the BRIGHT@EU modules, it will be possible to obtain a general vision of the legal system of each of the countries conforming the partnership. It will also serve as base for the future chapters.

Let’s begin!