Civil Law and Civil Procedure
Foundations
Civil law governs persons, transactions, property, obligations, and succession. Master: legal capacity versus delictual capacity; representation and power of attorney; forms of transactions and consequences of non-compliance; invalidity (void versus voidable); limitation periods (general and special) with rules on suspension, interruption, and restoration.
Obligations and property
Know the grounds for termination of obligations, especially proper performance, set-off, novation, and impossibility. Understand contractual liability, the role of fault, and the interplay of penalties and damages. In property law, distinguish ownership from limited rights (servitude, economic management), and know acquisition by prescription and protection of good-faith acquirers.
Procedure
Civil procedure covers jurisdiction (generic, alternative, contractual, exclusive), standing, representation, evidence and burden of proof, court fees, time limits for appeal and cassation, and enforcement. Traps: confusing the burden of proof with the duty to present evidence; mixing appeal (review of law and fact) with cassation (review of legality); miscalculating procedural deadlines that run from service rather than judgment.
Rule of thumb
For limitation questions, fix the start point (when the person knew or should have known of the violation), then add the period, then apply suspension/interruption.
Worked example
A claim for defective goods: the general limitation period applies unless a special period governs quality claims. The claimant must plead the defect, the contract, and the loss; the seller bears the burden of proving absence of fault if liability is fault-based.