Common law, or case law, is a body of unwritten laws based on legal precedents established by the courts. In this video, you'll learn a simple way to understand this concept through an easy and brief explanation. It's similar to civil law, in that its goal is to establish consistent outcomes by applying the same standards of interpretation. When judges present precedents for a case, they significantly influence the criteria used to interpret the case. It is worth noting that historically, common law has led to the unfair marginalization or disempowerment of some groups.