Law Society of Ontario (LSO) Paralegal Practice Exam

What is the focus of private law?

1. Person v state

2. Person v government

3. Person v person

4. State v state

The correct answer is: Person v person

Private law primarily deals with legal disputes between individuals or entities, which is why the focus is on "person v person." This branch of law encompasses a wide range of legal issues, such as contracts, property disputes, torts, and family law. The objective of private law is to address the rights and obligations that individuals have towards each other, ensuring that they can seek redress and enforce agreements in a fair manner. In contrast, other options involve different relationships governed largely by public law. For example, the relationship between a person and the state or government pertains to issues of public law, where the state regulates interactions that affect the public interest. State versus state scenarios also fall under public law, typically revolving around constitutional or international law matters. Therefore, the correct choice highlights the essence of private law's focus on conflicts that arise directly between private parties.