How can common law be best described?

Common law can best be described as customs and practices enforced by the courts. This legal framework is developed through judicial decisions and precedents rather than through written statutes or regulations. In essence, common law evolves over time as courts interpret and apply laws to various cases, and these interpretations then become part of the legal precedent that guides future cases.

The distinction lies in its reliance on the outcomes of individual court cases and the legal principles that arise from those decisions, rather than being solely dictated by legislative bodies. Thus, common law is a living body of law that continuously adapts to changing societal norms and values as judges make rulings based on the specifics of cases before them.