The law in Africa is a diverse mix of common law, customary law, civil law and religious law systems.

Law in Africa has been shaped primarily through different countries inheritance of laws which existed in Europe through the nineteenth century. For instance, the primary sources of South Africa legislation were Roman-Dutch and English Common law, imports of Dutch settlements and British colonialism. Thus it is sometimes termed Anglo-Dutch law. Various lawmaking bodies have existed within South Africa over time. Yet in fact, some of the oldest legal systems began first in Africa. For instance, Ancient Egyptian law used a civil code, based on the concept of Ma'at. Tradition, rhetorical speech, social equality and impartiality were key principles.[1] Judges kept records, which was used as precedent, although the systems developed slowly.

A polycentric legal system, called Xeer developed exclusively in the Horn of Africa more than a millennium ago and is still widely used by the Somali people. Under this system, elders serve as judges and help mediate cases using precedents. Xeer is a good example of how customary law can work in lieu of civil law, and is a good approximation of what is thought of as natural law. Several scholars have noted that even though Xeer may be centuries old, it has the potential to serve as the legal system of a modern, well functioning economy. The Xeer also shows how influential a system of laws can be with regard to the development of a culture. According to one report, the Somali nation did not begin with the common use of the Somali language by the Somali clans, but rather with the collective observance of Xeer. An analogous phenomenon is also said to have occurred among the neighbouring Oromo nation, the latter of which is now under Ethiopian rule.

Manfred H. Lachs (April 21, 1914 Stanislav, Austrian Galicia - January 14, 1993) was a Polish diplomat and jurist who greatly influenced in the development of international law after World War II.

He attended the Cracow Jagiellonian University where he earned a doctorate in Laws (1937). Right after his studies, he started working for the Consular Academy of Vienna and afterwards in the London School of Economics. Lachs was drafted in the army and throughout his military service he was advisor to the Polish government.

Before his career turned toward international laws, he filled many judiciary posts in the Polish government such as Poland's Foreign Affairs director of the Department of treaties and legal juridiction (1947-1960) and prime minister's special advisor (1960-1967). During the Paris' Peace conference of 1946, Lachs stood for his country as a delegate. He later became a professor of international law at the University of Warsaw (1952-1993), and served as a member of the Polish delegation of the general assembly of the United Nations.