Rechtskreisen

Rechtskreisen is a German term used primarily in legal theory and philosophy to denote a sphere or domain governed by a particular body of law. The word combines Recht (law) and Kreis (circle or sphere) and is used metaphorically to describe different, partly overlapping areas within a legal system. The plural form Rechtskreisen refers to several such spheres.

In scholarly usage, Rechtskreise can distinguish different normative orders or sets of rules, such as private law and public law, or substantive areas like contract law, tort law, and administrative law. The concept emphasizes functional or doctrinal segmentation rather than a formal institution. It is often contrasted with terms like Rechtsgebiet (area of law) or Rechtsbereich (field of law) and with Geltungsbereich (scope of applicability).

Critics note that the term is somewhat vague and its boundaries are not fixed; its utility is mainly heuristic—helping to discuss how different bodies of law regulate social relations and how they interact, coexist, or conflict within a legal system.

Examples of usage in theory include speaking of the Rechtskreis Privat- und Wirtschaftsrecht to describe rules governing private relations and economic activity, or of the Rechtskreis Verwaltungsrecht to refer to rules governing public administration. In comparative law, Rechtskreisen may help to compare how different jurisdictions structure the separation between private and public legal orders.

See also: Rechtsgebiet, Rechtsbereich, Geltungsbereich, Rechtsphilosophie, Rechtspluralismus.