This paper analyzes such objects of comparative law as the legal space of the world, the major legal families, groups and communities of jurisdictions, legal communities in the process of formation, national legal systems, law of the international community.

The main break lines of legal space of the world are between the legal systems of different religious traditions, united by common spiritual (ethical) values. These are — a family of Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Confucian, Shinto and pagan traditions of law. The author also distinguishes one more family of legal systems that are based on the denial of the spiritual (ethical) values that is mostly inherent for totalitarian states.

Following fault lines of the legal space of the world, that determines the dividing into groups and communities of legal systems, are due to factors such as the common national and historical roots, structural-functional and stylistic features of law.

The article also addresses the formation of new groups and communities of legal systems, features of the national legal systems development, the impact of international law on the legal space of the world and national legal systems.