What area of law deals specifically with private or public rights?

Civil law is the area of law that addresses disputes between private individuals, organizations, or entities, and governs the rights and obligations of those parties. This branch of law encompasses a wide range of issues, including contracts, property, torts, and family law. It can also involve public rights, particularly when the government or a statutory body is a party to the dispute, such as in cases involving regulatory compliance or personal rights that are enforced in a civil context.

In contrast, criminal law pertains to offenses against the state or public, where the government prosecutes an individual for violating laws meant to protect society. International law primarily governs relationships between nations and addresses issues like treaties and trade; it does not specifically address the rights of private individuals or groups within a single country. Administrative law involves the actions and regulations of government agencies and typically deals with the specifics of what those agencies can enforce; it is less focused on individual rights in a private sense. Thus, civil law is the distinctive field concentrating on the rights and remedies available to private parties, making it the correct answer.