According to him, law developed through the following ‘four stages’ i.e.,—
(i) Law made by the ruler under divine inspiration,
(ii) Customary Law.
(iii) Knowledge of law in the hands of priests,
(iv) Codification.
The societies which do not progress beyond the fourth stage are “static societies” (as Maine calls them). The societies which go on developing their law by new methods are called progressive. Progressive societies develop their laws through legal fiction, equity and legislation. As to the legal conditions prevailing at the end of the general course of evolution, i.e., of static societies, Maine calls them ‘status’ and ultimately he concluded that a progressive society moves “from the status to contract”. Maine’s theory preaches a belief in progress and it contained the germs of sociological approach. He inspired later Jurists like Maitland, Vinogradoff and Lord Bryce, who applied historical and comparative method of the study of law.