A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of substrates each having thereon at least an electrode and an alignment control layer, and a liquid crystal composition disposed between the substrates. At least one of the alignment control layers has a thickness of at most 200 .ANG. or comprises polyimide. In the latter case, the pair of substrates have been subjected to mutually different aligning treatments. The liquid crystal composition comprises at least one species of a fluorine-containing mesomorphic compound in an amount of at least 70 wt. % comprising a fluorocarbon terminal portion and a hydrocarbon terminal portion, the terminal portions being connected with a central core, and having smectic mesophase or latent smectic mesophase, and comprises at least one species of a resistivity-modifying substance. The fluorine-containing mesomorphic compound comprises a compound having a fluorocarbon terminal portion containing at least one catenary ether oxygen atom in an amount of at least 30 wt. % based on the liquid crystal composition. The liquid crystal device is effective in improving switching characteristics, an alignment characteristic and display performances while retaining a bookshelf structure or a near bookshelf structure with respect to a smectic layer structure.