Law is the system of rules that a country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members. It is enforced through a controlling authority. The legal system defines rights and responsibilities, outlines rules for conducting business, and ensures justice is served. Law is the study of systems of laws, how they work and are applied, and it encompasses a broad range of disciplines including philosophy, political science, history, economics and sociology.
The precise definition of law has long been debated. The most widely used definition is that law is a set of rules enforceable by society, and it can be either written or unwritten. Laws can be created by group legislature, resulting in statutes; by the executive, through decrees and regulations; or by judges, who make binding court decisions. Private individuals may also create their own legally binding contracts, resulting in contractual law. Laws can be based on religious beliefs, such as the Jewish Halakhah and Islamic Shari’ah, or on books, such as Christian Canon law.
There are many areas of law, each with its own unique area of expertise and application. Some examples of areas of law are contract law, property law, criminal law, environmental law, labor law and family law. There are also areas of law that deal with specific issues, such as physician-patient privilege (which protects the confidential conversations between patients and their doctors) or intellectual property law (which covers things like patents, trademarks and copyrights).
One important issue is how a law defines morality. The philosopher Hans Kelsen proposed the ‘pure theory of law’, which states that laws do not describe what must occur but only define certain rules for individuals to abide by. Other philosophers, such as John Austin, believed that laws reflected innate and moral principles that existed before human beings came to exist.
The modern practice of enforcing laws is very complicated and includes the formation of courts, constitutions, and other legal instruments. These are then interpreted and applied by the legal profession, which is made up of judges, attorneys, solicitors, and other people who advise clients on legal issues.
The law influences politics, economics, history and social life in a multitude of ways. It has become a major field of study and career for those who wish to analyze and explain it. In addition, the study of law is a vital component in developing societies that are just and peaceful. Without the rule of law, there is no guarantee of individual freedoms and rights. Therefore, it is very important for those who are interested in social justice to pursue careers in the field of law. In order to help them in this endeavor, we offer a wide range of resources on the subject. These include our collection of scholarly articles on the various aspects of law and its applications. We have articles covering legal terms, concepts and processes as well as major debates in legal theory. These articles are accessible to researchers of all levels, from high school students through academics and legal professionals.