The Law is a set of rules created by a state that governs the activities and behavior of its citizens. It serves many purposes, including establishing standards and maintaining order, resolving disputes, protecting liberties and rights, and providing justice. The Law can be either public or private, and it may exist in written form or in custom. It can also be either natural or man-made. Some philosophers have offered different ideas about the nature of the Law.
A Law is a set of rules that must be followed by all people, regardless of their status. It reflects the moral and ethical values of a society, as well as its social, economic and political structures. It can include anything from a recommendation that everyone eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day to strict penalties for crimes such as murder. The Law varies across cultures, but there are many similarities. In all societies, the Law is enforced by some sort of governing body.
Legal systems vary widely, but they are usually divided into public and private areas of the law. Private law consists of contracts, torts and property while public law includes criminal, constitutional, and administrative law. There are some important differences in the way Law is viewed between nations, as well as some notable debates about how to best define the Law.
Many people think that the Law consists only of the written words of a particular piece of legislation, but others see it as encompassing all the spirit and intent behind that law. This approach is called legal positivism. Critics of legal positivism argue that it is not only too narrow in its scope, but that the Law must take into account broader considerations of right and wrong. For example, the prohibition against insider trading reflects the idea of fairness and decency, even if the exact wording of the law is unclear.
The Law is a broad and complex area of study, covering everything from contract law and intellectual property to family and land law. It is a vital part of all societies and influences politics, history, economics, society and culture in countless ways. For example, contract law regulates agreements between entities to exchange goods or services, while property law defines the ownership of tangible assets, such as real estate and personal belongings (i.e. cars and clothing), as well as intangible assets like bank accounts and shares of stock.
People who work in the field of Law are referred to as lawyers or solicitors. They are generally required to have a legal education, pass a qualifying examination and are regulated by a professional regulating body such as a Bar Association or Law Society. Lawyers are also able to achieve a distinct professional identity through specified legal procedures and by earning a legal degree (such as a Bachelor of Laws or a Juris Doctor). These factors mean that they can be regarded as experts on the Law and its implications.