The Study of Law

Law is the system of rules that are created and enforced by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior. Law can be created by legislative action, resulting in statutes, or by executive decree or regulation, resulting in administrative laws. It may also be created by judges through precedent, resulting in case law. Law can be civil, criminal or both.

The study of law is an important subject that provides a source of scholarly inquiry into legal history, philosophy, economic analysis and sociology. It raises profound questions of fairness and justice.

Judges, lawyers and other legal professionals are the people charged with deciding lawsuits brought before courts. The process by which they decide cases is called jurisprudence. A judge’s decision is based on the facts of a particular case and the applicable law. A lawyer’s job is to advise clients and represent them in court.

The role of a court is to resolve disputes and make sure that everyone obeys the law. Generally, the law deals with criminal and civil matters. A person who breaks a criminal law, such as theft or murder, can be imprisoned or fined. A person who breaks a civil law, such as negligence or defamation, can be ordered to pay money to someone else. The law can also help protect property rights and provide for equitable distribution of income and wealth. The law can also serve other purposes such as keeping the peace, maintaining the status quo and protecting minorities. Different legal systems serve these purposes differently.