Law is the system of rules that a society or government develops in order to deal with crime, business agreements and social relationships. These laws are enforced by a controlling authority, usually through penalties. The term law is also used to describe the profession of lawyers, and the field of legal study.
A specific kind of law is a statute or code, which sets out a set of regulations. This includes matters such as criminal law, contract law and labour laws. An article is a specific part of a statute or code which covers a particular subject matter. For example, an article in a contract might set out the parties’ duties and expectations, how to measure damages for breach of the contract and how disputes are resolved.
The word law is also often used to refer to a whole set of laws, such as all of a nation’s laws. This usage is common in eastern Asia, where the legal tradition has been influenced by both Western and Chinese law. In contrast, European countries tend to have more unified legal systems. This is because they have mostly adopted the civil law tradition, which places judicial decisions on an equal footing with legislative statutes and executive regulations. A doctrine called stare decisis ensures that judicial decisions on similar cases will have a predictable outcome.
Legal theories of law vary widely, and debates about the nature of law are still ongoing. One prominent approach, utilitarian theory, argues that laws are simply commands, backed by the threat of punishment, from a sovereign, to which people have a habit of obedience. This view is opposed by “natural law” advocates, such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Thomas Aquinas, who argue that laws are based on moral principles that are inherent in human nature.
In addition to the different theories of law, there are many areas of specialization within the practice of law. Employment law, for instance, deals with the tripartite industrial relationship of worker, employer and trade union, and concerns issues such as the right to strike. Civil procedure and criminal procedure are related fields that concern the rules that courts must follow as they conduct trials and appeals. Evidence law is a field that dictates which materials can be presented in court to support a case.
Lawyers must be qualified to practise law, and they are often regulated by a professional body. In many countries, a law degree is required in order to become a licensed solicitor or barrister. Other qualifications include experience of working in the field, successful completion of a legal exam and an acceptable ethical record. Lawyers may also be given titles of respect, such as Esquire to indicate barristers of greater dignity, and Doctor of law, which signifies that the person has obtained a PhD in Law.