Law is the system of rules a society creates to regulate behavior, relationships, commerce and governance. It permeates every aspect of human existence, influencing politics, economics, history and society in general. The law is a system of checks and balances that enables societies to flourish. It establishes standards, maintains order, resolves disputes and protects liberties. It also punishes criminals and averts civil wars and other catastrophes.
The word “law” is sometimes used to mean any set of enforceable rules in a specific area, but it’s more accurate to think of the law as a set of principles and guidelines that governs society and human relationships. Laws may cover topics from terrorism and child abuse to contracts, marriage, and property ownership. Laws can be influenced by many factors, including culture, religion, ethics and values. They are formulated by government institutions, ranging from legislative statutes to executive decrees to judicial decisions. They are applied to individuals in a variety of ways, from private agreements to civil rights litigation.
Some laws are based on religious precepts, such as the Jewish Halakha and Islamic Sharia. In many religious jurisdictions, further human elaboration of these tenets provides for comprehensive and detailed legal systems. Other laws are derived from science, particularly natural processes. For example, the law of gravity dictates that heavier objects fall to the ground faster than lighter ones. Laws can also be based on morality, as in the case of traffic laws that set speed limits to prevent accidents.
Laws can be enacted by legislatures, resulting in statutes; by the executive, through decrees and regulations; or judicially, through precedent (in common law legal systems) and statutory interpretation, a process known as stare decisis. Often, the decision of one court sets a precedent that guides future cases unless societal changes prompt a change in legal rulings.
There are many different careers within the legal field, from prosecutors and defence lawyers to insurance brokers, business managers, lobbyists and journalists. Those who choose to specialize in a particular field, such as labour law or family law, focus on laws related to that topic. The law is an area of expertise that a person can dedicate their lives to, and it serves a vital role in our world. As such, the law should be accessible, transparent and fair to all. The law is what keeps us from destroying each other, and it’s worth fighting for.