What is Law?

Law is a system of rules created and enforced through social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior. Its precise definition is the subject of long-standing debate and it has been variously described as a science, as art or as the means to achieve justice. The word “law” also refers to the profession of lawyers, judges and other legal officials.

Modern legal systems are often based on principles of objectivity and include procedures for checking the accuracy of claims, as well as mechanisms to prevent abuse of power by government officials. However, it is difficult to prove that law itself consists of precepts of any particular significance and that any specific laws have any practical value. Moreover, the extent to which law is effective depends on humans and their minds.

The subject of law is vast and encompasses virtually every aspect of modern life. For example, labour law involves the tripartite industrial relationship between worker, employer and trade union; immigration law concerns the right of people to live and work in a country that is not their own; and criminal procedure and evidence law concern the rules that must be followed during a trial or hearing.

The broad subjects of law are divided into three main categories, though many subjects intertwine and overlap. The first category is civil law, which covers contracts, crimes and property rights. The second is criminal law, which deals with prosecution and punishment of criminals. The third area is administrative law, which covers the activities of governmental departments and agencies.

It is also possible to study the philosophy of law, which considers the nature and meaning of laws. For example, some philosophers have questioned whether law is objective and rational or whether it is a tool of social control or a manifestation of human will. Other philosophical issues relating to the law include the nature of justice and the limits of state power.

Unlike many academic subjects, the subject of law is highly popular among students and the public at large. Its popularity may be related to the perception that a career in law is prestigious and offers high earning potential. In addition, there is a great deal of public interest in the topic due to events such as the 2008 financial crisis and increasing globalisation.

As a result, it is not uncommon for articles to feature commentary on recent legislative changes or take a position on controversial issues. Furthermore, the language of some articles can become more technical and assume a degree of prior knowledge about the subject matter. This is particularly true in the areas of business law and law of the Internet, which are frequently more technical than other legal articles. However, the broad topics of law remain accessible to a reader with limited background in these subjects. The article below is a good example of this.