The Basics of Law

Law

Law is a system of rules that governs human behavior in society. It has many different purposes, but some of the most important ones are keeping the peace, maintaining social order, resolving disputes, and protecting liberties and rights. It can be state-enforced through legislation, resulting in statutes; or privately enforced by judges through precedent, which is known as caselaw. It can also be customary, which is based on ancient practices and may not have been explicitly ordained by any sovereign.

Legal scholars often debate the role that morality plays in law, with some arguing that a legal system cannot function without an element of coercion. Others argue that laws should not merely be an expression of the ruling government’s will, but should be fair and impartial. For example, laws prohibiting insider trading might reflect the government’s view that such trades are unfair to other shareholders.

Some of the most important areas of law are contracts, labour, property, and criminal law. Contracts law covers agreements between individuals or companies, such as sales of goods and services, leases, and employment contracts. Labour law encompasses the tripartite industrial relationship between employee, employer, and trade unions, including collective bargaining, and regulating workplace health and safety and wages. Property law defines the rights and duties of people toward tangible property, such as land or buildings, and intangible property like stocks and bank accounts.

Other important areas of law are criminal, international, and constitutional law. For more on these topics, see articles on law and government; legal profession; legal education; and law and society.

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