Law is the collection of rules and regulations that govern the behavior of individuals. It is a complex field of study, with many different areas and sub-areas, each with its own set of laws.
A Framework and Rules for Settle Disputes between Individuals: The laws are designed to give each person a fair chance to settle their dispute with an impartial tactic. This can be done by bringing the case to a judge or jury, or even through alternative dispute resolution (ADR).
The Law Spreads Across Many Areas of Life: From immigration and nationality rights to family law and social security benefits, the law reaches into almost every aspect of our lives. It includes the law of contract, employment law and civil procedure.
Property law deals with the legal aspects of ownership and possession of real estate and other assets, including movable goods such as cars, jewellery and computers. It also covers intangible rights such as stocks and shares.
Business law is the study of a range of legal requirements around forming, operating and dissolving a business. It also involves regulations governing labour and trade unions.
Regulations on the provision of public services and utilities, such as energy, gas, telecoms and water, are often subject to varying degrees of social responsibility.
In addition, law is the basis of a number of private contracts, such as mortgages and insurance policies. It can also be used to protect intellectual property, such as patents and trademarks.
There are also many different forms of law, each with its own specific rules and principles. Some are based on observation and science, while others are rooted in morality or religion.
Some examples of these kinds of law include a law that states that anything thrown up must come down or a law that states that people who rob a bank must be punished for it.
These types of law are called statutory, and are usually made by government entities. These laws are enforceable through various means, including penalties, fines or imprisonment.
Statutes can be created by the legislature, or a group of legislators, resulting in a document called a statute. They can also be established by the executive through decrees and regulations, or by judges through precedent.
Common Law: Precedents and Stare Decisis
A court’s decisions and rulings are normally regarded as binding on all future courts in the same jurisdiction, and may be considered case law. These are known as “stare decisis” in Latin.
This principle is useful because it allows the courts to evaluate cases based on a history of prior judgments and rulings, known as precedents. This enables them to find the right answer, rather than having to start from scratch with a new set of rules and laws.
The law is a complex collection of principles and rules that are generally recognised by society as being right. It is the result of centuries of accumulated knowledge and experience in how societies should act.