Law is a system of rules that regulates the conduct of people in society and that is enforced by mechanisms created by the state and backed by sanctions. It encompasses many different fields of legal study, including criminal law; civil law; contract law; family law; labour law; property law; and a number of other areas. The laws of a specific jurisdiction may also be referred to as local law, state law, or national law. For a discussion of the political aspects of law, see constitution; ideology; and politics.
In many parts of the world, the law is based on the principle of “stare decisis,” meaning that judges must follow the decisions made by previous courts. This binds future judges and assures consistency. This is not the case everywhere, however. In jurisdictions with weak respect for precedent, fine points of law must be redetermined each time they arise in a new case. This makes it more difficult to predict how the judge will rule and requires more legal fees from parties.
Throughout history, the development of law has been driven not by logic, but by a variety of social pressures and intuitions of public policy. These include the felt necessities of a time, popular moral and political theories, avowed or unconscious prejudices, and the prevailing cultural values. These factors, together with the history of a civilization, have determined the form and content of law.
The law has several purposes, the four principal being establishing standards, maintaining order, resolving disputes, and protecting liberties and rights. For example, tort law deals with compensating people who have been harmed, such as in automobile accidents or by defamation of character; criminal law deals with punishing offences against the state or community; and constitutional law provides the framework for government structures and the process of democratic rule.
A number of professions are involved in law, advising people about the law and representing them in court. These are called lawyers. Other professionals who deal with the law are police officers and judges. The study of the law is known as jurisprudence.
Articles about law can range from simple news stories to articles with a more technical tone, such as those that discuss legislative changes or criticize certain laws. Legal journals and academic articles often have a more formal tone and use footnotes to document the basis of their arguments.
While anyone who has the ability to research a topic and organize his or her thoughts systematically can write an article about law, some authors may have special knowledge of particular areas of law. This is especially true of law review articles, which analyze and critique existing law and provide guidance for legal practitioners. These articles are usually published in peer-reviewed journals or legal publications. These articles often require a great deal of work, particularly the reading and researching of large amounts of case law or statutes. Nonetheless, many law students and lawyers find these articles to be an invaluable resource for their legal practice.