Law is a set of rules created and enforced by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior. Its precise definition is a matter of longstanding debate, with the field encompassing many diverse subjects. It is sometimes viewed as a science and as an art.
In the broadest sense, a law is any rule made by an authority that must be obeyed, for example murder is against the law. However, more generally it is used to refer to a system of laws for an entire country or region. The law is a complex and ever-evolving collection of principles that shape society in countless ways. It influences relationships, governance, commerce, and individual rights. The laws are enforceable by a variety of mechanisms, including courts and police forces. They are often based on ancient principles that have evolved over time, as well as more modern ones such as freedom of speech and privacy.
The law is a vital part of any country and its people, and the various fields within it are all growing and changing rapidly to keep pace with the world around them. For example, technology has revolutionized the way that law is analyzed and researched, while globalization has made it easier for people to travel between countries and work in different areas of the legal system. In turn, these changes have created new challenges and opportunities in the field of law.
There are numerous fields within the law, and their names reflect both their specific subject area and the type of work that they do. There are private law fields, which focus on things like contracts and property; criminal and civil law; international and administrative law; torts; and more. Some fields within the law are more abstract, such as philosophy of law, which is concerned with how the law is understood and applied.
The laws of a nation are often created by a group legislature, resulting in statutes; by the executive through decrees and regulations; or by judges through precedent. In common law legal systems, the decisions of higher courts bind lower courts, and are called “stare decisis.”
A central role for the law is to protect human rights, ensure social justice, and provide for orderly change. While many nations struggle with this task, some do it better than others. For example, a nation ruled by an authoritarian government may keep the peace and maintain the status quo, but it may also oppress minorities or political opponents (as was the case in Burma under Aung San Suu Kyi or Iraq under Saddam Hussein).
A person who studies the law is known as a lawyer, and lawyers are a growing profession that has diversified over time to include specializations in corporate law, labor law, bankruptcy, and even forensic psychology. There are even a few titles of respect that are associated with lawyers, such as Esquire for barristers and Doctor of Law for those who have completed a degree in law.