Law is a set of rules enforced by a state or other authority to control behaviour and promote order. It incorporates a range of views on justice, morality and ethics from different societies. Law can be created by a group legislature through statutes; by the executive through decrees and regulations; or by judges through precedent (common law jurisdictions). A legal system can also be guided by religious precepts, such as Jewish Halakhah and Islamic Sharia.
Some of the main purposes of law are to establish standards, maintain order, resolve disputes and protect liberty and rights. Some of the main challenges faced by a legal system include ensuring that it is accessible, affordable and equitable to all; that core human, procedural and property rights are protected; and that it is free from corruption or undue influence.
A lawyer is a person who practices law and advocates for clients in courts and before public bodies. A lawyer may specialise in a number of fields of law such as criminal law, civil law or family law. Lawyers also often have to deal with administrative functions such as filing legal documents, preparing legal briefs or completing research.
The study of law encompasses a wide range of subject areas and the precise definition of law is a matter of ongoing debate. For example, utilitarian philosophers like Jeremy Bentham argue that law is “commands, backed by the threat of sanctions, from a sovereign to whom people have a habit of obedience”. Others, such as natural lawyers, including Jean-Jacques Rousseau, argue that it reflects a moral and unchangeable laws of nature.
Another field of law is constitutional law, which deals with the fundamental structure of a government. The study of constitutional law includes the development of legal principles and the process of interpreting constitutions and legislative instruments.
Other areas of law include labour law, which deals with the tripartite relationship between worker, employer and trade union; tort law, which covers injuries caused by negligence or breach of contract; and evidence law, which determines what materials are admissible in court. The study of law can also be applied to particular industries and professions, such as banking law or tax law.
Writing an article is an important skill for any law student to develop, as it enables them to express their thoughts clearly and concisely. It can also improve their research skills and help them build a large vocabulary.
A good legal article should be readable, informative and entertaining. It should avoid using jargon and be written in the voice of the target audience. A useful test is to ask whether the article would be understandable by a layperson. It should also be well researched and avoid making generalizations. It should contain facts rather than opinions and include citations to support claims. It should also be factually accurate and balanced, and avoid partisanship or bias. It should also be accurate in terms of spelling and grammar. If an article is not accurate, it could be considered deficient and may have a detrimental impact on the reputation of the writer.
