Essentially, law is a set of rules enforceable by social institutions. It shapes politics, history, and economics. It serves to protect individual rights and minorities against majorities.
In practice, law is overseen by government or an independent regulating body. Common law legal systems are those that acknowledge decisions by courts as “law”. In other words, they explicitly accept that decisions by judges are “law.”
However, there are other legal systems, such as civil law. These systems are less formal and include less judicial decisions. Unlike common law, they may be less complex.
In the United States, for example, law is broken down into three categories: case law, statutes, and regulations. Each category reflects the way courts analyze a particular issue.
In case law, the court looks at an issue based on persuasive precedent. In other words, the outcome of a case depends on how the court interprets the law.
In the United States, the most common degrees awarded by law schools are the Juris Doctor (JD) and the Bachelor of Laws (B.L.). These degrees are accredited by the American Bar Association. In addition to these, there are other law degrees. The degree you choose will depend on your interests and aspirations. Contact the bar association in your state to find out more about their programs.
In some cases, a legal issue can arise from an unexpected illness or a sudden event. Others can be the result of problems at work or a planned event. It can also be the result of a crime.