Law is the body of rules that is created and enforced through social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior. These laws are often made through a legislature (in the form of statutes), decrees and regulations issued by the executive, or established by judges in common law jurisdictions.
The term “law” is also used to refer to the practice of lawyers, which involves a special qualification and professional identity that is usually achieved through specified legal procedures. The profession is regulated by government and independent regulating bodies such as a bar association or bar council.
Some people, notably theologians and philosophers, argue that religion provides the source of the law. For instance, Jewish and Islamic jurisprudence are based on religious precepts.
Others, such as John Austin, argue that law is a form of command backed by sanction from a sovereign, a concept called analytical positivism.
Despite these views, most jurists agree that the purpose of law is to secure justice and thereby ensure the welfare of society. In his definition, Thomas Ihering states that law is “a means to an end.”
Gray’s Definition of Law: – James Gray defines law as the body of principles recognized and applied by the state in the administration of justice.
Austin’s Definition of Law: – John Austin defined law as “commands, backed by sanction from a sovereign, to whom people have a habit of obedience.”
Other scholars, such as Dean Roscoe Pound, define law as “social engineering”. They believe that it is an instrument to balance between competing interests and satisfy social wants.