Law is a set of rules that a society develops to deal with crime, business agreements and social relationships. It shapes politics, economics and history in many ways. A person who works in the field of law is called a lawyer or a judge.
The concept of law has a long history, and many books containing different ideas have been written on the subject. One defining feature is that the law is a framework to ensure a peaceful society. It is enforced by mechanisms created and overseen by a controlling authority, and sanctions are imposed if the rules are broken.
Legal systems differ, but common features include the idea that decisions by courts are considered “law” on equal footing with legislative statutes and executive regulations. This is also referred to as the doctrine of precedent or stare decisis, and it helps ensure that similar cases reach similar conclusions. The law also usually distinguishes between civil and criminal matters. The former involves disputes between individuals, while the latter refers to offences against a community or its members.
A lawyer’s job is to advise clients on their rights and liabilities, as well as representing them in court or settling disputes. There are many fields of law, including contracts, property and family law. In addition, there are international laws, such as immigration and asylum law; and biolaw, which is concerned with the intersection of law and the life sciences. Each of these areas of law is studied in their own fields by lawyers or students.