Law is a system of rules that governs a society or community. It may be enforced by a governmental body (such as a country’s legislature or executive) or through private contracts and agreements.
There are many different areas of law, but all fall into one of two general categories: criminal or civil law. The former covers crimes that result in punishment, while the latter deals with disputes between individuals.
Commonly understood as a set of rules or regulations that regulate behavior, laws are sometimes seen as naturally occurring, based on beliefs and norms that people share. Others, however, believe that the laws in a particular society have been formed by a group of people or groups through social or political institutions.
Legal systems comprise a series of codes or principles that guide the conduct of citizens and jurists. They favor cooperation, order, and predictability and are adaptable to change.
Among the most important are property law, which consists of the rules that govern ownership and possession of land and other physical objects. Other important topics include personal property, intellectual property, company law, trusts and commercial law.
The practice of law is generally overseen by a government or independent regulating body, such as a bar association or bar council. Modern lawyers achieve distinct professional identity through specified legal procedures, such as passing a qualifying examination and being admitted to the bar.
A court decides cases, usually based on evidence presented by parties in the courtroom, but often also relying on circumstantial evidence. In deciding cases, courts can issue injunctions (temporary restraining orders that prohibit someone from acting in a certain way), sentence prisoners to jail or fine them for violations, and award money damages in torts.