Law is a set of rules that regulates human conduct and imposes duties and obligations on those governed. It is enforced by governmental institutions, such as courts and police, and it governs both private and public activities. A common definition of law is that it is a system of principles and practices embodied in rules, statutes, and cases. This includes the rules governing contracts, property, and criminal and civil rights. It is also the system of legal concepts, theories, and interpretations that give meaning to those rules.
A broad view of law is that it is a systematic body of principles, with its rules determined by a higher power and applied uniformly and in a fair manner by those under authority. This view is most commonly associated with Blackstone, though it was a general view shared by other legal scholars of the time, including Sir Edward Coke and Thomas Aquinas.
The modern practice of law is overseen by a government or independent regulating body such as a bar association, a council, or a law society. Lawyers achieve distinct professional identity through specified legal procedures, including passing a qualifying examination and attending a legal education earning a Bachelor of Laws, a Bachelor of Civil Laws, or a Juris Doctor degree.
The law of jurisdiction determines which court has the authority to decide a case. This is often determined by the place where the action took place, but can also be based on the type of case or the jurisdiction of the defendant. The right to appeal a decision is governed by the law of the jurisdiction, and judges on a court of appeals are often bound by decisions of the Supreme Court, even though those cases have different facts or issues.