Law is a set of rules and regulations decided by an authority that governs people, communities or nations. It can be in the form of legislation (a legal statute) or a system of custom and policies recognised and enforced by judicial decision: the latter is usually called common law. It can also refer to a legal profession that studies and defends the laws of a country or region: lawyers, barristers, solicitors and attorneys.
Law shapes politics, economics, history and society in many ways and has an impact on people’s lives. For example, the law can make it possible for people to live in a safe environment or have rights over things they create. It can also protect people from being taken advantage of by businesses. Law can also influence a person’s views about what is right and wrong, for instance, by setting a moral standard that people must follow.
In many countries throughout the world, a religious book such as the Vedas, Bible or Koran is a major source of law, along with the customs and social habits that come from a culture. The laws in a culture can be interpreted in different ways by people, and it is sometimes difficult to agree on one interpretation. In countries with a common law legal system, decisions made by judges are often considered to be on equal footing with legislative statutes and executive regulations, because of the “doctrine of precedent” (i.e., decisions by higher courts bind lower courts to assure that similar cases will reach the same result).
Another aspect of law is criminal justice, which deals with crimes and punishment. The judiciary, a group of judges, is a key part of the system: it hears appeals of lower court decisions and determines whether or not a person accused of a crime is guilty.
A court can also decide whether a business is operating within the law, or whether it has violated the trust of its customers. A lawyer or a barrister can help a client understand their legal rights and responsibilities, as well as assist them in making a complaint to the court or in applying for a licence.
It is important for any legal article to be up-to-date, as laws change frequently. It can be helpful to look for gaps in current legal literature, and explore controversial issues to attract reader interest and increase the chances of the article being published in a journal or law review. The most successful legal articles are those that engage, arrest, and inform. They are also well-written, concise and clear. They avoid the use of jargon, and instead explain complex legal concepts in ways that anyone can understand. In addition, they make reference to other legal articles, to ensure readers get the whole picture. In other words, they write FOR readers rather than AT them. See writing an article to learn more about how to produce this kind of article.