Law is the set of rules a society or government develops and enforces in order to govern activities such as crime, contracts and social relationships. Law may also refer to the field of study that deals with legal questions, including history, philosophy, economic analysis and sociology. The precise definition of law is subject to debate. Law, as a discipline and profession, has provided much of the inspiration for scholarly work in fields such as legal history, philosophy, economics, political science and sociology.
The laws of a particular place or region are usually created, enforced and understood by judicial institutions such as courts, which include judges and lawyers. A person who works within the law system is called a lawyer or solicitor (Esquire for barristers of greater distinction). Other titles for a legal professional include magistrate and judge.
Civil law is the area of law that deals with lawsuits between individuals. Criminal law deals with offenses against a community as a whole and can result in fines or imprisonment for the offender.
A court deciding a case is called a tribunal or a court of justice, depending on the jurisdiction. The authority of a court to decide cases is determined by statute or by case law, which is the use of previous decisions to determine how a current case should be decided.
Appeals are a process by which a party to a legal proceeding asks another court or tribunal to review the decision of the first one. The right to appeal is guaranteed by the constitution of many countries.
Evidence that supports a party’s claim to a lawsuit is called admissible evidence, whereas evidence that opposes it is not. The law requires that all evidence be presented fairly, and that the other party is given an opportunity to examine the testimony of witnesses against her or his case.
The law is often described in terms of rights and duties, with the latter based on equity, general principles and jurisprudence rather than specific legislative or constitutional provisions. It is also commonly seen as a tool for promoting social change.
The law includes property, contract, human and procedural rights. It covers the rules governing ownership of land (real or real estate) and personal property, such as computers, cars and jewellery; it also encompasses regulations for the registration of properties and the statutory systems for property titles and transfers. The law may also cover intellectual property, trusts and commercial laws.