Law is a set of rules that a society or government develops in order to deal with issues such as crime and business agreements. It can also be used to refer to the people who work within this system, including lawyers and judges.
The word ‘law’ has a long history of usage, and its precise meaning is the subject of much debate. The most common definition is: a body of rules made and enforced by the state or authority in order to control behaviour, and to punish people who violate those rules. This is a broad and somewhat vague concept, but it provides an important framework for understanding the role of the law in a society.
Different types of law exist in any given country, and each is created and enforced according to the principles and procedures of its own jurisdiction. For example, laws can be passed by a legislature in the form of statutes; by an executive branch in the form of decrees and regulations; or established by judges in the case of common law. In addition to these state-enforced laws, private individuals may create legally binding contracts and arbitration agreements which alternatively govern their relationships.
Individuals can arrange their own legal rights in a number of ways, and lawyers are involved in facilitating these arrangements. Lawyers can help a person with a will or trust; the administration of an estate; tax matters; commercial transactions; labour law; intellectual property rights; insurance; and family law. Lawyers can also represent a client before an administrative committee, or in court.
The practice of law is often described as a profession, rather than merely as a business, and it is crucial that this distinction is maintained. Lawyers must be prepared to put their ethical obligations before the drive for profits and to ensure that justice is served in a fair and efficient manner.
A broader and more meaningful definition of a law is that it is the system of justice, and that this system is “the heart and soul of a democracy”. The law should be administered by an independent and impartial judiciary, whose decisions are binding on all parties and should not be influenced by the personal interests of any individual. To accomplish this, the framers of the US Constitution created a system of separation between the legislative, executive and judicial branches of the federal government. This arrangement, known as the separation of powers, ensures that no one person or entity is able to become unchecked in their power and impose their will over the rest of the citizens of the nation. This guarantees that the law remains above those who make it. This is why the rule of law is so important. It is what makes democracy possible. Without it, we would have no freedoms and no hope of achieving a better world for all. The rule of law, therefore, is a fundamental human right. Without it, tyranny is inevitable.