Law is a system of rules that a society develops in order to deal with crime, business agreements and social relationships. It can also be used to refer to people who work in this field, such as lawyers and judges.
There are many different views of what constitutes law, and how it works. One view is that law is a set of precepts that dictate how human beings should behave and what they can require from others, and it does so in a way which is consistent with the physical limitations of the world in which they live. This is a view that is popular in philosophy and theology, as well as law schools.
Another view of law is that it is an expression of societal beliefs. It states that if a society believes that certain rights and procedures should be in place, its representative lawmakers will act to bring about a rule effectuating those societal norms in pursuit of the orderly administration of that society. This view is common among legal philosophers, and it is a mainstay of the common law tradition in most western nations.
A third view of law is that it is a manifestation of natural processes which govern the behavior of human beings. This view is similar to the scientific laws which describe natural phenomena, such as the laws of gravity. These laws can be used to predict and explain certain events, and they are invariably consistent and self-consistent.
Other definitions of law include the rules that determine the relationships between people in a society, the procedures by which they resolve disagreements and the punishments they may face for certain offences. Some of these rules are enacted by government institutions, while others are created and enforced by private individuals. These laws govern everything from property ownership to how much money someone can earn while working in a particular industry.
In addition to the governing bodies, there are also numerous organizations which provide legal services and information. These organizations can be categorized as law firms or bar associations. In addition, a wide variety of magazines and journals publish legal articles and commentaries.
Some of these organizations are more influential than others, and they can shape the legal profession in significant ways. Some of these organizations are international in scope, while others focus on specific regions or issues.
Law is a vast and complex topic, and the vocabulary of lawyers, judges and legal scholars is quite extensive. Some of the most commonly used words include: