Law is a system of rules that a government or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its people. It shapes politics, economics, history and society. It helps to regulate human behavior and avoid conflicts between people.
The study of laws is also known as legal studies. It includes the study of the principles of law, the systems of law and their interpretation, and legal ethics.
Civil law refers to the laws pertaining to relationships and interactions between people, such as property, contracts, marriage, and family. In most cases, civil law is codified in a code, which can be easily understood and interpreted by citizens and judges.
Criminal law concerns the legal rules that govern a person’s rights to fair trials and justice in courts. It is the basis of all judicial proceedings and has been used to prosecute or defend individuals in court since time immemorial.
Commercial law is the study of the liability, duties and legal rights relating to transactions that involve merchandising, sales and commerce. This is a broad field and can include both private and public laws. It includes employment and agency, contract law, property, sale, business organizations, bailments, creditor and consumer protection, and insurance.
Property law is the study of the ownership and possession of land, buildings and other physical things. It includes the laws governing mortgages, leases and licenses as well as the statutory systems for land registration. It can include issues involving real estate, personal property (movable goods) and intangible rights, such as patents and trademarks.
Statutes restrict the times within which a case must be brought to court, and can vary according to the severity of the offense. General statutes of limitations, limiting the number of years after an offense that a prosecution may begin, are common in most jurisdictions.
Judicial decisions are often referred to as “law” on equal footing with legislative statutes, and are sometimes regarded as binding future courts of law. This is called the doctrine of precedent, or stare decisis.
Law is a complex subject, and can be difficult to navigate. However, with patience and dedication, it is possible to master the research process and become an expert in this discipline.
The best place to start your research is with primary sources. These can be found in law journals, practice guides, legal dictionaries, and other encyclopedias. They provide a detailed overview of the topic and can save you time on the research part of your project.
Searching secondary authority is another excellent way to get started on your legal research project. These are sources that have already done the research for you, so they can be a great resource to use when starting on your project.
The study of law is a diverse field, and there are many different legal theories that have been proposed. For example, Hans Kelsen has created the ‘pure theory of law’, which states that the law does not seek to describe what must occur, but rather defines certain rules that individuals must abide by.
