The Importance of Law

Law is a system of rules a society or government develops to address problems such as crime, business agreements and social relationships. It encompasses a wide variety of areas and influences every aspect of civilization. In everyday usage, law often refers to a particular area of the legal system such as criminal or corporate law, although it can also be used as a general term for all legal rules. For example, murder is against the law in most states and countries.

A law may be based on religious precepts such as the Jewish Halakha or Islamic Sharia, which act as guides for behavior. Alternatively, it can be a human invention based on further elaboration through interpretation (Qiyas and Ijma), analogies, consensus and precedent. Regardless of its source, the law shapes politics, economics and history in many ways and serves as mediator for relations between people.

Whether enshrined in a constitution, written or unwritten, or based on custom and practice, a law is an inescapable part of a person’s life. The law is a vital aspect of a stable state and an essential element in the functioning of a democracy, yet there are many issues that confront the concept. Changing times require the laws to adapt to new social needs, but this can be challenging because it requires the judicious use of interpretation and creative jurisprudence to ensure that the law is not misused.

The law includes civil, criminal and administrative law, governing relationships between individuals and between nations. Contract law, for instance, outlines the exchange of goods and services between entities, while property law regulates possession condition and rights. Criminal law defines the punishment for actions deemed harmful to the community, such as theft, assault and murder.

A common law system focuses on case law, which is a compilation of judge’s decisions from past cases that are enforceable and not subject to individual interpretation. By contrast, a country with a civil law system relies on an explicitly defined code that judges must follow when making a decision. The law may also include statutes, which are specific legislative provisions that govern an area of the law and are generally not subject to interpretation.