Law consists of all the rules and principles set up in a community to regulate the behavior of its members. It includes the body of rules enacted by legislature, as well as custom and policies recognized and enforced by courts. Law is also the study of laws, and the profession of a person who practices law.
Law is important for society because it provides a framework for social order, protects individuals against predatory behaviors of large groups, ensures the rights and freedoms of all, and facilitates orderly social change. However, some legal systems may oppress minorities or prevent the advancement of ideas that challenge the status quo.
For example, in some countries the right to freedom of speech is limited by laws that prohibit offensive language or slander. In addition, the power to imprison and fine people who break the law is often used to repress certain types of beliefs or activities that might threaten the authority of the government.
Throughout history, people have sought to develop more just, stable and enforceable legal systems. Today, many young people are pursuing careers in the field of Law.
Some important areas of Law include contract law, family law, labor law, medical jurisprudence, property law and tax law. A specialized area of law is administrative law, which regulates the activities of public agencies. Law also includes the judicial system and the various professions that serve it: judges, attorneys and prosecutors. When a judge or other judicial official makes a decision, the decision is recorded in a court’s record or “docket.” Judges in the United States usually sit in panels of three or more, but on occasion, the entire bench may convene to hear a case, a session called en banc.