The law is a body of rules that governs the behavior of people and organizations in society. It is enforced by the authority of a state or other entity and it has many purposes, including maintaining peace, preserving property, protecting minorities, ensuring social justice and promoting orderly change in society. The legal system varies considerably from nation to nation. In some places, the same people or groups who command military power are the rulers of the country and therefore have the legal authority to make and enforce laws. In other places, there are revolts against the existing political-legal system aimed at changing who has the right to make and enforce laws.
The study of the law encompasses the legal profession, history of law and the relationship of the law to other disciplines such as ethics, economics and social science. The scholarly discipline of law is also divided into different areas of specialty, such as corporate law, criminal law, family law and environmental law.
Law is a complex subject because it has normative as well as descriptive and causal properties. It is also a methodologically unique discipline in that the laws that are made, and therefore enforced, cannot be checked by scientific methods (such as those used in empirical sciences, such as the law of gravity) or even by the criteria of logic and reasoning of other academic disciplines, such as philosophy or social science.
There are a number of important characteristics that define the law, such as its omnipresence and its coercive nature. The law shapes politics, economics, history and society in diverse ways and acts as a mediator between people. It is an area that is highly influenced by philosophical, cultural and religious beliefs and is based on a wide variety of social and historical factors.
Law is generally divided into public and private law. Public law covers government-controlled industries and services such as police, schools and water. Private law includes business and commercial affairs such as contract and property. There are also specialized areas of law, such as space law, which addresses the activities of human beings in Earth orbit and outer space; taxation, which is concerned with value added tax, corporation and income taxes; and banking and financial law, which regulates banks, sets standards for lending and ensures a safe investment environment. The study of the law is a complex and interesting field that will appeal to anyone who has a curiosity about how a society operates. A law degree is a great way to learn about the legal process and become a leader in your field. There are a few prestigious titles that signify a lawyer of great merit, such as Esquire and Doctor of Law. In addition, there are various academies and associations that offer training to help lawyers become successful.