Law is the set of rules that are created and enforced by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior. Its precise definition is a matter of longstanding debate. The word is most often used to refer to state-enforced laws that apply to all members of a given society, although it may also be applied to private or commercial laws.
The most commonly accepted definition of law is that it is a system of rules established to keep order and prevent violence in a society. The law defines what is permitted and forbidden, and provides the penalties for breaking these rules. The legal systems of different nations differ from one another, but they all have laws that govern their citizens and businesses.
People who wish to pursue a career in the law often attend law school, where they learn to read and interpret the legal documents that define the law in their jurisdictions. Lawyers are often able to help people understand the law, and to defend their rights when they are violated.
Law has many subfields, each of which focuses on a specific aspect of the system of rules that is law. For example, tort law deals with compensation for damage to persons or property caused by negligence or wrongdoing, such as car accidents or defamation of character. Criminal law addresses the punishment of offenses against the state, such as robbery or murder. Labor law is concerned with the tripartite industrial relationship between employer, worker and trade union, and includes collective bargaining regulations. Family law concerns marriage, divorce and child custody. Property law encompasses ownership of land, real estate and personal property, such as cars and computers.
The rules of law are not only created by legal officials, but also by religious leaders and philosophers. Some laws are explicitly based on religious precepts, such as Jewish Halakha and Islamic Sharia. However, most religious laws rely on further human elaboration to provide thorough and detailed legal systems, including the processes of interpretation (Qiyas and Ijma), reasoning by analogy and consensus (Ijtihad) and precedent.