Law is the system of rules that a state recognizes as regulating its citizens’ actions. It includes not only the formal rules enforced by courts, but also the informal norms, customs and expectations that regulate behavior more generally. The study of law combines history, philosophy, political science and economics to explore the nature of government power.
The precise definition of law varies between legal systems and among scholars. John Austin’s utilitarian theory defines it as commands, backed by the threat of sanctions, from an authority over which people have a habit of obedience. Alternatively, Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s concept of natural law argues that human rights reflect essentially moral and unchangeable laws of nature.
Besides criminal law, which addresses a variety of wrongs punishable by judicial decree, there are a variety of other branches of law. Tort law covers the entire spectrum of harms that humans can inflict upon each other, and partially overlaps with crimes addressed by criminal law. Civil law deals with contracts, property, and family issues, including marriage and divorce. Business law is about the exchange of goods and services, including a wide range of financial transactions. Biolaw is the intersection of law and the life sciences.
The practice of law involves advising, representing, and defending clients in court. It may also involve giving decisions and administering punishments. The study of law is a popular career choice for many young people. The profession of law encompasses a broad array of specialties, from family to commercial and corporate law, as well as the more purely intellectual fields of constitutional and international law.