Law is the set of rules that a society uses to govern itself. It forms the framework for a peaceful life and provides a way to resolve disputes. It is enforced by mechanisms that are created and governed by the state and if broken can result in punishments. Lawyers, judges and politicians are people who work within the legal system.
The study of Law covers a range of areas including criminal, international and tax law as well as family and employment law. It also encompasses major debates in legal theory. Oxford Reference offers 34,000 concise definitions and in-depth, specialist encyclopedic entries written by trusted experts.
Legal theories and systems are constantly evolving. Max Weber reshaped thinking on the extension of power over individual lives, whilst modern military, policing and bureaucracy pose new problems for accountability that Locke or Montesquieu could not have foreseen. The law as a tool of control is the focus of many discussions and there are numerous debates about whether or not the judicial system should be politically neutral or should be seen as part of the political system.
Legal systems are complex, involving different procedures for presenting factual evidence and legal arguments before a judge. The rules of each procedural system reflect choices between worthy goals, such as truthfulness, fairness between the parties, a speedy resolution of the dispute and consistency of legal principles.