Understanding Legal Issues

Law

Law is the body of written laws that defines rights, regulations and procedures. The court system applies these laws to the cases being tried. If the laws are not in compliance with the Constitution, they may be struck down by the courts.

There are two major types of laws: criminal and civil. Criminal laws are those that apply to offenses that involve crime. Civil laws deal with issues that relate to property, contracts, and other matters.

In the case of a criminal matter, the prosecutor or states attorney represents the state. In a civil case, the assistant attorney general represents the state.

These lawyers spot legal issues on a daily basis. Identifying these problems and learning about them can help prepare you for law school or a career in the legal field.

Legal issues may arise in any case, including a criminal or civil case. They can include questions about the application of existing regulations or the need for new ones.

Legal issues are inherently intertwined with ethics. Ethics are a set of subjective, ethical beliefs about right and wrong. Some examples of legal issues include gun control, privacy, and abortion.

Some of these issues may be controversial. Public debate often revolves around these issues.

Unlike criminal laws, which can be reviewed by the state’s courts, federal laws are reviewed by the federal courts. Federal courts can strike down any laws that are unconstitutional.

An example of a legal issue in a civil matter is eminent domain, which involves the taking of private property for public use without the owner’s consent. This is a process that requires large amounts of money and complex legal issues.