Law is a set of rules and customs enforced by an authority. From a societal viewpoint, it may reflect values like justice, order, fairness and morality. Lawyers think of it as a mechanism for regulating human behaviour and actions. It shapes politics, economics, history and society in many ways. It also determines who can or cannot live within a given society, and defines relationships between people.
The word law comes from the Old Norse lag, meaning “laying order” or “fixed tune.” A law establishes a system of rules and principles that governs a community or group of people. It orders, permits and forbids, announces rewards and punishments, and regulates the lives of its members. It is a powerful tool for maintaining peace and encouraging prosperity in a democratic society.
There are numerous branches of law, such as contract law which regulates agreements to exchange products and services, property law which describes people’s rights and duties toward tangible assets, family law covering marriage, divorce and child custody, and transactional law which deals with business and money. Biolaw, for example, focuses on the intersection between law and the life sciences.
The purpose of a legal system is to protect the individual from being treated unfairly, by either a group or by an institution. This includes protection against rape, theft and murder, as well as discrimination. A legal system also helps to ensure that businesses operate fairly, and that people are paid for their work.