Law is a system of rules established and enforced by social or governmental institutions to control human behaviour and keep order. Its precise definition is a subject of longstanding debate, with philosophers such as John Austin and Jeremy Bentham favouring utilitarian theories, while Jean-Jacques Rousseau argued that laws reflect innate moral principles that are unchanging.
Law governs many aspects of everyday life, from a worker’s right to a minimum wage to a citizen’s constitutional guarantee of a fair trial. It can be made by a group legislature or by a single legislator, resulting in statutes; by executive decrees and regulations; or through court precedent in common law jurisdictions. Private individuals may also create legally binding contracts, including arbitration agreements that adopt alternative methods of dispute resolution to standard court litigation.
Having a law degree is not just about memorising facts; it’s about learning to think critically and analyse legal decisions, so you can spot patterns and apply legal principles to new situations. This is why a good law student focuses on developing strong reasoning skills, and asks,,why’ when studying case decisions rather than,
The study of law includes the study of a range of legal practice areas, from contract and commercial law to property law and criminal law. It also covers the constitutional guarantees that protect people’s rights, such as a free press and checks on a government’s power, such as the separation of church and state.