Law is a set of rules that governs behavior and, if broken, may result in sanctions being imposed. It can be enforced by a central authority such as a government, a corporation, or an institution of a community, and is subject to debate over its nature and role in society.
It is difficult to give a precise definition of law, as it varies between countries and individual legal systems. It is often defined as a means of social control or coercion, and it is a tool for restraining the activities of individuals or groups of people. In this context, it can be used to enforce the rights of a minority against the majority, protect property and land from encroachment by outsiders, or prevent individuals from acting illegally or infringing on others’ property.
A country’s laws may be created by a group legislature, resulting in statutes; by the executive branch of the state through decrees and regulations; or by judges through judicial decisions – known as case law. Court decisions can be binding precedent, meaning that a future similar case must follow the ruling, or non-binding, in which case it may or may not influence the decision.
The study of law requires a wide range of skills and knowledge, including the ability to find relevant legislation, precedents and court decisions; to analyse the reasons behind those decisions; to understand the underlying philosophy of a jurisdiction’s legal system; and to develop an appreciation of the way in which laws are interpreted and applied in practice. Oxford Reference offers comprehensive coverage of this discipline, from criminal law and evidence to family and employment law and major debates in legal theory.