Whether you are a student or professional, you must know about the legal system. A law is a set of rules that is enforceable through governmental institutions and social institutions.
Laws are also regulated by private individuals. This is primarily through the formation of contracts. This can involve issues such as personal property, consumer rights, and immigration.
The legal system can be divided into two broad categories: civil law and common law. In common law systems, the decisions made by courts are explicitly acknowledged as “law”.
The laws in the common law system are rigid. This system is characterized by a doctrine of precedent. This means that decisions made by one court bind future decisions made by the same court.
The concept of “natural law” was introduced in ancient Greek philosophy, and it has been re-introduced in mainstream culture through the writings of Thomas Aquinas. In some church communities, such as the Catholic Church, Canon law is still in use.
Historically, the concept of “natural law” has been closely linked with the idea of justice. In the modern legal system, this concept has been expanded to include inequality.
Common legal issues include consumer rights, immigration, debt, and housing. These issues arise when unexpected events occur, or from problems in one’s workplace. In many cases, a legal issue may not be obvious, and may require the assistance of a lawyer.
The modern legal system shares many features with common law. These include a doctrine of precedent, the analogy of laws, and a systematic body of equity.