What Is Law?

Law is a set of rules enforceable by social institutions. They are generally overseen by a government or independent regulating body. Common legal issues include immigration, consumer rights, and housing.

Law also is the medium of communication between individuals and groups. The court plays an important role in maintaining the rule of law.

A jury is a group of people chosen by a judge to decide a lawsuit. There are many types of juries including a panel and a pool of randomly selected citizens. Testimony, documents and exhibits are used during a trial.

Some of the most common legal issues are debt, immigration, housing, and family issues. Government websites are a good source of information on these issues.

Law is a complex system and requires special qualifications to become a lawyer. Typically, a modern lawyer must earn a Bachelor of Laws degree or a higher academic degree like a Master of Legal Studies or a Doctor of Laws.

One of the major branches of law is criminal law. Criminal procedure is the rules of the court, which are used to determine whether a defendant has committed a crime. When a defendant is found guilty of a crime, he is sentenced by a court.

Civil law is a less-detailed judicial system. It is composed of legislative statutes and judicial decisions. Usually, a court has a single chief judge with primary responsibility for the administration of the court.

The Supreme Court is the highest court in each state. Justices are the judicial officers of the Supreme Court.