Basically, law is the set of rules that are enforceable by governmental institutions. There are many types of legal systems. They are commonly divided into civil and common law. These two types are similar but with distinct differences.
Common law legal systems are explicit about acknowledging judicial decisions as law. These include the doctrine of precedent, meaning that a decision made by a higher court binds lower courts to follow it.
The concept of “natural law” emerged in ancient Greek philosophy and was re-entered into mainstream culture through the writings of Thomas Aquinas. Religious law includes Jewish Halakha and Islamic Sharia.
Space law is an emerging field. It addresses aspects of international law regarding human activities in space. The first focus of space law was to address space relations among countries through treaties. However, more recent issues of space law are also addressed, including the commercialisation of space and liability issues.
Law is a political and social basis of society. It shapes politics, economics, history and society. It serves as a mediator between individuals and groups. It is often described as the art of justice.
Laws are created and enforced by government and social institutions. These institutions can include the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. Typically, these institutions are regulated and monitored by independent regulating bodies.
Modern lawyers must complete a college degree and pass a qualifying examination before they are legally qualified to practice. In some cases, a lawyer may spend a year abroad working for a real-life client.