Law is a body of rules that are developed by a government or society over a territory and enforced through a controlling authority. It covers such areas as business, social relationships, property and crime. It has many different definitions depending on the context in which it is used.
It is also a field of study that can be pursued as a career. For example, Zola always dreamed of a career in Law so she studied hard in school. It is also used to describe a certain type of behaviour, such as being a killin it in an argument or having a good character.
One of the most important definitions is that of law as a constraint on rulers, especially those in government. This explains that no one, not even a high-ranked official, is above the law and must follow publicly disclosed legal codes and processes.
There are many fields of law, but some of the main ones are tort law, which involves compensation when someone or their property is harmed, criminal law which relates to offences against the state and public health law which regulates businesses that provide essential services such as water, gas and electricity. Banking law covers financial regulation and insurance law covers policies that protect against risks such as earthquakes and fire.
A law is not just a document that states what is permitted and prohibited, it is also about what people believe is right and fair. Max Weber and Roscoe Pound reshaped thinking about the extension of the law by suggesting that it is a tool for securing and maintaining social wants, which are often contradictory.