What Is Law?
Law is a set of rules that shape politics, economics, history and society. Typically, they are created and enforced by social or governmental institutions and serve as the basis of accountability to individuals.
Law can take many forms, ranging from laws that are made by group legislatures, to executive decrees and regulations to those established by judges through precedent in common law jurisdictions. The precise definition of law is a matter of debate and often involves multiple perspectives on the rights of individuals.
In the United States, laws are usually written and enforced by state legislatures. Federal courts are not directly involved in writing or enforcing laws, but they can establish “rights” through interpretation of federal and state statutes and the Constitution.
Legal professionals are called lawyers or legal practitioners. Lawyers are primarily responsible for representing their clients in litigation, but they also perform other roles such as researching evidence and drafting opinions on behalf of the court.
Lawyers may also provide legal advice on a case in which they do not represent a client. For example, a law firm that represents companies or corporations may hire lawyers to advise on legal issues related to the company’s business.
A trial is a process in which people (plaintiffs and defendants) try to prove their claims through evidence presented by witnesses. Judges decide these cases and issue judgments that determine the plaintiff’s or defendant’s legal rights and claims.
Appeals occur when one party in a lawsuit asks another court to overturn or change a judgment from the first court. An appeal is usually filed by the defendant in a criminal case or the plaintiff in a civil case.