Law is a set of rules that forms the framework for human society. If these rules are broken sanctions can be imposed by a controlling authority. The broader concept of law also includes the legal profession, the institutions and communities that support it and the processes of judicial review. Law is also a term used in science to describe an indisputable fact about the way the world and its forces work.
A major area of law concerns property and personal rights. Property law deals with ownership of real estate, such as land and buildings, as well as movable objects, like cars and jewellery. Tort law concerns compensation for harm done to people, such as damage to property or defamation of character. Criminal law provides for punishment of offences against the state, such as murder or robbery.
There are many other areas of law, for example aviation law, maritime law, contract law and family law. The practice of law is governed by various laws, including the rules that govern how courts hear cases and what evidence may be presented in court. The law can also refer to the specific system of law that a country follows, which is typically split into civil and common law systems.
Generally, the law is interpreted by judges who sit on appeals or trial courts. Law schools train future judges and lawyers through a combination of academic work, hands-on training in the courtroom and supervised experience working as a trainee solicitor. The legal profession is overseen by a bar association, law council or law society. Lawyers have a distinct professional identity and can earn titles such as Esquire (as in Zola), Barrister or Doctor of Law.
The study of law is often associated with philosophy, sociology and economics. Max Weber reshaped thinking about the extension of the state, arguing that modern military, policing and bureaucratic power exerts control over ordinary citizens in ways that Locke or Montesquieu could not have foreseen. The discipline also has an international dimension.
A specialized form of law is administrative law, which covers the rules and regulations that govern government agencies and public services, such as water, electricity and gas. The field is also concerned with the responsibilities of private companies that take over management of these services, for instance in the case of water privatisation.