Law is a system of rules created and enforced by society or government to govern the conduct of people. This system includes laws on the use of force and property rights as well as rules governing relationships among people such as marriage and divorce. Laws can be either written or unwritten, but they must be observed in order to ensure the safety and security of people. The purpose of the law is to protect individual rights and provide a framework for social change. A nation with a strong legal system can keep the peace, maintain the status quo, and support economic growth and development. However, a nation with an authoritarian government may oppress minorities or suppress political opponents, and may fail to promote social justice.

Throughout history, different civilizations have developed distinct laws. Some systems of law are based on religious precepts, such as the Jewish Talmud and Islamic Sharia. Other systems of law are based on further human elaboration, such as the English common law originating from Magna Carta and later codified in the statutes of England and Wales, and Roman-derived civil law. The development of laws can also be influenced by culture and the philosophy of a people.

Many fields of study have been influenced by the creation or application of laws. The science of law can include areas such as constitutional law and international law, which deal with the organization and administration of a state or country. It can also include fields of practice such as commercial transactions and criminal law. Other specialized fields of law include aviation law, labour law and medical jurisprudence.

Law can also be considered a social art form, involving the ability to understand and explain complex concepts to a public audience. A good lawyer will be able to articulate the law in a clear and concise way so that it can be understood by a non-lawyer.

The law also involves the ability to interpret the facts of a case and apply the laws in a fair and consistent manner. A lawyer can help in situations where there are disagreements about the facts of a case or how the law should be applied to the situation.

Lawyers are a group of professionals who have received training in the law and in the process have obtained a license to represent clients. They can advise their clients about laws and the consequences of breaking them, and they are able to assist their clients in negotiating agreements or winning cases. In some countries, lawyers must pass an examination in order to become licensed to practice law. In other countries, licensing laws are determined by the local legislatures.