Facts About General Law

Law Overview

Aristotle wrote, "The rule of law is better than the rule of any individual." From ancient philosophers to tribal regulations, we as a species have always had laws. To survive in a social or communal environment we need laws in order to coexist with one another. From natural law to analytical jurisprudence, law instates order to chaos and organization to mystification, we need laws. Law affects us in a variety of ways from practically everything we do in our daily lives to our culture and social structure. It is something that is as inherent as breathing in our socio-economic society. We can not get through one day without crossing several legal lines in various directions. Even the most mundane things are governed by laws that we are not even aware of. We need not have conflict with it to feel its presence on our daily existence. Our compliance with everyday rules and regulations continuously reminds us of the existence of the rule of law. Attorneys are the indentured servants of this moral fiber and its essential and complex structure of rule. Applying the law to a multitude of situations and circumstances, they accordingly hold great responsibility and accountability to its strict code of ethics. 

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Some of the major categories of laws are:

• Administrative law or regulatory law: Allows common citizens to challenge the way the government exercises its power. This is the body of law that occurs from the activities of the administrative bureaus of government, such as lawmaking, adjudication, or the adoption of a specific socio-judicial agenda.
• Constitutional law: Provides a structure for generating laws, guarding basic human rights, and the election of government. This type of law is the application of fundamental laws as set forth in the Constitution to guarantee the rights of citizens or organizations.
• Criminal law or penal law: Offers a method by which to bring to justice, prosecute and discipline perpetrators of crimes against individuals in a society where criminal acts are considered an offense against the community as a whole.
• Tort law: Permits claims for compensation when a person is injured or their property is damaged. Tort is a legal term that refers to a civil or criminal wrong that is accepted by law as justification for a lawsuit.
• Trust law: Pertains to economic legal situations such as resources set aside for the purpose of investment. A trust is an arrangement whereby the assets of an individual or group are managed and cared for by another.
• Property law: Defines the rights and obligations with respect to the buying, selling, or renting of real property such as homes or commercial property. This area of law governs the different forms of ownership of real property. Immovable property refers to real property or real estate, and the rights and obligations associated with such.
• Contract law: Controls everything from the purchase of an admission ballot to the trading of stocks and bonds. This law can refer to a major written purchase, such as a car, or a minor oral purchase, such as lunch. It is a legally binding exchange of a promise or an agreement among individuals.
• International law: Regulates interaction between sovereign nations in just about everything from commerce to environmental issues. This field of law encompasses regional agreements, international criminal law, maritime law and conflicts between laws of different nations and jurisdictions.

Do you or someone you know need a lawyer or have legal questions? Contact one of our attorneys today to help you with your legal issues and answer any questions you may have about our legal sysytem!

Article written by Juan Carlos Villamil contributing staff writer for SWI Digital, Inc.