Law is a set of rules created by the state which forms a framework to ensure a peaceful society. These laws are enforced by mechanisms and if they are broken sanctions can be imposed. Some of the laws are based on religious beliefs or books such as the Jewish Halakha, Islamic Sharia and Christian Canon law. Other laws are based on human elaboration such as case law and precedent.

Laws cover a broad range of subjects including contract law (which governs agreements to exchange goods and services), property law (defining people’s rights and duties toward tangible or intangible property, such as cars and houses), labour law (regulating the employment relationship) and tort law (which covers harms caused by negligence, for example a car accident or defamation). Criminal law deals with offences against the state itself such as terrorism and murder.

The extent to which laws are transparent, open and accessible to all people is an important measure of the strength of a legal system. Some legal systems impose their laws in a highly restrictive way and may suppress dissent or freedom of the press. These are often referred to as authoritarian regimes. A democratic law-based society is able to balance competing social interests, including economic development, environmental preservation and equality of opportunity.

There are different ways to be a lawyer, with people working in the field being called lawyers, solicitors and barristers. There are also titles of respect such as Esquire used to signify a barrister of greater dignity and Doctor of Laws used to indicate a university degree in law.