Law is an important part of any society and is the basis for social justice. Laws are restrictions that impose obligations and duties on individuals, groups and governments to ensure accountability. These restrictions are designed to prevent negative behaviors that harm people and society. Laws can be scientific, based on facts and observations such as Fg = gravity or human-based, requiring the fulfillment of a set of criteria.
Legal systems vary, with civil and common law being the most prevalent. There are many branches of law, ranging from contract and tort to family and criminal. Contract law regulates agreements to exchange goods, services or anything else of value. Tort law covers accidents, injuries and other incidents. Criminal law enforces the punishment of criminals and the restitution of victims. Property law covers ownership and possession of real estate and movable personal items such as computers, cars and jewelry. Other types of law include intellectual property, land reform and commercial law.
A person who practices law is called a lawyer, or barrister in England. Modern lawyers are required to obtain a distinct professional identity through specified legal procedures (e.g. passing a qualifying examination) and have a special qualification, such as a Bachelor of Laws or Bachelor of Common Law, a Master of Legal Studies or a Juris Doctor degree. Some lawyers are also known by the title Esquire or Doctor of Law, used as a mark of respect.
Some religious societies also have their own laws, derived from religious precepts such as Jewish Halakha and Islamic Shari’ah, or through human elaboration such as Qiyas (reasoning by analogy), Ijma (consensus) and legal precedent. Other religious societies may follow canon law, derived from scripture and other ancient texts.
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