Law is a collection of rules established by government entities, federal bodies, and institutions to ensure that individuals have equal treatment. It has the primary intention to regulate the actions of individuals or organizations.
However, the law isn’t always as judicial as it appears to be. Certain loopholes affect the justice system. This part is where lawyers come in. They learn the legislation to assist people in obtaining justice in cases of wrongful prosecution. They investigate the facts that impact the issue and find ways to resolve disputes.
In many areas of the globe, understanding the law is a degree that often takes years to finish. This program exposes one on various fields, such as the legislative system, ethics, democracy, justice, and integrity. In short, a legal degree covers a wide range of topics and allows you to pursue professions in various fields.
Areas of Law
There is no such thing as a level playing field when it comes to legal degrees. In reality, there are various kinds of law degrees available. While attempting to tell them apart could be confusing at first, here’s a short rundown to help you sift through your options.
Common Law
Common law is the authority that the judiciary department provides. It states that if there is any disagreement between the parties, judges need to look for previous cases similar to the present case. Judges use the previous court decisions to finalize the conflicts.
If there are no pre-existing cases, the judge will weigh all factors from both parties. After discussing the strong points of each side, the judge comes up with a decision. This principle will bind other judges and litigators if such cases take place in the future.
Civil Law
Civil law deals with cases apart from the precedent value. It happens on a case-to-case basis and is independent of past court decisions. Most civil concerns involve relationships between employers and their staff.
But before proceeding to the courtroom, an alternative form of resolution must first take place. Employment mediation is a common practice to avoid expensive judicial charges and complex legal procedures. If both parties fail to reach an agreement, only by then is the civil law applicable.
Statutory Law
Laws are classified into statutes when a collective legislature enacts them. However, the judiciary has no power to create such rules. During such cases, their responsibility has limitations in which they can only resolve to interpretation and implementation. Unlike common law, statutory law is written and searchable online.
Criminal Law
As its name implies, criminal law focuses on crime-related cases. More so, it is the law that deals with offenses that endanger human life. These rules are what peacemakers and officers act upon and follow. Suppose a person is proven to commit such crimes. They are arrested by the police and judged by the court for either rehabilitation or imprisonment.
Criminal laws vary from every jurisdiction. Nonetheless, they follow common objectives that include:
Retribution
Retribution states that a person that committed a crime should be punished equally by the law to provide balance. The rights of that person undergo submission to the court.
Deterrence
Deterrence is imposing a sufficient penalty to discourage the offender from committing the crime again. Doing so evokes fear of receiving an equal or even worse consequence. It also addresses the public making them less likely to conduct a similar or greater crime in the future.
Incapacitation
Incapacitation is the act of distancing the criminal to society to prevent harm. It entails imprisonment in an institution, house detention, and, in the worst-case scenario, execution.
Rehabilitation
The court often enforces rehabilitation programs for young offenders. It aims to transform the individual’s behavior and turn them into valuable people of society.
Restoration
As an innovative approach to justice, the perpetrator should make amends to the victims of their offense and the neighborhood where the crime happened. It aims to teach the offender by allowing the victims to express what they have to endure after their wrongdoings.
The law around us is there to set rules for human behavior. It is there to protect us against any injustice from other forms. Legislators created each one intending to provide suitable punishment for offenders while also guaranteeing humanity’s welfare. The police, legislators, and judiciary department are also here to help us enforce these rules.
Remember that these laws are what keep us all sleep soundly at night. They do not mean to limit our actions but to align us toward better behavior. This way, we can all live peacefully and enjoy life as good members of society.
