The Law Subject

[-music-man-]

What is the subject Law really about?

[Ethel]

Lots and lots of history, lots of obscure words and the realisation that the law is nothing to do with justice and fairness but adherence to statute or case law, no matter how absurd and nasty the result is.

[tubeway]

Speaking as somebody with a degree in law - I think that Ethel summed it up very well.

[Gmcd01]

You forgot photocopying...

[Nether Edge]

"Law" is too vague a topic heading really- better if answerbank segregated it into smaller topics (& inc. "property" part of "Home and Garden" topic too).

And law is essential feature of democracy. Perhaps Ethel and tubeway prefer those well-known liberal and peace-loving nations in Africa/Middle East/China; try living there, enjoying despotic tyrants' tender mercies, then you'll appreciate virtues of English law.

[JJ1969]

Mmmm..

Law is an ever changing 'animal' .. a headache.. but addictive. In the UK some legal decisions are based on case decisions stretching back centuries.

The common law of product liabilty for 3rd parties dates back to 1932, when a poor lady swallowed a slug that was in a bottle of ginger beer. This law is still good.... The mind boggles..

[Gmcd01]

Did she swallow the slug? I never read that...many many years ago back in the heyday of my degree...thought it was gastroenteritis...but this really is a pointless post so I'm shutting up now...

[Stu Dent]

The problem with splitting up 'law' into topics is that most lay people are unsure of where their remedy lies. Most people wouldn't know that if they swallowed a drink with a snail in it, that their remedy would be found within Tort/Delict, or that (if in Scotland), if their car was clamped by a private company, this would be criminal law as clamping in Scotland constitutes a theft.

[Stu Dent]

Meant to say, that in response to the original question, what law is, can probably best be described as a system. That system, of Courts, rules, and regulations, regulates behaviour within society, and punishes those who disregard those regulations. it also settles disputes by following those rules.

Lawyers are problem solvers. They solve clients legal problems by being able to identify issues, find the appropriate laws that deal with those issues, then apply it to the present facts. In order to do so they need to know how that 'system' operates.