Primary Source Archives
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Law
Take a look at the concept of the law, which is defined as the system of rules established by a particular country or community to regulate the actions of its citizens or members and which may be enforced by the imposition of penalties. Laws can be created at the federal, state, or local levels. In the United States, the Constitution is the foundational legal document on which all other laws are based.
There are two broad categories of law: criminal law and civil law. Criminal laws are established to protect society from wrongful actions, including traffic and road violations (e.g., drunk driving or speeding), public order violations (e.g., rioting or indecent exposure), property crimes (e.g., arson or littering), and crimes committed against people (e.g., murder or rape). Civil laws are designed to help solve problems that occur between individuals or groups that don’t require police intervention but do involve the court system or trained legal personnel. These laws include contract laws (e.g., issuing marriage licenses or settling disputes related to contracts), employment laws (e.g., wrongful dismissal or employer discrimination), family law (e.g., child custody issues), and tort laws (e.g., dog bite cases or accidents).
Because the system of laws is so vast, lawyers often specialize according to a specific type of law practice. The major categories of practice include maritime law, bankruptcy law, business law, civil rights law, criminal law, entertainment law, family law, health law, immigration law, intellectual property law, international law, labor (employment) law, military law, personal injury law, real estate law, and tax law.
