Law is a system of rules and customs created to keep order in a society. These are enforced by a controlling authority with penalties for breaking them. The study of law covers a broad range of topics relating to different legal systems. It explores deeper dimensions of what is called law, such as the nature of the judicial process, the role of morals in law and legal ethics. It also examines the relationship of laws to other social issues, such as social justice and equality.
A wide variety of areas are covered by the law, including labour and employment, property, criminal and civil procedure, and family law. Labour law includes the tripartite industrial relationship between employer, worker and trade union; this involves negotiating collective bargaining agreements, and includes rights to strike. Individual employment law refers to a person’s right to a wage and conditions of work, including safety, health and the minimum wage. Property law concerns ownership and possession, both real and personal property. It includes a right in rem to land and other permanent physical structures, contrasting with a right in personam, which refers to movable assets such as cars and computers. Other areas of property law include intellectual property, trusts and commercial law. Criminal and civil procedure involve the rules that courts must follow as they conduct trials and hearings. Evidence law is the study of which materials are admissible in courts to build a case.
The law is also studied from the perspective of different societal views, such as those that reflect on issues of justice, morality, reason and order, and that are found in many religions, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Hinduism. Law is also studied from the perspective of history, exploring adjustments and justifications to legal concepts over time.
Legal writing is a special skill, which requires careful and thorough research, in-depth knowledge of the subject matter and an ability to communicate complex ideas clearly. The goal is to write an article that engages and educates readers without assuming that they have prior knowledge of the topic. It is also important to avoid jargon, as this can confuse or bore the reader.
When creating a legal article, the writer must remember that they are not writing TO an audience, but FOR them. If an article reads like an assignment for Uni or a legal case note, it will be very difficult to engage the reader. Instead, a good rule of thumb is to consider whether or not the grandparents would understand an article – if so, then it’s likely to be understood by the general public too! If not, then a more technical approach may be required. The best legal articles are both engaging and informative, but above all, they are accessible to the reader. This article is no exception. It is highly informative and engaging, but more than that it provides a critique of recent changes to the law. This makes it an excellent example of the kind of article that could be found in a well-respected legal journal.