Law is a body of rules that governs the conduct of individuals and groups. This body of rules is created by a controlling authority and is intended to maintain a sense of order and justice in a society. Its various purposes include preserving individual rights and preserving the status quo, protecting minorities from majorities, and promoting social justice and orderly social change. Different legal systems serve these purposes differently. Authoritarian governments, for instance, may use law to suppress political opponents and oppress minorities. Additionally, empire-building nations, such as Spain, Britain, France, and Germany, often used law to impose peace in countries they colonized.
Law can affect every aspect of a person’s life. It can impact their work, family, shelter, and finances. It can also affect their relationships with others. Many people try to deal with these issues on their own, but they often lack the knowledge necessary to effectively resolve their cases. Therefore, they need the services of legal professionals.
Various types of law govern different aspects of our lives, including financial regulation, antitrust law, and competition law. Competition law traces its roots to Roman decrees against price-fixing and the English restraint of trade doctrine. Today, competition law controls businesses that obstruct market prices through collusion and other means. Banking law, on the other hand, governs banks’ minimum capital standards.