The concept of law is a set of rules that regulate behavior in both the private and public sectors. It has been around for thousands of years, and people have made laws since ancient Egypt, China, and even the Old Testament. Various types of laws, including criminal and civil, play a vital role in society.
- Sets The Standard
The goal of law is to help society manage conflict. When creating laws, societies consider what factors contribute to the alleviation of conflict. Some of these include murder and theft, but other unacceptable behaviors are also added as society evolves. These legal systems then try to provide context and clarity so that people can shape their behavior around legal expectations and norms.
- Gives Access To Justice
In a perfect world, everyone would have equal access to justice. In most cases, if a law has been broken, everyone should have the same opportunity to pursue retribution and adequate compensation. As society evolves and inequality is brought to light, our systems of justice are altered to provide greater access.
- Provides Safety
In addition to addressing injustices, laws also prevent them. For instance, when it comes to food safety, there was a time when the industry was unregulated. During the 18th and 19th centuries, producers used various methods to make their products more profitable, such as adding harmful chemicals to milk.
During this period, producers added dangerous chemicals to various products, such as coffee and tea. In 1906, Congress and President Roosevelt passed the Pure Food and Drug Act. This led to the establishment of the modern food safety regulatory regime.
- Protect The Vulnerable
Various laws are also created to protect certain groups, such as the LGBT community. Some of these include the Civil Rights Act of the U.S. and the Sex Discrimination Act of Australia. These laws protect what is known as negative rights, which are the rights to be free from unpleasant actions, such as discrimination.
- Encourages Civil and Political Engagement
Technology has led to the development of new laws. In the past few years, the sharing of sexually explicit videos and images without the consent of individuals has become a major issue. A study revealed that around 10 million people in the U.S. have had detailed photos shared online without their consent.
Although there are laws in various states such as Vermont, there is currently no federal law that specifically addresses the issue of sexually explicit videos and images. In Australia, an online petition was sent to the A.C.T. Legislative Assembly, calling for creating a criminal law targeting those who distribute these images. There continues to be positive legal developments in this area.
- Provides Job Opportunities
Law is a versatile field that can provide individuals with various job opportunities. Due to the wide variety of areas of law, people can choose to specialize in different areas, such as immigration and criminal law. There are also multiple jobs for researchers, consultants, and paralegals. The legal system is large enough for individuals to take on numerous roles.