Introduction to Law

Branches of Law

• Public Law: deals with the relationship between the state and individuals, including:
  • Constitutional Law: concerns the structure and powers of the government
  • Administrative Law: regulates the actions of government agencies
  • Criminal Law: defines and punishes crimes
• Private Law: deals with the relationships between individuals, including:
  • Tort Law: concerns civil wrongs and damages
  • Contract Law: regulates agreements between individuals
  • Property Law: deals with the ownership and use of property

Sources of Law

• Statutory Law: laws created by legislatures, including:
  • Acts of Parliament
  • Regulations
  • Codes
• Common Law: laws developed through court decisions and customs, including:
  • Case Law: precedents set by judges
  • Judicial Decisions: interpretations of statutes and regulations
• Customary Law: laws based on traditional practices and social norms

Key Concepts

• Jurisdiction: the power of a court to hear and decide a case
• Precedent: a court decision that sets a binding example for future cases
• Stare Decisis: the principle of following precedent to ensure consistency and fairness
• Substantive Law: the rules and principles that govern a particular area of law
• Procedural Law: the rules and procedures for enforcing and applying substantive law

Legal Systems

• Common Law System: relies on case law and precedent, used in countries such as the UK, USA, and Canada
• Civil Law System: based on codified laws and statutes, used in countries such as France, Germany, and Japan
• Sharia Law: a system of law based on Islamic principles and teachings, used in some Muslim countries