The Core Subjects of Law
Law is a system of commands, permissions and prohibitions that are enforced by a governing body in order to maintain order and provide justice. It is a central subject for legal history, philosophy, sociology and economic analysis. Law has many facets and spreads into virtually every area of human life. Its core subjects can be broadly categorized into three areas, though the subject matter intertwines and overlaps:
The primary functions of Law are to set standards, maintain order, resolve disputes, and protect liberties and rights. It is important that the legal system be a source of ethical, fair and legitimate authority for people in their daily lives so that they can uphold their rights and interests, settle disputes, and protect themselves against abuses of public and private power.
This requires a judiciary that is independent, the transparency of government business and the integrity of legal procedures. Law should be epistemically accessible, a body of norms that is publicly promulgated so that people can study it, internalize it and figure out what it requires of them.
The legal system should also be flexible and responsive to social change and new needs, allowing the judiciary to fill in the gaps through interpretive and creative jurisprudence. This flexibility allows for legal change without upsetting the balance of power between the legislative, executive and judicial branches. Moreover, it is critical that the legal system be capable of dealing with complex issues such as equality, fairness and justice.