Law is a system of rules decided by a particular place or authority that helps to keep the peace and security of society. These laws are enforced and, when they are broken, sanctions can be imposed (for example, tort law allows people to claim compensation when they are hurt). Laws may apply to all citizens of a nation or community or may be restricted to certain groups. For example, intellectual property laws protect the rights of those who create artistic work such as music, movies or art and patents cover inventions that are made. In addition, medical law covers confidentiality between patients and their physicians.
Despite being an essential part of human societies, it is difficult to define what exactly is law because legal systems differ greatly and individual opinions about what constitutes law vary. Many books containing different ideas about law have been written.
A career in law offers a unique opportunity to sharpen your mind and develop skills that are useful for all aspects of life. Lawyers learn to think differently and communicate complex ideas clearly, a skill that is often invaluable in other careers. Lawyers must be able to understand and communicate with clients who have little or no understanding of legal concepts. This requires a high level of empathy, as well as an ability to explain complex matters in simple terms.
A career in law can also be financially rewarding. Although it is hard to know how much money any given lawyer will earn, there are a few areas where lawyers can expect to make good money, such as personal injury and corporate tax law.