Law is a set of rules that regulates the behaviour of people in a community. It’s often enforced by a controlling authority through penalties. Societal laws are based on ideas such as rationality, justice, morality and order. From a judicial point of view, law can include policies, statutes and guidelines, as well as judgements, decrees and orders.
The advantages of the rule of law are far-reaching within societies, ensuring stability and equality. It can also protect minorities against majorities, preserve individual rights and facilitate social change. However, the rule of law can be violated if it’s not supported by a functioning judiciary and transparent government institutions.
A legal career involves learning a distinctive vocabulary and new ways of thinking. Lawyers often use simple language to explain complicated concepts, preparing them to advise clients who might not be legally trained. Verbose and unnecessarily complex opinions or other documents can be intimidating to non-lawyers, and may even lead to misunderstandings and misinterpretation.
The most common law careers are with law firms and in the public sector, but other roles exist in government agencies and with multinational corporations. Working for a large international law firm can involve travel, allowing you to gain a broader perspective of global business and culture. You might also get the chance to work remotely. Other benefits of law careers include a good salary, prestigious job titles and the opportunity to work in big cities. The prestige of a law career can also give you a sense of responsibility and duty.
