Law is the body of rules that a society recognizes as binding on its members, and that are enforced through a controlling authority. Its principal purposes are establishing standards, maintaining order, resolving disputes, and protecting liberties and rights. In a broader sense, it is the process by which a society organizes itself into distinct social units called nation-states or countries. The rules and systems that govern these units vary greatly from one country to another, and they are the focus of a wide range of political debates.

There are a number of different types of laws, with statutes (duly enacted laws) and regulations being the most common. Court decisions (judgments) also have a great deal of legal weight. These are known as case law, and they may be used to interpret other laws, such as statutes or regulations. Judges must also follow certain procedures when they make their rulings, and these are outlined in a document known as the rules of procedure.

The way that a person understands and applies the law can differ from one person to the next, but a lawyer is often someone who is well trained to give professional advice in the legal area. Attorneys can assist with a variety of legal matters, including contract law; civil rights; divorce and family law; employment law; and criminal and administrative law.

In addition, attorneys can help people with legal issues that may arise in everyday life, such as a traffic ticket or a dispute over property. Lawyers are often considered the voice of the legal profession.

For people who do not have access to a lawyer or are not sure where to start, legal research can be overwhelming. There are entire law school courses and books focused on learning the skills required for legal research, but many people struggle at first. With a little practice and patience, though, almost everyone can learn to effectively research their legal needs. For example, when researching a statute, it is helpful to use the table of contents to begin with because this allows you to move from general subjects (the titles, or divisions, of a statute) to specific topics within a subject (chapters and sections). This helps you find the precise law that addresses your issue. Similarly, when searching for case law, you can use the table of contents to begin with and then move to specific cases. Using these tools will help you to efficiently find the information that you need. Almost everyone finds that the more they use these resources, the better they become at researching legal issues. This is why it is worth the effort to learn these skills. A lawyer who has mastered them will have the ability to quickly and accurately research any legal issue that comes their way. This is invaluable to the profession, and it can also be helpful for people in other fields as well. By learning how to effectively research, a person can save time and money in their everyday lives as well.