Law is a system of rules developed by societies or governments in order to deal with crime, business agreements and social relationships. It is also the term used for people who work in this system. Lawyers are usually trained in a university or college and are governed by professional bodies. Modern lawyers achieve distinct professional identity through specified legal procedures (such as successfully passing a bar exam), and are constituted in office through legal forms of appointment (being admitted to the bar).
The study of law is a rich source of scholarly inquiry and draws from such diverse disciplines as philosophy, history, sociology, economics and political science. It raises complex issues concerning justice, fairness and equality that can challenge the assumptions of a society and its governing institutions.
The purpose of law is to promote the health and well-being of a society by protecting individual rights and ensuring that a community is well-ordered. It does this by regulating the behaviour of individuals and organisations, with punishments for breaking the law, and enshrining specific rights and responsibilities in contracts, legislation and the courts. The rule of law is a principle that requires the supremacy, equality and accountability of laws, separation of powers, participation in decision-making, legal certainty and avoidance of arbitrariness. It applies to all citizens, public and private, and includes the State itself. Law is the sum of all public laws and private orders. It includes a range of activities from traditional criminal law and civil litigation to the regulation of businesses, finance, property and international relations.