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Law is a fascinating subject. It is useful in its own right - as a subject to keep your mind ticking over - or more usually it will be studied as an A level subject because a student is perhaps planning a career in law and wants to see what it is like.
Law affects all of us - from cradle to grave! When we are born our parents are required to register our birth otherwise they will be in trouble. Law affects our education. There are Acts of Parliament in force which set out the national curriculum which has to be abided by in schools and even for home tuition. When we work, the latest Employment Acts affect us as they set out our duties to or employer and also our employer's duties towards us and the rights we have. If we get married, or enter into a civil partnership, the law sets out requirements as to the ceremonies. We may then buy a house and enter the realms of property law. If we have children ourselves then once again relevant Acts come into force.
When we retire our pension income is set out by law. We may wish to make a will to ensure that our affairs are tied up for our loved ones if we become ill or when we die. If we do not make a will the law sets out what happens to our property and money when we die. If we do not leave any relatives our estate goes to the Crown. And during our lifetimes the law keeps us in order. If we commit an offence, laid down by law we can be prosecuted, come before the courts and even go to prison. If we injure someone else accidentally, we may be sued for negligence and if we owe money we can be sued in the civil courts.
What do we mean by law? Well, it is a body of rules laid down both by Parliament which passes Acts of Parliament or statutes. But also judges interpret the law in courts by looking at similar cases to the one they are considering before them. This is called judicial precedent. So statutes and judicial precedents are known as primary sources of law.
