Law relates to the rules and regulations that govern society and is also studied for its own sake (see legal studies). It encompasses both criminal law, which protects people from the consequences of wrongful actions and involves the criminal justice system, and civil law, which provides a forum for resolving noncriminal issues between individuals or entities through the courts.

In a well-ordered society, people do not always agree on how to live together, and law provides them with an agreed-upon framework for resolving these disputes. Law can resolve conflicting claims over property, for example, by settling arguments over who has the right to use a particular piece of land or who owns what object. Law can also impose restrictions on behavior to keep people safe and ensure public order, such as through traffic laws and censorship.

There are many different areas of law to explore, so students will need to select a topic that interests them. Research topics can range from the history of a particular legal system to an exploration of its impact on society.

The exact nature of law remains a subject of debate and is highly dependent on the way in which human beings understand it. For this reason, determining whether or not it comprises precepts that are of such importance cannot be based on empirical evidence. However, there are certain features that have been agreed upon by most groups who have articulated the concept of law.