The Encyclopedia of Law
Law is a system of rules enforced by a controlling authority that regulates the actions of members of a community. It has been described as both a science and an art.
The concept of law is multifaceted and covers a wide range of topics, from criminal and civil procedure to international treaties and corporate governance. The precise definition of law is the subject of ongoing debate. Some scholars and commentators use the term to refer to the body of law pertaining to specific countries or communities, while others distinguish between different types of legal systems.
Legal writers are typically expected to be knowledgeable about the legal system and the laws that govern it, but they should also have the ability to write clearly and concisely. Legal articles require the use of specific terminology and should include footnotes, charts, and other visual aids where appropriate. The writing style used in legal articles is more formal than that in most other types of writing, with an emphasis on clarity and accuracy.
A legal article usually begins with an introduction that lays the groundwork for the discussion that follows. This may involve definition of terms, an overview of previous and current law, a description of the issues at hand, etc. The introductory stage is an essential part of the article as it helps readers gain an understanding of the topic.
The analysis of the topic then follows. This stage involves discussing the relevant principles of law in detail and evaluating their practicality. It should also incorporate any statistics that the writer has gathered for the purposes of this article. This is particularly important in law, where citing sources is critical for legitimacy.
Some of the most popular topics for legal articles are constitutional law, criminal justice, torts, family law, and labor law. Other articles examine the relationship between the law and other social structures, such as censorship; crime and punishment; political parties; and war.
An encyclopedia entry on law is generally organized alphabetically, although some have more than one section. The most comprehensive entries are those that address the entire legal system, which includes the judicial branch, legislative branch, executive branch, and the military. These encyclopedia entries describe the organization of each branch and explain its function as well as the procedures of a particular court, such as en banc vs. plenary session. Other useful articles in a encyclopedia of law cover individual aspects of the legal system, such as case law, discovery, and trial procedures. They also offer background information on the profession and education of lawyers. A few articles on the philosophy of law are also available. These discuss how the law is interpreted and what constitutes a right. They also cover the relationship between the law and other social sciences, such as psychology and sociology.