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Law and Values

Laws generally reflect and promote a society’s values. Our legal system is influenced by our society’s traditional ideas of right and wrong. For example, laws against murder reflect the moral belief that killing another person is wrong. However, not everything that is immoral is also illegal. For example, lying to a friend may be immoral but is usually not illegal. We expect our legal system to achieve many goals. These include:

• protecting basic human rights,

• promoting fairness,

• helping resolve conflicts,

• promoting order and stability,

• promoting desirable social and economic behaviour,

• representing the will of the majority, and

• protecting the rights of minorities.

Many of society’s most difficult problems involve conflicts among these goals. For example, some laws give preference to minorities. Critics of these laws argue that they promote reverse discrimination and racial conflict. Proponents of such laws, however, argue that they make up for past discrimination and promote fairness by leveling an uneven playing field in society today. Achieving the goals just listed while trying to minimize conflict is a difficult task for our legal system.

Laws must balance rights with responsibilities, the will of the majority with the rights of the minority, and the need for order with the need for basic human rights. Reasonable people sometimes disagree over how the law can protect the rights of some without violating the rights of others. However, everyone must remember that laws are intended to protect people and resolve conflicts in everyday life.

Adapted from Street Law by Lee P. Arbetman

Why study Law?

Law is a subject where you can develop a range of skills and explore many aspects of human life. Studying Law as an undergraduate gives you the chance to sharpen your mind, strengthen your understanding and deepen your experience across the full range of humanities and social sciences.

Law should therefore appeal to those who want to develop both abstract thinking and practical problem-solving. And it's easy to see why you don't have to become a lawyer just because you've done a Law degree; many choose not to. A Law degree can give you the skills to be a successful lawyer, but also a successful producer, politician, manager, journalist, police officer or almost any other profession that requires intellectual strength combined with a practical approach to the world.

A Law degree has a number of advantages. Law students acquire both breadth and depth of legal knowledge. They will typically have covered 14 subjects during their Law degree and can appreciate the bigger picture of how law fits together, how law relates to other subjects such as legal history, criminology and philosophy.

A Law degree gives students the possibility to learn to talk about law simply and effectively, rather than fall into the stereotypes of legal language.

Law students acquire other skills as well. For example, many participate in mooting competitions, where they can develop skills in making oral presentations. Many participate in pro bono societies where they can give legal advice and support to real people with real problems. Such skills prepare students not only for careers as lawyers but also for diverse careers in politics-related fields, such as government, international organisations, the voluntary sector, and in business.

Adapted from http: //www.trin.cam.ac.uk

Pursuing a Career in Law

If you are considering law school, you are taking the first step toward a potentially rewarding career in the legal profession. A legal education can be one of the most challenging and fulfilling. There are many potential reasons one may choose to attend law school. Learning the skills of a lawyer and then using them in practice is the most common reason.

However, some may simply be interested in the complexities of the law and want to learn more about it. Still others are motivated to enter law school to introduce change through government, interest groups, or other non-profit organizations.

Like any other profession, not all lawyers are rich and successful. However, the legal profession is generally rewarding both personally and financially. A person with a background in legal education may not only practice law, but turn to other fields such as teaching, business, and advocacy.

Lawyers must be able to examine legal issues, while keeping in mind the constantly changing law and legal system. They also must be able to advocate diverse interests. This also means advocating interests with which they may not personally agree. Lawyers must have skills to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing. At the same time, successful attorneys must have the ability to effectively persuade and negotiate.

Practicing attorneys, therefore, are intricately involved in business dealings, political negotiations, and debating some of the most difficult issues facing society. The work of an attorney often involves avoiding and negotiating past conflict. In this manner, the work of an attorney can be very interesting. You'll find lawyers at work in the center of the biggest deals in government, business, and the non-profit sector.

Adapted from http: //www.umassd.edu

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