ABOUT LAW

Be Informed About Law

Legal Information and Facts

It is always a good idea to be informed about the laws that govern your daily life. It is especially important to be informed about laws and the legal field in the United States if you are having legal issues or problems with the law that may warrant the need of an attorney’s help.

There are many different reasons that people need attorneys. Some people need the services of an attorney on an ongoing basis to help them with legal matters pertaining to their businesses, personal situations, or other aspects of life, whereas other people will only need an attorney once or a few times for particular but not typical situations.

It can be difficult to find an attorney unless you are informed about the laws that pertain to the particular area of law that governs your particular legal issues and needs. While there are some attorneys who advertise themselves as general practice attorneys, the majority of attorneys have one or a few specific practice areas that they focus their work on. When you are looking for an attorney, it is also important to be informed about the different practice areas that are most closely aligned with your needs. Keep in mind that many different practice areas have areas of specialties and these specialty areas often have even more specific specialty areas.

When you know about law and attorneys, it can help you to make more informed decisions about your own legal needs.

Types of Law

Laws in the United States are made at the federal and state level. Federal laws are enforced by federal courts and state courts enforce state laws.

A statute is a written law passed by a legislative body. It is a formal written enactment of a legislative authority that governs a city, state or country. Typically, statutes prohibit something, declare a policy, or demand something.

The Constitution of the United States gives Congress the power to enact federal statutes (which are also referred to as, laws.). Powers that are not given to Congress are reserved to individual states. States legislatures can pass laws that pertain only to that state as well as ones that they share jurisdiction with Congress. The process for making a state law is similar to the federal process.

Courts

Courts enforce and interpret federal and state laws. They can also change unconstitutional laws as well as create laws.

There are many different kinds of courts in the United States.

Both federal and state courts have trial courts and appellate courts. Cases are tried in trial courts with a judge, with or without a jury. The decisions of trial courts are reviewed in appellate courts. The federal court system is divided into 13 circuits with one appellate court each. Federal courts preside over federal statutes and matters of the federal government, as well as when parties involved in a case are from different states.