The law touches all our lives. It is at the heart of every society, protecting rights, imposing duties, and establishing a framework for the conduct of almost all social, political, and economic activity. This Very Short Introduction outlines the major branches of the law, describing the role of lawyers and how courts operate, and considers the law's pursuit of justice, freedom, and equality. In this new edition, the author considers a number of social and political events that have had an impact on the law, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the growth of social media and surveillance, and the increasing threats to the rule of law--back cover.