Law is the set of rules that govern social institutions and governmental entities. It has variously been described as a science or an art. A group of legislators, an individual legislator, or a government executive may make a law. Judges or common-law authorities may also create legal contracts or arbitration agreements. The purpose of law is to promote justice.
Rule by general norms
Rule by general norms is an approach to social organization based on a shared set of standards and norms. These norms are the ideas and behaviors that have come to be accepted by a group, both within and outside that group. Some norms are universal, while others are specific to a group or type of situation. Regardless of the group, a set of standards must be adhered to if the group is to function as a cohesive whole.
The main problem with the rule by general norms is that it does not always apply. Some cases have too few facts to distinguish an expert’s opinion, so a judge will be forced to act within a reasonable range of reason. Statesman argued that rule by general norms should be used in such a case when it is impossible to discern expert opinion. Alternatively, legal pragmatists place greater weight on judges’ insight and analogies to ancient precedents.
Competent, ethical, and independent representatives
A society where all citizens have access to competent, ethical, independent, and impartial representatives in law is a strong democracy. This means that the government is accountable to the public and to the people for its actions. This accountability ensures that laws are clear, publicized, and applied equally to everyone, protecting fundamental rights and freedoms. It also means that the process of making and enforcing laws is fair, accessible, and transparent. A country with a strong rule of law is characterized by competent, ethical, and independent representatives who reflect the diversity of the community.
As a lawyer, you have a responsibility to provide competent, ethical, and independent representation to your clients. This requires legal knowledge, thoroughness, and preparation. You also have a duty to obtain informed consent from your clients.
Independent neutrals
Independent neutrals in law provide independent evaluations of legal matters. They are attorneys who present materials for assessment and share the results of their assessment with both parties. Unlike arbitrators, these lawyers do not decide the merits of a case. They are experienced attorneys with knowledge and experience of the relevant law.
Independent neutrals in law are often highly specialized in their field. At WIPO, there is a growing pool of independent neutrals from over 90 jurisdictions. The diversity of their expertise reflects the global nature of many WIPO disputes.
Generality
Generality of law is a feature of law that promotes equality before the law and gives a sense of permanence to the law. Because it is not specific to a particular person, a general law can apply to millions of individuals. It is important to note, however, that generality does not guarantee justice.
The degree of generality of a law depends on its scope. Generally, a law must protect all members of a political community. This is called its expressive meaning. The aim of general law is to protect equality among the members of the political community. In Gowder’s paper, the expressive meaning of a law is analyzed and shown to be crucial for the protection of equality under the rule of law. This paper also draws on the notion of public reason to understand the role of law in protecting equality.
Accessibility
The UK’s Accessibility law sets minimum standards for broadcasting content. It requires all public sector websites to be accessible to people with disabilities within 12 months of their launch. It also requires websites to display an accessibility symbol. Although it does not mention W3C’s WCAG, the law does contain many other useful guidelines.
The law applies to all public sector organisations, including charities, non-governmental organisations and local governments. It also applies to intranet and extranet websites and mobile applications. Organizations that fail to comply with the law can face lawsuits and damage to their brand’s reputation.