What to study law for

THE most obvious reason is to engage in the practice of law as a profession: to represent the interests of litigants and aid in the vindication of rights and the resolution of disputes. That, of course, is a necessary service to society.

In fact, the existence of a system of remedies — remedial law — by which violations of the law are sanctioned and the claim to rights is pursued transforms what would otherwise be merely a set of precepts or rules into a legal system. Because such a service is impressed with a public character and the rights of persons are too important to trifle with, the law requires that those who wish to join the ranks of the profession ought to pass what has characteristically been a very tough screening examination — the Bar (which is actually a contrivance in courtrooms that separates mere spectators from the privileged class of attorneys, court personnel and the judge).