The Impact of Law and Its Complexity - Personal Statement Example

Admission Essay By + Introduction Everything we do in our daily lives is guided by a set of rules and regulations that govern our basic existence. For a long time, I wondered why the world seemed to operate rythmically. I was curious to know why the world seemed to be at ease. I then realized that all this was possible because of the law. It was the law that maintained social order; it was the law that ensured everything was in place (Bogart, 2001). In my quest to try and define the law I was faced with numerous definitions and each seemed to be harder and more complex than the previous. As a result, I developed a burning curiosity to try and define law. I wanted to know how the law works, who is in charge of the law. Discourse Growing up, I used to see policemen on patrol around the town. To me, they were not an embodiment of the law but the law itself. To my young self, policemen were the final say when it came to matters of the law. What I understood from that early age was that the police had to be respected; the law had to be respected. Over time, I have learnt enough about the law to know that the police are agents of the legal system. However, the fact that has not changed is that the law has to be respected. The law was supreme. Having completed Plymouth in 2009 I have taken some time to travel the world and interact with various people. A key point in my life was when I volunteered at the Salvation Army and I managed to get the opportunity to deal with inmates straight from prison. I managed to get an insight into their minds and what influenced their decisions. What was pre dominant was the role of the law in all aspects of their lives. Coupled with my passion of sports, these experiences have taught me a lot in terms of team work and dealing with people from all quarters of life. One thing that has often been of concern to me was the question of who the law really protected. It is indeed true that the law maintains law and order in the society, but this is a shallow definition and does not really offer any explanation. Initially, it seemed obvious to me that the law was for the well-being of the citizens; for you and me. I looked at the circumstances around me and noticed that law breakers were usually apprehended, taken to the police stations before being taken to the courts. My first impression was that an individual is guilty as soon as he is arrested. Then I slowly learnt that this was not the way the system works. There was a procedure; a process to be followed when a suspected criminal was arrested. I came to learn that any individual is innocent until there is enough evidence to sentence him. The law was not only there to protect the free in the society but also the underprivileged people in the society (Bogart, 2001). Within the law, everybody has certain rights and regulations and this has to be protected whether the person is in jail or free. This feature of the law really intrigued me and I began to wonder what it would be like to be an agent of the law. I realized that the judicial system has a major role in the society without which very many vulnerable people could be exploited. As time went by, it went from being just a thought but developed into a deep desire to join the legal system. To serve the very people who the law was meant to protect. The law was a reality and for it to work correctly it required a dedicated team of individuals who had the passion required. To be a servant of the law became a duty to me. Over time, the nature of the law has changed. The world has come a long way from the old days and there is the need for new or improved laws to cater for the changing world. This has resulted in what can only be referred to as controversial laws that have become the subject of debate in various quarters of the world. Examples of controversial laws are laws regarding use of drugs and laws in regard to homosexuality (Bogart, 2001). For a long time, the use of drugs was prohibited all across the globe. This was due to the severe health and social effects of using the drugs. However, over time, there has been a raging debate on the use of drugs such as marijuana for medicinal purposes. In my opinion, this debate can be seen from many perspectives. In one instance, people have the power of autonomy and d as such citizens have the rights to do whatever they wish. On the other hand, it is the duty of the government to protect its citizens from dangers from all quarters. Hence the prohibitive state laws. This therefore raises the question that if drugs have been proven to be dangerous is it right to allow their use by the sick in the society. Is this not an instance where the country was endangering the lives of its people? The medical field has evolved and there are treatments for most of the common ailments that afflict the population. There can therefore be no excuse for allowing the use of drugs, whether for personal recreation or for medicinal use. In my opinion, the use of drugs is a dangerous habit that should not be tolerated in any way. There is clear evidence in our societies that drugs ruin the lives of many, from the classmate who ran away from school to the shopkeeper who is currently in a mental facility. Drugs should not be tolerated in the society in whichever circumstances. They should be totally banned so as to protect our children. The total absence of drugs can make the world a much better place. As earlier stated, homosexuality is another issue that has been the subject of many debates. In my opinion, sexuality is a private matter. It would not be correct for me to judge what is right and what is wrong. It is at such a time that we might begin to question the law, but it is the duty of the law to protect all individuals. Despite our various views on the matter we have to respect what the law has to say in regards to the matter. Considering that the law sets the regulations to be used in any given society, I have noted that there is a sharp contrast in the laws around the world (Bogart, 2001). What is right and acceptable in one society can be a crime punishable by a jail term in another country. This amazes me as it shows how the law is a complex tenet that needs to be carefully studied and comprehended. In most parts of the world, it is a common site to see women driving cars. To us, that is not an issue that can be tabled for debate. However, in certain Arab countries, it is against the law for women to drive cars. This seems absurd when looked at from a foreigners’ view and it can be seen as a sign of traditionalism within these people. The only problem is that most Arab towns are fairly modern and this argument does not hold firm. In China, there is a law that restricts the number of children that a couple might have. According to the law there, each couple can have only one child. This is because; the country has a population of over 4 billion and the authorities are trying to curb this population growth. As a result, abortions of female children are rampant in the country given that most couples prefer male children to female children. Some of this information might be shocking to a foreigner but over time I have come to the conclusion that when analyzing the law, it should be considered with an open mind. People around the world have different cultures and norms that have an effect on the type of laws that govern their everyday existence. It is this unifying aspect of the law that has intrigued me and made me want to join the judicial process, to be part of this body that serves the people. Admission to your university will mark a major step in my journey of pursuing the noble profession. Bibliography BOGART, W. A. (2001). Consequences: the impact of law and its complexity. Toronto, University of Toronto Press. Read More