Warning

Info

LSDefine

Simple English definitions for legal terms

jurisprudence

Read a random definition: partes soli

A quick definition of jurisprudence:

Jurisprudence is the study of law. It has different types, such as analyzing and criticizing laws, comparing laws with other fields of knowledge, revealing the historical and cultural basis of legal concepts, and finding answers to abstract questions about law. There are also different schools of jurisprudence, such as formalism and realism, and positivism and naturalism. Formalists treat law like math or science, while realists believe that judges must balance the interests of the parties and draw an arbitrary line based on their inclinations. Positivists argue that only rules enacted by government are sources of law, while naturalists insist that moral philosophy, religion, human reason, and individual conscience are also parts of the law. Other schools of legal thought include critical legal studies, feminist jurisprudence, law and economics, utilitarianism, and legal pragmatism.

A more thorough explanation:

Jurisprudence is the study, knowledge, or science of law. It is the philosophy of law that seeks to analyze, explain, classify, and criticize entire bodies of law. There are four common types of jurisprudence:

  • The first type analyzes and criticizes entire bodies of law.
  • The second type compares and contrasts law with other fields of knowledge.
  • The third type seeks to reveal the historical, moral, and cultural basis of a particular legal concept.
  • The fourth type focuses on finding the answer to abstract questions about law and how judges decide cases.

There are also different schools of jurisprudence:

  • Formalism treats law like math or science, while legal realism believes that judges must balance the interests of the parties and draw an arbitrary line on one side of the dispute.
  • Positivists argue that there is no connection between law and morality and that the only sources of law are rules that have been expressly enacted by a governmental entity or court of law. Naturalists insist that moral philosophy, religion, human reason, and individual conscience are also integral parts of the law.

Other prominent schools of legal thought include critical legal studies, feminist jurisprudence, law and economics, utilitarianism, and legal pragmatism.

For example, a formalist judge would identify the relevant legal principles, apply them to the facts of a case, and logically deduce a rule that will govern the outcome of the dispute. In contrast, a legal realist judge would balance the interests of the parties and draw an arbitrary line on one side of the dispute based on their political, economic, and psychological inclinations. A positivist would argue that the only sources of law are rules that have been expressly enacted by a governmental entity or court of law, while a naturalist would insist that moral philosophy, religion, human reason, and individual conscience are also integral parts of the law.

jurisdictional amount | jurist

General

General chat about the legal profession.
main_chatroom
👍 Chat vibe: 0 👎
Help us make LSD better!
Tell us what's important to you
Personal stuff with my ex :/. I wanted to vent to strangers on the internet lol
How’s Cornell? 4th week this week?
that sucks :(
yeah were just ending the 4th week
lots of work, but manageable
It does. Really bad, I think my boss new I was crying in my car lolllll
sorry that sucks
That’s good! You got a good routine going?
It’s ok, we ball
we ball
Yesirrrr
yeah, try to get most of the readings done on the weekends so the weeks arent as bad
hurting for free time though
Quillinit
11:52
wasp i just looked at your cycle and did you like pee in the shoes of admissions officers?
the retroactive withdrawls really hurt me
made them question my ability to stick through law school
withdrawals in undergrad?
yeah 2 years of classes
Quillinit
11:57
ah you filed retro W's from classes in UG?
Quillinit
11:58
ah okay, sorry homie that's rough
it's fine i got into one of my top choices so im really happy
Quillinit
11:58
<3 happy for you
getting into cornell is hugeee
ayyyyy
Quillinit
11:59
^^^^^ would love to get into Cornell lmao
Quillinit
11:59
or anywhere!
you got it, believeeee
LSD+ is ad-free, with DMs, discounts, case briefs & more.