Areas of law

Eight areas. Every stage.

Each area covers the full journey — from understanding your statutory rights to enforcing a judgment. Employment covers unfair dismissal, redundancy pay, discrimination, and zero-hours contracts. Housing covers tenancy agreements, deposits, and eviction notices. Consumer covers faulty goods, online purchases, and the 30-day right to reject. Debt covers county court claims, limitation periods, and enforcement. Pick an area to see guides, recent news, and key legislation published on legislation.gov.uk. Workplace matters also involve ACAS; data and privacy rights fall under the ICO; and human rights issues may engage rights protected by the European Convention on Human Rights.

01 5 guides

Housing and tenancy

Leases, deposits, repairs, eviction, neighbours.

Your rights as a tenant — and a landlord's obligations — are set by statute. A contract can add detail but cannot take away what the law gives you.

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02 7 guides

Work and employment

Contracts, pay, dismissal, leave, safety.

Employment law sets a floor of rights that every employer must meet. Your contract can improve on these rights but cannot reduce them below the statutory minimum.

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03 4 guides

Family

Marriage, divorce, children, maintenance.

Family law covers some of the most significant decisions a person faces. Courts prioritise the welfare of children above all else.

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04 5 guides

Consumer and purchases

Faulty goods, refunds, warranties, online orders.

When you buy goods or services from a trader, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives you strong statutory protections that cannot be contracted away.

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05 3 guides

Business and contracts

Starting a company, agreements, unpaid invoices.

Contract law and company law underpin every business transaction. Understanding the basics protects you whether you are supplying or being supplied.

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06 6 guides

Money and debt

Loans, guarantees, collection, insolvency.

Debt law balances a creditor's right to be paid with protections that prevent aggressive or unlawful collection. If you owe money, you have rights too.

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07 2 guides

Traffic and vehicles

Fines, accidents, insurance, licences.

Road traffic law is enforced through a combination of criminal penalties, civil liability, and regulatory licensing. Most matters have strict time limits.

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08 3 guides

Property and inheritance

Buying land, registration, wills, succession.

Property transactions and inheritance involve some of the largest sums most people ever handle. Mistakes are expensive and often irreversible.

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FAQ

Common questions

What areas of law does LawTheGuide cover?
LawTheGuide covers eight areas of everyday law for England and Wales: work and employment, housing and renting, consumer rights, family and divorce, debt and money claims, crime and police, immigration, and property purchase. Each area links to the relevant primary legislation on legislation.gov.uk and official guidance from GOV.UK.
What are my rights if I face discrimination at work?
The Equality Act 2010 protects you from discrimination because of nine protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. Discrimination can be direct (treating you worse because of a characteristic), indirect (a rule that disadvantages people with a characteristic), harassment, or victimisation. Employment Tribunal claims must be started within three months of the act complained of — begin with ACAS Early Conciliation. The Equality and Human Rights Commission publishes detailed guidance on each characteristic.
What does a tenancy agreement need to include?
A tenancy agreement (lease) is a legally binding contract and should clearly state: the names of landlord and tenant; the property address; the rent amount and payment date; the deposit amount and which government-approved protection scheme holds it; the length of the tenancy; notice periods for both sides; and the landlord's repair obligations under s.11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. Any clause that tries to reduce statutory rights — such as making the tenant responsible for structural repairs — is void. The GOV.UK tenancy agreement guide covers mandatory terms in more detail.
What are the consumer rights regulations for online purchases?
When you buy goods online, you have two separate sets of rights: (1) your statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 — goods must be satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described; and (2) a 14-day right to cancel and return under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, regardless of whether there is a fault. You must be clearly told about the cancellation right before purchase. If not, the cancellation window extends to twelve months. Citizens Advice has a clear guide to returning online purchases.
What is the difference between a civil and a criminal case?
A criminal case is brought by the state (the Crown Prosecution Service) against a person accused of a criminal offence. The standard of proof is beyond reasonable doubt, and the result can be a fine, community order, or imprisonment. A civil case is a dispute between private parties — individuals, companies, or organisations — over rights and obligations. The standard of proof is the balance of probabilities, and the typical remedy is damages (money) or an injunction. Most of the guides on LawTheGuide cover civil law. The Crown Prosecution Service handles criminal prosecutions; civil claims go through HMCTS civil courts.
Are the guides specific to England and Wales?
Yes. All guides currently cover England and Wales law only. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate legal systems — for Scottish law, mygov.scot provides official guidance, and nidirect.gov.uk covers Northern Ireland. Every LawTheGuide page states the jurisdiction at the top.
Where can I find a free legal adviser?
Citizens Advice provides free guidance on most everyday legal topics. For a qualified solicitor, the Law Society's Find a Solicitor tool is the official register for England and Wales. The GOV.UK legal adviser finder lists organisations offering free or low-cost legal help.