Legal theory is essential for understanding the law and its role in society. It provides a framework for analyzing and evaluating the law, its institutions, and its practices. By studying legal theory, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of the complex relationships between law, morality, politics, and society. This understanding is critical for several reasons:
To the uninitiated, the phrase "legal theory" might sound like an abstract, academic luxury—useless for a practicing lawyer or a citizen trying to avoid a fine. However, legal theory is the engine room of the legal system. It provides the vocabulary and logic that judges use to decide hard cases, that legislators use to draft just laws, and that revolutionaries use to justify civil disobedience. what is legal theory in jurisprudence
Modern theorists are moving towards a "hybrid" view. Scott Shapiro’s Planning Theory of Law argues that law is a social planning tool. This tries to bridge the gap between the abstract commands of Positivism and the moral weight of Natural Law. Legal theory is essential for understanding the law