Why do lawyers mention other people's cases?

I often write about cases here. I wanted to take a moment to explain why.

Courts decide cases every day. Sometimes, along with the decision, the court writes an opinion to explain a decision. It is written by a judge. In print, they fill massive tomes such as the ones displayed here.

Lawyers read and research cases because they often provide interpretations of statutes (laws passed by the legislature), regulations (rules promulgated by governmental agencies), constitutions or other court decisions. They show the evolution of the law(s) in question and often interpret them in new ways.

Because the law is always evolving -- legislatures pass statues; agencies enact regulations; courts issues decisions -- lawyers must stay on top of new cases in order to always fully understand the current state of the law.

Non-lawyers may find cases helpful to understanding how the law(s) operate. They may find an analogous situation to the one they are facing. And lastly, it may give them insight and a greater appreciation of the breadth of the law, its complexity, and how judges come to make their decisions.

Hope you enjoy reading them. Contact me for a consultation on your workplace question.