The law was created with the purpose of observing social agreements and preserving peace and security in the state. The Riigikogu has established norms in legal acts, the observance of which must benefit people. They also specify the consequences in case of their violation.

Law is a means of social control, by which the State establishes a clear framework for the members of society, controls the absolute freedom of the people and provides the people with the necessary assistance from the State. Law creates not only binding prohibitions, but also justifications for people to behave in a certain way (lawful behavior). Law operates in a social environment, evolving and changing and adapting to the circumstances of society in such a way that the legal solution is always just.

Law as a phenomenon is characterized by a number of factors:

• Law is a set of norms of conduct of a general nature. Law formally encompasses all individuals who are under the influence of law. Norms of conduct are provided for all.
• The system of legal norms is based on clear principles. The legal norms are systematically organized into sections of law and legal acts.
• The Riigikogu, Government, or Minister shall be the publisher of legal norms.
• The state shall enforce the law, if necessary under state compulsion. If a legal norm is not enforced by the state, it is not a legal norm, but for example a moral norm.
• Society develops, and along with this the necessity of legal regulation of various relations increases. Law and adherence to it are the most important preconditions for a civilized society and a developing economic environment.

How is law enforced?
Since law refers to general rules of conduct, this means that the legal norm is provided for all people.

The state must create effective norms so that people comply with them. On the one hand, this means that the fulfillment of legal norms must be ensured by appropriate coercion. People must know that complying with the norms is more beneficial to them than misconduct. On the other hand, legal norms must conform to the general logic of life.

A legal norm establishes a reasonable framework defined for the behavior of the person falling under its influence, in that it defines the rights and duties of each person. If the corresponding obligations are not fulfilled or violated, the violator is subject to coercion or sanctions. In this way the state guarantees the fulfillment of the agreement contained in the legal norm.

However, state coercion and sanctions are not a goal in themselves – their goal is to influence people to behave lawfully, accordingly, they fulfil their task best when they do not have to be applied.