BUSINESS LAW
I’m working as a paralegal at Holmes & Watson LLP, which deals with the start-up of new
companies by providing them with guidance on key legislation and legal system which are
required to be known. I have been asked by Sherwood Café to produce a hand book which
provides the support, guidance, advice and audits from existing businesses, on the legal grounds.
TASK 1
Introduction
Sherwood Café
Holmes and Watson LLP was approached by Nicola Sherwood for advice on the rules and
regulations to follow when establishing a café on 97 3rd Ave, St. Huntington St., California
93065.
Holmes & Watson LLP
Holmes & Watson LLP is an American law firm, first established in 1945 by Jonathan Holmes
and Christopher Watson. Holmes presently employs around 2,500 attorneys in US, Europe and
Asia. It is headquartered in Montebello, California, USA. When Holmes & Watson was first
1
, founded, the firm employed only three attorneys. The company grew considerably in the 1970s,
and is now one of the most recognized law firms in the world.
Legal System
The legal system constitutes of procedures, rules, and institutions through which both, public and
private initiatives or endeavors can be carried out through legal means. The three most major
systems of the world include civil law, religious law, and common law. Other legal systems
include the jury system, tax system and the electoral system.
A jurisdiction’s basis for applying law involves a constitution, be it written or oral, primary
statutes, laws and legislations authorized by an official legislative body, a legislation-approved
primary body which enacts bylaws or subsidiary laws, traditional practices being upheld by
courts and lastly, Roman, common, civil or other codes of law used as sources for practices or
principles such as these. (Alvendia, 2019)
Legal System of USA
The legal system of the US is centered on federal law, augmented by laws passed by state
legislatures, and local laws enacted by cities and counties. Many of the freedoms and rights that
Americans enjoy are written in the first ten amendments of the US Constitution, more commonly
referred to as the Bill of Rights.
The US Constitution as well as the American law apply to all people in the US, regardless of
their immigration status or citizenship – illegal immigrants also have some of the most basic
rights as citizens of the US. Each state, under the Constitution, has the right to establish their
own system of civil and criminal laws, which has resulted in different legal systems in all 50
states of the US, each having their own laws, police agencies, prisons and city and county courts.
As a result, there is an immense disparity in the local and state laws. (Hampshire, 2019)
Purpose of Law
In a place like the United States, the law apprises everyday life in a vast number of ways, which
is reflected in various branches of law. For example, property law defines a person’s right and
duty to their tangible property (buildings, land), intangible property (bank accounts) and their
possessions (clothes, vehicles). Tort law, as a result, provides compensation for damage to
2
I’m working as a paralegal at Holmes & Watson LLP, which deals with the start-up of new
companies by providing them with guidance on key legislation and legal system which are
required to be known. I have been asked by Sherwood Café to produce a hand book which
provides the support, guidance, advice and audits from existing businesses, on the legal grounds.
TASK 1
Introduction
Sherwood Café
Holmes and Watson LLP was approached by Nicola Sherwood for advice on the rules and
regulations to follow when establishing a café on 97 3rd Ave, St. Huntington St., California
93065.
Holmes & Watson LLP
Holmes & Watson LLP is an American law firm, first established in 1945 by Jonathan Holmes
and Christopher Watson. Holmes presently employs around 2,500 attorneys in US, Europe and
Asia. It is headquartered in Montebello, California, USA. When Holmes & Watson was first
1
, founded, the firm employed only three attorneys. The company grew considerably in the 1970s,
and is now one of the most recognized law firms in the world.
Legal System
The legal system constitutes of procedures, rules, and institutions through which both, public and
private initiatives or endeavors can be carried out through legal means. The three most major
systems of the world include civil law, religious law, and common law. Other legal systems
include the jury system, tax system and the electoral system.
A jurisdiction’s basis for applying law involves a constitution, be it written or oral, primary
statutes, laws and legislations authorized by an official legislative body, a legislation-approved
primary body which enacts bylaws or subsidiary laws, traditional practices being upheld by
courts and lastly, Roman, common, civil or other codes of law used as sources for practices or
principles such as these. (Alvendia, 2019)
Legal System of USA
The legal system of the US is centered on federal law, augmented by laws passed by state
legislatures, and local laws enacted by cities and counties. Many of the freedoms and rights that
Americans enjoy are written in the first ten amendments of the US Constitution, more commonly
referred to as the Bill of Rights.
The US Constitution as well as the American law apply to all people in the US, regardless of
their immigration status or citizenship – illegal immigrants also have some of the most basic
rights as citizens of the US. Each state, under the Constitution, has the right to establish their
own system of civil and criminal laws, which has resulted in different legal systems in all 50
states of the US, each having their own laws, police agencies, prisons and city and county courts.
As a result, there is an immense disparity in the local and state laws. (Hampshire, 2019)
Purpose of Law
In a place like the United States, the law apprises everyday life in a vast number of ways, which
is reflected in various branches of law. For example, property law defines a person’s right and
duty to their tangible property (buildings, land), intangible property (bank accounts) and their
possessions (clothes, vehicles). Tort law, as a result, provides compensation for damage to
2
