Humans are not individual creatures by nature. No matter how greatly one describes themselves to be an ‘individual’, there is not an actual way for a human to live their whole life without being in contact or dependent on another human being (remember your parents?). For that reason, humans are deemed as social creatures. Humans create and preserve relationships, letting them grow, hoping for them to bloom into something beautiful.
However, how do they ensure that each and every human is able to create this picture-perfect relationship with someone else? While some people are alike in beliefs and opinions, several differ. How are they able to coexist in peace?
The answer is law.
In order to live peacefully and safely, without bearing harm to one another, humans conform to the morals accepted by the majority. Metaphorically speaking, human interaction is like a highway, we are the cars on the lanes, and the lines separating the lanes are the laws that keep us on track. Without law, without the lines, other cars can simply swerve unto our lanes without a care, leading to damage and destruction.
Law is an important system in our lives, a vital structure that regulates our doings in order to prevent the infliction of abuse among others.
Unfortunately in Indonesia, law is still considered weak. As law should be fair and equal to all Indonesian citizens, no matter what their status is; as stated in the fifth principle of the Pancasila, ‘Social Justice for all Indonesian People’; a fair trial with effective judges in Indonesia is still tricky and tough to come across.
In Indonesia, justice rests in the hands of judges handling the case and no one else. The problem is that the majority of judges are still heavily-centered on wealth, power and discrimination. It is no secret amongst the Indonesians that the more wealth and power one has, the easier it is to persuade the judges. Additionally when dealing with a different ethnicity, where the defendant is one of their own, the judge’s integrity in handling the case may be questionable.
Therefore, by taking a major in law, I will be able to defend justice and ensure fair treatment towards the discriminated. To make a stand for the oppressed by presenting genuine evidence and facts that beyond reasonable doubt, I will free them from injustice.
In other words, my main motivation to take law is to help other people. Law brings a big impact towards everyone so why not make it a positive one?
There is no shortage of careers by taking a law major. In fact, those who seek a career in litigation or corporate law are able to delve into a diversity of practice areas. With a major in law, I would be able to acquire the knowledge and experience needed to analyze cases, research legal issues and come up with solutions to legal situations. It will also help to perfect my written and verbal arguments which I will need, considering the fact that I want to make a career in criminal law.
In spite of this, some people might say that taking a psychology major might be better than taking law, as being a psychologist also helps other people. However while psychology helps people overcome their mental health disorders, lawyers help other people receive the justice that they deserve. As one can see, these are two different majors that are not comparable. While one is satisfied after curing another, the other is satisfied after bestowing righteousness upon the wronged.
To conclude, the reason why I will choose law as my major is because other than having a diversity of careers, I am able to help others and also preserve justice equality in Indonesia.