National law refers to laws that govern a nation or state. A nation may create a constitution that sets out the checks and balances and limitations on its government or it may have a legal system that establishes its constitutional principles through judge-enforced laws and precedents. In addition to its own laws, a nation may adopt and integrate international laws into its own law through treaties and conventions. A nation may also incorporate international law through its courts, such as when a court interprets an international convention as a national law or when a court deems a national law to have been violated and void.

In addition, a nation’s courts may look at international human rights norms when deciding how to interpret its own law or in determining whether there has been a violation of a person’s human rights. A person’s right to equality before the law is a cornerstone of many constitutions and national legal systems.

The National Law Review was established in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1888 by publishers and book sellers Kay & Brothers who originally specialized in publishing analysis of Pennsylvania legal developments authored by practicing attorneys. Today, the National Law Review publishes articles about legal news and developments from around the United States. It specializes in business law and litigation news, including bankruptcy, securities, corporate governance, mergers & acquisitions, tax law and intellectual property law such as patent, trademark, copyright law and trade secret law.