Why is there not one right answer to a legal problem?

Answer 1

In some cases there is a single answer but in many cases there is not. Generally legal questions cover several different areas of law and the answer to the question may be influenced by more that one area depending on the issue. In that case a series of issues need to be addressed before one can arrive at an answer. That is why prospective lawyers do not learn the law in law school, it is too broad a topic. They learn how to research the lawas necessary. People who think there is a single answer to a legal question are often dismayed when they find the answer may be much more complicated.

Answer 2

That's not a correct statement.

In many, many cases there is one right answer to a legal question. The confusion sometimes lies in people offering opinions, anecdotes that don't contain the facts repeated by people who didn't understand the legal issues, and inaccurate legal advice as answers to legal questions. The discerning reader should learn to separate that type of answer from a direct, simple answer that may also cite a source. The reader should also research the background of the person who provided the "legal" answer. Do they have a history of answering legal questions and how reliable do those other answers present themselves.

Many legal problems are in grey areas that cross over into different areas of law. In that case the attorney or party with the most compelling, well prepared and well researched argument will prevail in court.

Many legal issues are addressed differently in different jurisdictions, by case law and statutory law, so there can be no one right answer in that case unless the question mentions the jurisdiction. General information about that legal issue can be helpful and allow the questioner to better understand the issue and search for more information in their own jurisdiction.

Some legal questions are simply too complex to answer in this forum.

Answer 3

Legal problems often involve complicated facts, interpretations of laws, and competing interests, making it impossible to have a definitive answer that applies universally. The law is dynamic and subject to interpretation, so different perspectives and legal arguments may lead to different conclusions. Additionally, the context in which a legal issue arises can influence the outcome, resulting in varying solutions to the same problem.