When a person is injured, tort law will govern whether that person may be compensated for the injury, the amount of compensation that may be recovered, as well as which parties will be liable for the injury. Tort law, also known as injury law, comes from federal and state codes, as well as judicial opinions from prior cases.

Employment law governs the relationship between workers and their employers. This law, contained in federal and state statutes, administrative regulations, and judicial decisions, specifies the rights and restrictions applicable to each party in the workplace. Employment law differs from labor law, which primarily deals with the relationship between employers and labor organizations.