Commercial law is the primary business of much of general civil practice.
It is concerned with the rules and practices governing commercial transactions, both domestic and international, as well as the resolution of commercial disputes, whether by means of litigation or alternative methods such as commercial arbitration. Some commercial law should be included in the program of most law students, because most lawyers, even those not currently planning on practicing in the commercial area, find themselves at one time or another involved in commercial matters. For example, in the context of white collar crime, criminal fraud, and money laundering, both prosecutors and defense lawyers are often called upon to understand commercial law principles. Moreover, every lawyer who wins money damages has the job of collecting the judgment, and collection efforts often involve the use of various security devices and negotiable instruments governed by commercial law, as well as the threat of bankruptcy. Furthermore, many young lawyers, regardless of their specific interest in the law, occasionally find themselves doing commercial work as they settle into their practice fields.