Such knowledge may deter some youth from fighting to settle differences, and may give youth who are victimized more confidence to report acts of violence. These, then, are some practical reasons for knowing more about what an assault in law is. The law also follows a particular process when deciding cases and this process can help students learn another way of thinking about problems. The first task is to find out the relevant facts. Certain issues emerge from the facts, but these must be framed as legal issues.
Legal issues are often narrower than social issues.
While people continue to debate social issues such as whether or not violence can be deterred by stiffer punishment of offenders, or moral issues such as whether or not it is right to resort to violence to save one's property, the law confines itself to an examination of legal issues such as whether both parties to the fight consented to using physical force and if this consent was valid in the circumstances. The identification of legal issues is often difficult. A decision about the legal issues is reached and the decision must be supported by giving reasons. If no reasons were given, the law could not continue to develop through cases. The reasons given by judges help people interpret the meaning of legislation, as well as the context for reaching the decision.