At law

That which pertains to or is governed by the rules of law, asdistinguished from the rules of equity; according to the rules of the commonlaw. In England, and later in the United States courts of law developed strictrules establishing the kinds of causes of action that could be maintained andthe kinds of remedies that were available. Courts of equity establisheddifferent rules and remedies, partly to mitigate the rigors of the law courts."At law" and "in equity" thus refer to two different bodies of jurisprudence.