What do legal realists emphasize regarding the law?

Legal realists emphasize the importance of outcomes in the application of law. They argue that law should be understood not only through the lens of statutes, regulations, and legal texts, but also through the practical implications and effects of legal decisions on real-world situations. This perspective highlights how the law operates in practice, acknowledging that legal rulings often lead to specific outcomes that can materially affect individuals and communities.

This approach contrasts with more formalistic views that may focus on the clarity or rigidity of legal texts or principles. Legal realists believe that understanding the law requires examining how it interacts with social forces and the circumstances surrounding cases, which plays a critical role in legal reasoning. Therefore, their focus on outcomes underscores the belief that the law is not static but is instead shaped by human behaviors, societal needs, and the practical consequences of legal interpretations.