What is the purpose of law?

At the beginning of the new millennium, I hosted a weekly conference call for lawyers across the country. Each week was different - we sometimes had speakers and sometimes just talked and shared. The conversations were rich and the regulars developed close relationships. As I just posted the article-excerpt about my life purpose, I reflected on a recurring conversation:

What is the purpose of law?

This is a foundational question and we don't have an answer that we all agree upon. Do we need to agree? Are there multiple answers or one purpose for everyone to adopt?

I remember that I liked the proposed answer from Donna Boris: The Purpose of Law: To Design and Heal Relationships.

Others have talked about peacemaking, truth-telling, justice. The tag line on this website poses a question of purpose: What if lawyers were peacemakers, problem-solvers and healers of conflicts?

What do you think? What is the purpose of law and how does it affect what we do?