<![CDATA[Law plays a strategic role in shaping social order and promoting social justice and public welfare. From the perspective of sociology of law, law is not merely understood as a set of normative rules, but also as a social instrument that regulates, directs, and controls societal behavior. This article examines the role of law in realizing social justice in the context of natural resource governance in Indonesia, where normative legal ideals often diverge from social realities. Using a normative juridical approach combined with a sociology of law perspective, this study analyzes legal norms, principles, and doctrines alongside their implementation in social practice. The analysis employs the legal system theory of Lawrence M. Friedman, which emphasizes three interrelated elements: legal substance, legal structure, and legal culture. The findings indicate that social inequality in natural resource management is not solely caused by deficiencies in legal norms, but also by weak law enforcement institutions and an underdeveloped legal culture. Consequently, law has not yet functioned effectively as an instrument of social justice and equitable welfare. This article argues that strengthening the legal system in an integrated manner is essential to ensure that law genuinely serves public interests and contributes to the realization of social justice in Indonesia.]]>
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