Admiralty law, also referred to as maritime law, is the body of private, international law and legal theory that governs maritime questions and offenses. This specifically refers to the relationships between private entities which operate vessels on the ocean. In this sense, it is distinguished from the "Law of the Sea," which is a body of public international law governing navigational rights, mineral rights, jurisdiction over coastal waters and international law governing relationships between nations.

This area of law also frequently deals with The Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA), which provides for compensation and medical care to employees disabled from injuries that occur on the navigable waters of the United States, or in adjoining areas used in loading, unloading, repairing, or building a vessel.