Charles Laws completed his early education in Christchurch and Dunedin, followed by a Bachelor of Science at Auckland University College. He served in World War I and then began a career in education, teaching at primary schools and later becoming a lecturer in geography and natural science. Laws earned recognition for his thesis on geology, winning the Julius von Haast Prize, and eventually became a senior lecturer and acting head of geology at Auckland University College. He retired in 1959, having been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand.

Charles Laws combines a rigorous academic background with an unexpected advocacy for practical education reforms, blending his expertise in geology with a commitment to enhancing teacher training. His legislative efforts to integrate fieldwork into geography and natural science curricula reflect a unique approach to education policy. Laws's authoritative stance on geological research, underscored by his numerous publications and prestigious awards, juxtaposes with his practical educational reforms, revealing a multifaceted political identity.