The independent MP who quit Labour and won a shock victory in Blaenau Gwent subsequently lost his battle with cancer.
Born in Abergavenny, Law was a grocer by trade and entered politics at the age of 22 as a Labour councillor in Blaenau Gwent, eventually becoming the authority's leader.
He was elected to the newly created National Assembly in 1999 and served as environment and local government minister under Alun Michael before being sacked the following year by Rhodri Morgan.
Law became a prominent critic of his own party's administration in the Assembly, but it was the issue of all-women shortlists that most provoked him.
Joining the protests at Labour's decision to field a female candidate in Blaenau Gwent in the 2005 General Election, Law decided to stand as an independent against Maggie Jones.
In a dramatic campaign, he initially withdrew from the race afte being diagnosed with a brain tumour, but after six hours of surgery just two weeks before polling day, he rejoined the campaign.
The result was a shock victory as he overturned a Labour majority of 19,000 in the party's safest seat to win by more than 9,000 votes.
Law, who was also a former chairman of Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust, was named as Welsh Politician of the Year at the 2005 Welsh Political Awards.
He died peacefully at his home on 25 April 2006 aged 58.
His widow Trish and agent Dai Davies went on to win the subsequent Assembly and Westminster by-elections in June 2006.
They too stood in opposition to Labour as independent Blaenau Gwent People's Voice candidates pledging to continue Law's legacy.
Labour rebel who won as an independent
