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Law
I would recommend A-level Law to a friend because I feel it improves your knowledge of the country we live in and the way it operates.
Omar T, Year 13 student
I didn’t originally plan to take Law, but quickly found it to be engaging and my favourite subject.
Alice F, Year 13 student
It is very enjoyable and although it’s hard work, you can see your hard work paying off.
Tommy M, Year 13 student
Our Philosophy
Law plays a vital role in society. Ignorance of the law can bring serious consequences. Everyone is affected by the law. Knowledge of the law can give people more control over their lives and more confidence in their dealings with others. People should be aware of their rights under the law and, equally, of their legal duty to respect the rights of others. Law is not a dry and dusty subject. The cases we study involve real people and decisions about what is fair, just and morally right.
The course encourages you to develop the skills necessary to analyse and solve problems. The main way that you are assessed in the exam is in being given problem scenarios where you are expected to explain how the law applies to that situation. In legal writing, we value an ability to write precisely and concisely.
These are skills which will complement virtually any other subject and which will be valued by employers and universities. Many students combine law with business, geography, psychology, politics or the sciences.
What we expect from our students
Learning in law is not a passive activity. We expect that you will take an active part in all class activities. We hope that you will have a genuine interest in law and will enjoy developing your own understanding. During the course you will attend criminal trials, visit Parliament and listen to visiting speakers. The expectation is that you will enjoy and engage with these to enhance your own learning.
There will be weekly home learning. This might involve revising for a test, writing an answer to a problem question, reading an article or researching some legal cases.
All problem/exam questions are marked to examination criteria which means that you will know how you are progressing during the course. There are a lot of legal cases to remember in law so that we have regular short tests and a range of class activities to help you remember as we go along rather than cramming at the end.
We expect you to do your best at all times and we will help you to achieve your best. There is no coursework or controlled assessment in this subject.
Contact name: Mrs C Murray-Smith
Key Stage 5: A Level Law
Law plays a vital role in society. The law helps define a society’s values and also provides a means to solve problems and disputes without resort to violence. Knowledge of the law can give people more control over their lives and more confidence in their dealings with others. People should be aware of their rights under the law and, equally, of their legal duty to respect the rights of others. Ignorance of the law can bring serious consequences.
The course encourages you to think rationally and logically and to develop the skills necessary to analyse and solve problems. You will also develop the ability to communicate arguments and conclusions clearly and succinctly. These are skills which will combine well with virtually any other subject and which will be valued by employers.
On the course you will study:
- The English legal system: the different types of law, people in the law, legal institutions and legal careers and how to defend a prosecution
- Crime: fatal and non-fatal offences, theft and robbery
- Tort: negligence, nuisance, occupiers’ liability contract law and you will learn about your rights as a consumer
The aims of the A-Level Law course are to:
- develop knowledge and understanding of the structure, personnel and functions of the English Legal System;
- develop an understanding of legal method and reasoning;
- develop the techniques of logical thinking, and the skills necessary to analyse and solve problems by applying rules;
- develop a critical awareness of the changing nature of law in society;
- develop the ability to communicate legal arguments and conclusions clearly and succinctly with reference to appropriate legal authority.
Skills Required
A good standard of written English is required plus the ability to discuss and analyse logically and critically.
Entry Requirements
Grade 5 in English Language or English Literature is required in addition to the general entry requirements for A-Level courses.
Methods of Assessment
There are three written exam papers. You will be given short scenarios and you have to apply your knowledge of the law to the scenario and write extended answers.
Education Progression and Career Opportunities
A sound qualification for any degree discipline and a good foundation for the study of law in Higher Education. Career opportunities are very wide-ranging and would especially include careers in law, business, the civil service, the police force, banking, insurance or finance careers, journalism and the media.
