A Level Law
Mrs L Freestone LLB, MA
Head of Law
Why study Law?
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Law governs everything from the embryo to exhumation. Law regulates the air we breathe, the food and drink that we consume, our travel, sexuality, family relationships, our property, sport, science, employment, education, and health, everything in fact from neighbour disputes to war.
Professor Gary Slapper, Open University
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If you are interested in the news and current affairs, studying law will help you to understand the world you live in. There are few other courses whose topics are more often in the news.
Studying law will enable you to develop many skills including research, reasoning, critical evaluation and problem solving, all of which are valued by future employers and university admissions tutors.
If you are thinking of studying Law at university, this A Level course allows you to sample it first to make sure it is the right course for you.
What will you study in A Level Law?
Law AS Level: Year 12
AS Level is assessed by two examinations in May or June.
The course is divided into 3 parts:
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Law-making and the Legal system
How laws are made by Parliament
How laws are applied – how judges decide cases
Courts and the work of barristers, solicitors, judges and magistrates
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Criminal law
What makes a crime?
Non-fatal offences against the person (assault, actual bodily harm, grievous bodily harm)
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Civil law
Negligence (tort)
How to make a civil claim for negligence and how compensation is calculated
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You will be expected to demonstrate knowledge of the law and also to apply the law to scenarios.
Law A2 Level: Year 13
A2 Level is assessed by two examinations in June. Your marks from AS will affect your final result at the end of Year 13.
The course is divided into 4 parts:
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Fatal and non-fatal offences against the person
Murder
Manslaughter
Assault and battery
Defences (self-defence, consent and intoxication)
You will be expected to demonstrate legal knowledge by applying the law to case studies
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Evaluation of the law of murder, defences and non-fatal offences
In the Unit 3 exam, you will write an essay that evaluates the effectiveness of the law and make recommendations for improvements to the law.
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Offences against property
Theft
Burglary
Robbery
Fraud
Criminal damage
You will be expected to demonstrate legal knowledge by applying the law to case studies.
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Concepts of Law
Law and morality
Balancing conflicting interests
Should judges make laws?
Does the law achieve justice?
In the Unit 4 exam, you will study the wider concepts of law and write an essay to evaluate the meaning of law.
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What do students say about A Level Law?
The subject is brand new to all students who take AS level Law, and students enjoy developing new skills and making more sense of the world.
In surveys conducted over the past three years, all Year 12 students stated that they would recommend the course of Year 11 students.
This is what students said about AS Level Law at LCHS (April 2013):
“Most of the things I’ve learnt I didn’t know before, and a lot of it interested me because we experience them in our daily life but we don’t realise it.”
“It is the only subject I found every lesson interesting”
““It’s my most organised lesson, with facts, structure and I love having the knowledge and being able to apply it every day”
I found it fun and interesting”
“I have learnt a lot of new things and it is a dynamic subject”
“Law is one of my favourite lessons, however sometimes it’s hard going, but I always end up understanding it”.
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Entry Requirements
- 5 GCSE grades A*-C
- At least a grade B in English
- An interest in the subject
- An awareness of current affairs
- To be highly motivated
Opportunities
A level Law is a fascinating and changing subject and students are expected to keep themselves abreast of events in the wider world. Many opportunities are offered to students to enhance their understanding including:
- A visit to the Houses of Parliament in London
- Observation of trials at Crown Court and Magistrates’ Court
- Visiting speakers from the legal profession including a barrister, solicitor, magistrate and police officer
- A visit to a prison
If you would like any more information please contact
Mrs L Freestone, Room 44
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