AS/A LEVEL LAW

WHY STUDY LAW?

• Ever wondered what the difference is between murder and manslaughter? Ever wondered what society hopes to achieve by sending someone to prison for ten years? What about the difference between theft, robbery and burglary? Or the difference between a judge and a magistrate, or a solicitor and a barrister, or a crown court and a county court or any kind of court? These and many other questions will be answered during the course.
• You may be interested in becoming a solicitor or barrister? Or may just be interested in Law? There is an (unfounded) rumour that if you want to study law at University you should not take A Level Law. In fact, A’ Level law will provide you with a head-start on your Law Degree, making English Legal System and Criminal Law modules at university much easier.
• Studying law helps develop specific skills, notably analytical thinking, persuading, expressing yourself succinctly in spoken and written forms of communication.
• The teaching style uses different techniques to keep studying as interesting as possible. Law AS/A Level is hard work like any other AS/A Level but we try to ensure that the hard work is directed towards interesting studying and excellent grades.

USEFUL SKILLS & INTERESTS

• Enthusiasm, determination and a willingness to work in teams, and share ideas and knowledge.
• An interest in what’s going on in the country (TV, newspapers, conversations). We integrate news, reports and cases into our studying wherever possible.
• An ability to read lengthy texts and write detailed essays.

COURSE STRUCTURE & CONTENT?

The AS course covers the following two modules:

1.  Law Making and the Legal System 

• How law is made in the UK
• How local authorities and other bodies make law
• How judges interpret statutes in uncertain cases
• How judges make new law through precedent
• The role of civil courts and how disputes are resolved by alternative methods
• The role of the criminal courts and how juries and magistrates are used
• The nature of the legal profession (solicitors, barristers, etc) and how legal advice can be obtained
• The system of judges in England and Wales

2.  The Concept of Liability (Criminal and Tort)

• Introduction to criminal law and the requirements for criminal liability
• Introduction to offences against the person (assault, battery, ABH, etc)
• The court system for criminal law, and the procedure to trial
• The reason for and range of sentences
• How you become liable for negligence
• The court system for civil law, and the procedure to trial
• How damages (in civil law) are calculated

Upon successful completion of the AS course you can decide to progress to the second year of the course where you will study the following topics

3.  Criminal Law (Offences Against the Person) 

• Offences of murder and manslaughter
• How murder becomes manslaughter
• When manslaughter is caused by unlawful or negligent acts
• Non fatal offences (assault, battery, ABH, GBH)
• General defences, such as self-defence and intoxication
• Evaluation of fatal and non fatal offences

4.  Criminal Law (Offences Against Property) 

• Requirements for a conviction for theft, robbery and burglary
• Requirements for a conviction for fraud and blackmail
• The offence of making off without payment
• Criminal damage offences (including arson and aggravated CD)
• Defences used by defendants to avoid liability for property offences
• Concepts of law:
• the distinction between law and morals
• theories of justice and the extent to which the system achieves it
• how interests of different parties are balanced
• the meaning and importance of fault in criminal law
• the extent to which judges are involved in making law 

HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?

This subject is one hundred percent examination based assessment. For AS level there are two exams in the summer and for A2 level there will be one exam in January and one in the summer.

COURSE COMMITMENT

We expect you to work outside of your timetabled lessons and advise an extra four hours of study a week at home plus two identified private studies periods within your college timetable.

COURSE COSTS

Students are expected to contribute £2.50 for transport costs during the trip to the Crown Courts.  All other costs are optional (e.g. conferences, University of Teesside ‘Crime Days’, etc).

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

You will not need any prior knowledge of law.  The course starts from the beginning. But since Law is a literary subject you will need a good standard of English (Grade C or above at G.C.S.E.) and enjoy reading and writing.

SUBJECT COMBINATIONS

Law is commonly combined with any of the following A Levels (all available at Prior Pursglove College) Accounting, Business Studies, Economics, English, Geography, Government & Politics, Maths, History, ICT, Psychology, Sociology, Languages and Statistics.

PROGRESSION ROUTES

Law is an extremely versatile subject and is useful for a wide range if professions, such as Journalism, National and Local Government, Broadcasting, The Police Force, Finance, The Prison Service, Charity Work and Management/Business. A high percentage of students who study Law A’ level then decide to study it a degree level. Past students have gained places on Law degrees at universities such as Newcastle, Northumbria, Durham, Leeds, Manchester, Lincoln, Sunderland, Teesside, Nottingham, Birmingham, Cardiff, Swansea, London School of Economics and UC London.

FURTHER INFORMATION

The full course specifications can be found at www.aqa.org.uk.

If you require further information please contact Alison Dodds, the Department Manager or Kate Hudson.