Law
Studying Law helps students better understand how we interact as humans, and how we create the frameworks of a civilised society. Law appeals to those who want to develop both abstract thinking and practical problem-solving.
Alongside the subject knowledge, Law gives students a wide range of transferable skills such as reading and condensing complex texts, analysis and evaluation, application of principles to a given scenario and critical thinking.
Sixth Form (Year 12-13)
Examination Board: OCR
Course Description
A Level Law consists of six units, which together give students a secure grounding in the fundamentals of law.
In Year 12 four units are taught: The Legal System, Criminal Law, Law Making and Tort Law. These units cover the principles of English law as well as enabling students to see those principles in use in key legal areas.
The Legal System: The legal system focuses on civil and criminal courts, the legal professions, and access to justice. Students develop knowledge and understanding of the processes and people involved in the law and the changing nature of the legal system.
Criminal Law: Criminal law focuses on the rules and general elements of criminal law, criminal liability, offences against the person, offences against property and defences.
Law Making and Tort Law: Law making focuses on law making in England and Wales as well as the European Union. Students develop an understanding of legal method and reasoning as used by lawyers and the judiciary. The law of tort focuses on the rules of tort, liability in negligence, occupiers’ liability and remedies.
In Year 13 two units are taught: The Nature of Law and Contract Law. Students further develop and apply subject knowledge as well as exploring the theories and philosophy that underpin law.
The Nature of Law: The nature of law focuses on the nature of law in a wider context and how it interacts with morality, justice and society.
Contract Law: Contract Law focuses on the central elements of contract law from the formation of contracts to their enforcement.
The lessons include group activities and student discussion, focusing on current events and different legal scenarios. There are also opportunities for enrichment visits such as to the House of Commons.
Assessment
This is a linear course. This means that students opting for an A Level in this subject will be committing to a two-year linear course with all units examined at the end of Year 13. There are three exam papers, each of two hours.
- Paper 1: The Legal System and Criminal Law (2 hours, worth 33.3% of qualification)
- Paper 2: Law Making and Tort Law (2 hours, worth 33.3% of qualification)
- Paper 3: The Nature of Law and Contract Law (2 hours, worth 33.3% of qualification)
Entry Requirements
There are no specific subject entry requirements for this course. Students must meet the general entry requirements for the Sixth Form.
Where might it lead?
A Level Law can help open doors to careers in:
- Advice Worker
- Arbitrator
- Barrister
- Border Force Officer
- Chartered Legal Executive
- Civil Service
- Company Secretary
- Coroner
- Detective
- Human Resources
- Insurance Underwriter
- Licensed Conveyancer
- Local Government
- Mediator
- Paralegal
- Patent Attorney
- Political Risk Analyst
- Solicitor
- Stockbroker
- Tax Adviser
- Town Planner
- Trade Mark Attorney
- Trading Standards Officer
Student Destinations
Kirsten Louisa Wright
2024 Offers from:
- Cardiff University – International Relations and Politics
- UCL (University College London) – Global Humanitarian Studies
