Law

A Level Law at Cardinal Hume Sixth Form allows you to study cases, statutes and legal principles and apply them to different scenarios. It also enables you to develop an understanding of both public and private law within the law of England and Wales; develop your ability to analyse legal rules and principles and factual issues; construct persuasive legal arguments and evaluate the strength of such arguments; and develop your ability to think critically about the role of law in society.

Content Overview

Foundations of Law

1. Law Making and the Nature of Law

• How laws are made: Parliament, delegated legislation, and the role of the EU
• Statutory interpretation and judicial precedent
• Principles of the UK constitution: sovereignty, separation of powers, and rule of law
• The relationship between law, justice, society and morality

1. The English Legal System

• Structure and function of civil and criminal courts
• Legal personnel: roles of solicitors, barristers, judges, magistrates and juries
• Access to justice: legal aid, funding and alternative dispute resolution

Substantive Law in Practice

Students then have the opportunity to study three areas of law (at least one from public law and one from private law):

1. Human Rights Law (Public Law)

• European Convention of Human Rights, the impact of the Human Rights Act
• Police powers

1. Law of Tort (Private Law)

• Negligence, occupiers’ liability, nuisance and vicarious liability
• Defences and remedies

1. Criminal Law (Public Law)

• General principles: actus reus, mens rea, causation
• Offences against the person and property
• Criminal defences and attempted offences

Assessment

You are assessed purely through unseen, timed examinations. There is no coursework.

There are three exams that are sat at the end of Year 13 through the WJEC/Eduqas exam board. You will be assessed using a variety of questions including short answers, source questions and essay questions.

Component 1: The Nature of Law and the English Legal System
Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes, 25% of qualification, 50 marks

Component 2: Substantive Law in Practice
Written examination: 2 hours 15 minutes, 37.5% of qualification, 75 marks

Component 3: Perspectives of Substantive Law
Written examination: 2 hours 15 minutes, 37.5% of qualification, 75 marks

For Component 3, you are required to respond to questions on the same three areas of law as selected for Component 2 (Human Rights, Law of Tort and Criminal Law).

Careers

This course is useful for careers in law, policing, business, politics and criminology, and will prepare you for further undergraduate study and future careers.