Law

H418/01 Section A: The Legal System

In this unit you will study the workings of the civil and criminal justice systems including; the role of magistrates, solicitors, barristers and jurors as well as the sentences given to those who commit crimes.

H418/01 Section B: Criminal Law

In this unit you will examine the individual elements of different crimes and defences. You will learn what the prosecution must prove in order to obtain convictions for offences such as; murder, manslaughter and robbery.

H418/02 Section A: Law Making

In this unit you will learn how Parliament makes laws and how individual citizens can bring about changes and developments to the laws of England and Wales.

H418/02 Section B: Law of Tort

In this unit you will focus on civil law such as; negligence, nuisance and occupiers’ liability. Students will learn how individuals seek justice within the civil courts.

H418/04 Section A: The Nature of Law

In this unit you will look at the nature of law in a wider context. We will answer questions like ‘is the law in line with everyone’s morals?’ This will help you to develop an understanding of how law interacts with society, considering the philosophical ideas of morality and justice.

H418/04 Section B: Contract Law

In this unit you will focus on the central elements of contract law from the formation of contracts to their enforcement.

Unit H418/01 Examination in June in Year 13

• One 2-hour exam consisting of two sections – section A is a choice of two small essay questions from four on the legal system (25%); section B is a choice of two scenario questions from four on Criminal law and an essay question (75%).
• This paper constitutes 33.3% of the whole qualification.

Unit H418/02 Examination in June in Year 13

• One 2-hour exam consisting of two sections – section A is a choice of two small essay questions from four on Law Making (25%); section B is a choice of two scenario questions from four on Tort law and an essay question (75%).
• This paper constitutes 33.3% of the whole qualification.

Unit H418/04 Examination in June in Year 13

• One 2-hour exam consisting of two sections – section A is a choice of one essay question from two on the Nature of Law (25%); section B is a choice of two scenario questions from four on Contract law and an essay question (75%).
• This paper constitutes 33.3% of the whole qualification.

Law is offered at most leading universities either on its own or in combination with many other subjects. Russell Group universities will require a minimum of AAA or AAB at A Level for access to most Law degrees, often with at least one other facilitating subject such as English, History, a Foreign Language or a Science.

Careers following a Law degree obviously include those of a barrister or solicitor, but for those who want a career outside the legal sector, law graduates are increasingly found in a variety of fields such as accountancy, banking and finance, the civil service, and the police.

You will need a genuine interest in law either due to your work experience or thirst for understanding the world around you. In preparation for the A Level Law course, you would benefit from keeping up to date with legal developments that are being reported in the national and local media. An interest in politics is also useful but not essential.

You will need to be able to express your ideas and opinions in writing and apply legal theory to specific scenarios and problems. In class we will debate legal matters and you will be able to hear a variety of opinions to help to strengthen your own argument in preparation for the exams.