AS Level Law

The course looks at the workings of the legal system and considers its effectiveness. Students will discover the various sources of law, and explore the relationship between law and morality. The course will increase your understanding of how law operates in practice, with a study of the civil and criminal court systems. You will also come across some interesting and surprising legal cases, and have the opportunity to take part in debates and mock trials. In their second year, A Level students will critically examine the role of law enforcement and the police. Students will also study criminal law, the criminal trial process, sentencing and youth justice.

AS UNITS

Unit LA1 - Understanding Legal Structures and Processes

• The historical development of the Law

• Legal Values: Rule of Law, Human Rights and Morality

• European Union Institutions and the creation of European Law

• The Criminal Process: Bail, the Magistrates Court, Jury Trial in the Crown Court and appeals following a miscarriage of Justice

• The Civil Process: Small claims, County Court, High Court, appeals

• Access to Justice: Sources of funding

Unit LA2 - Understanding Legal Reasoning, Personnel and Methods

• The different types of European Law and their effect

• Legislation and delegated legislation, how legislation is interpreted and applied by Judges

• Case Law and Legal reasoning

• Law Reform

• Structure of the legal professions; barristers, solicitors, judges and magistrates

A2 UNITS

Unit LA3 - Understanding Substantive Criminal Law and Justice

• Police powers to stop and search; safeguards, statistics, searching premises, and arrest

• Rights in detention: time scales, legal advice

• Police Interviews, fingerprints and body samples

• Remedies for breach of police powers and police complaints procedures

• Elements of Criminal Liability, Murder,

• Dangerous Act Manslaughter and Gross Negligence Manslaughter

• Assault, Battery, ABH, Wounding and GBH

• Defences

Unit LA4 Principles of Criminal Law and Justice

• Definition of crime

• Strict liability

• Factors which may negate criminal liability

• Human Rights

• Prosecution and criminal trial processes

• Role of courts, restrictions on powers, minimum sentences.

• Adult sentencing: reduction for guilty plea, pre-sentence reports

• Youth justice and sentencing

• Theories of sentencing: USA comparison, statistics, prison population, women and sentencing,

How you will gain the qualification

A variety of assessments are used throughout the period of study and an internal Mock Exam is completed for AS and A2 students in January.

External exams are taken in May/June of the AS and A2 years. A2 students may take the LA3 module in January in their second year (subject to availability from the WJEC exam board)

The exams consist of essay style questions, stimulus response and case study scenarios, with students given a choice of questions.

LA1 and LA2 are equally weighted, and together make up 50% of the total A Level mark. LA3 and LA4 make up 20% and 30% of the total A level mark respectively.

All exams are 1 ½ hours in duration, except for LA4 which is 2 ½ hours in duration.

What qualifications you need

Students wishing to study AS/A Level at Coleg Cambria require a minimum of 6 GCSEs including English Lang/Lit at grade C or above.

Where to next

This course is not aimed solely at students who wish to eventually qualify as a solicitor or barrister. It is a learning experience in its own right by developing, along with the acquisition of legal knowledge, the ability to analyse issues and construct rational and logical arguments. Students will also acquire key skills such as communication during their studies. An A level in Law is highly regarded by institutions offering higher academic education. Students in the past have progressed into a surprisingly wide range of careers: management, commerce, local government, social work, teaching, as well as a variety of more obviously legally orientated jobs such as the police force, legal executives and the legal profession.