AS/A2 Level: Accounting | Business Studies | Economics | Law
BTEC: National Diploma | National Award | First Diploma

AS/A2 Level - Law
Entry Requirements:
No previous knowledge of the subject is required however, a grade C or above in English is essential as the course requires a great deal of reading, note - taking and essay writing. Also, you need to have an enquiring mind and a determination to work hard. GCSE grades in line with College admissions requirements.
About the Subject :
We often associate Law with ‘ The Bill ‘ or ‘ Crimewatch ‘. It is about crime but it is more than that. The law and lawyers have far greater impact on our lives than we realise. Road accidents often result in injury for which a person might want lawyers to help them gain compensation. As consumers we take for granted many issues relating to the quality of goods and services yet these are essentially regulated by the law. Can we use the courts to help us? Where do we go for advice? Is it free? Will any action be too costly? If any of these issues interest you then you might consider Law at ‘A’ level.
Suitable Subject Combinations:
Law combines well with a wide variety of other AS and A levels. It is very common for students to take Law with other Social Science and Arts subjects like History, Politics, Sociology, Psychology, Economics, English but, the logical thinking involved in Law also makes it common to find Law and Maths or Business Studies or a Science subject combined together.
Course Content:

AS Level - First year of course:
During the first year you will cover the following areas of Law:

Unit 1 - Law Making and the Legal System
This unit will cover the ways in which law is made, firstly by Parliament, then the judges and finally by those with law making powers delegated to them by Parliament. Additionally, you will gain a basic knowledge and understanding of how the Civil and Criminal courts work, including the personnel involved in the administration of the Legal System such as : lay magistrates, juries, solicitors and barristers.

Unit 2 - The Concept of Liability
This area will look at the criminal concepts of actus reus and mens rea, strict liability, transferred malice and causation including the study of the non-fatal offences of assault, battery, actual bodily harm, grievous bodily harm and wounding and liability in negligence.

‘A’ Level - Second year of the course;
In the second year you will study Criminal Law:

Many crimes involve conduct that injures another person or his/her property in some way eg: assault,theft and causing criminal damage. Other crimes have fatal consequences for the victim eg. murder,manslaughter. Also,those who commit criminal offences may plead defences such as,provocation, diminished responsibility, intoxication, insanity, automatism or duress as an excuse for their behaviour.
You will have the opportunity to study fatal and non-fatal offences against the person; offences against property including specific and general defences.
Assessment:
There will be two written examinations, one in January and the other at the end of the first year, leading to an AS qualification. At the end of the second year there will be two written examinations. There is no coursework element in Law.
Progression:
Students with A level Law do not find difficulty obtaining a place on a law degree course provided they attain the necessary grades across 3 A levels, including Law, of typically As and Bs. Many students who have studied Law at A level and in Higher Education, then go on to careers such as the Legal Profession, Civil Service, Inland Revenue, Personnel , Estates and Land Agents and Business Administration.