Law and Legal Work BTEC Level 2 Award

Course Overview
This course is available in conjunction with GCSEs and other Level 2 qualifications to make up a full-time programme.
This subject is for learners who wish to move into paralegal roles. It is designed to give you a practical introduction to law and legal work to prepare you for employment in a legal field or to enhance your current employment opportunities.

Course Structure
The course consists of three units:

• An Introduction to the English Legal System. This unit introduces the English legal system to the learner. It is the core unit of the qualification and its focal point. It seeks to provide the necessary basic information about the operation of the English legal system and the language of the law.
• Criminal Law. The aim of this unit is to introduce the learner to the role of criminal law in England and Wales. The unit takes a broad approach and concentrates on a range of offences, and consequences of criminal behaviour. Learners will further develop their legal terminology, their skills and knowledge relevant to identifying criminal behaviour and consequences, and their ability to apply the law to situations.
• Family Welfare Law. This unit aims to give learners an introduction to the three main areas of family law: marriage and relationships, divorce and ending relationships, and children.

OR

• Police Powers. The aim of this unit is to give an introduction to the running of the police service and their powers in the community.

It is necessary that you make your own individual visits during the day time, in September, to your local county court, magistrates court and crown court in order to create a series of reports based on their functions in order to supplement the work done in class. There will also be a day visit to Parliament and the Royal Courts of Justice (London)in October for all Thanet college law students, and guests speakers will also visit classes.

Qualification Aims
BTEC Level 2 Award in Law and Legal Work - ideal for students to gain a qualification that will aid entry into Law and Legal Work related employment.

Assessments/Examinations
Students will build up their own portfolios of work which will be assessed both by their tutor and the awarding body, Edexcel.

Cost / Equipment
Students over 19 may have to pay tuition and registration fees.
Free tuition is available to those aged 16-18 or who are in receipt of certain means tested benefits or to their un-waged dependants. If you are not on benefits but find it difficult to pay any course related costs because of financial hardship, contact Student Welfare on 01843 605048 to make an appointment with a welfare advisor.
Textbooks are additional. The recommended book for this course is "The English Legal System†by Jacqueline Martin, 2007, ISBN 9780340941560

Start Date
September 2010