Law

Law
AS Law divides into two areas both focussing on the English Legal System. It requires students to look at the development, application, courts, procedures and personnel within the legal system. At A2 the focus of the course is human rights.

AS Units (Year One)
The course is divided into two modules:

Understanding Legal Structures and Processes
Here students look at the development of the modern legal system, human rights and morality, criminal and civil processes, legal aid and the institutions of the EU. It is assessed through a 1.5 hour written paper where students have six essay questions and must complete two. It is worth 50% of the final grade (25% of the completed A2).

Understanding Legal Reasoning, Personnel and Methods
Here students look at how the law works within the court system. It also looks at how the law is reformed and at the personnel who work in the courts. It is assessed via a 1.5 hour written paper where there are four questions and students must complete two. It is worth 50% of the final mark (25% of the completed A2).

A2 units (Year Two)
There are two modules which come under the heading Freedom of the Individual and Protection of Human Rights:
The first module looks at freedom of the person. It is assessed via a written paper which requires students to answer two of four questions. The style of question requires students to apply their legal knowledge to factual scenarios. It is worth 20% of the final mark and each question has a synoptic element.
The second module looks at the protection of civil rights and liberties, protection of privacy, freedom of expression and freedom from discrimination. It is assessed via a written paper which is divided into two sections. Section A requires students to answer two essay questions from a choice of four. There is no synoptic element. Section B requires students to answer one question from a choice of two and has a synoptic element. The paper is worth 30% of their final grade.Students wishing to study Law at university will not be disadvantaged by studying A Level Law. The course helps them prepare for the LNat test and develops students' legal skills.Law has links with Politics; it also develops analytical and evaluative written skills which support a number of other studies including English and History.

Results
SUMMER 2009

A - C grade: 83%
Highlights: 36% of learners achieved'A' grades and 66% achieved'A' or'B' grades, well above the national figure.

Examination Board WJEC