AS/A2 Law

AS/A2 Law

Why study Law?
Do you believe that a robust legal system is the foundation of a fair and civilised society? Do you believe in Justice? If the answer to these questions is yes, then you would find A Level Law very rewarding.
Regardless of whether you see yourself as a Barrister or Solicitor, you may want to study law to help you develop valuable transferable skills such as logic, problem solving, analysing and evaluating. Law plays a vital role in society and affects virtually all aspects of our lives from driving a car, purchasing goods to negotiating business contracts. It is far from just a set of dry rules, it helps us to define societys values and provides a means to solving problems and disputes. Knowledge of the law can give you more control over your life and more confidence in your dealings with others. If you would like to develop a critical awareness of the changing nature of law in society, understand why laws change, know the difference between justice and injustice, then you will enjoy studying A Level Law. Law is an interesting, stimulating, entertaining, but testing subject.

You will be enlightened when you realise how it can and does work. At Sir John Deanes we bring the subject alive as much as we can, and use a wide range of methods to help us learn ranging from, up to date electronic means, interactive smartboard, text books, individual and group work, mock trials, we enter the National Mock Trial competition, have visiting speakers including Judges, Barristers, Solicitors, Magistrates and even past students, visit local courts and watch trials of local crimes and visit London where we go to The Houses of Parliament, Old Bailey, Royal Courts of Justice and much more.

What will I study and how will it be assessed?
It is unlikely that you have studied Law at GCSE this does not matter, we take you from the beginning. There is no coursework involved, it is all assessed by examinations, 2 in the first year and another 2 in the second year. You will study the OCR syllabus.

AS Level
AS year
We study the English Legal System, ie how a law is actually made and later interpreted, how legislation is delegated, precedents are set and how and why cases are overruled. We study the role and importance of the EU in the English Legal System for example, the Law of the European Community and Human Rights Law have had a profound effect on English law in the last few years. We examine Police Powers such as stop and search, powers of arrest and detention and treatment of suspects at a police station. Would you know your rights if you were stopped and searched? In addition to this, you will examine the court structure, alternatives to the courts and the roles, responsibilities and regulation of the legal profession (Barristers, Solicitors, Judges, Juries and Magistrates). You will get out and about too, when we visit the local Crown and Magistrates courts where we meet lots of interesting, bright and ambitious people in the legal profession, who help you to understand their roles and how the legal system works as a whole.

A2 year
In the second year unit we study Criminal Law. We will analyse legal material and you will learn how to select and apply the appropriate legal rules to draw conclusions. You will examine the rules and concepts involved in assault, battery, actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm. You study theft, burglary, robbery, murder, manslaughter and the different defences a Defendant may try to claim. For example, they may try to claim they were provoked, acted in self-defence or even that they did not know what they were doing because they were so drunk! What do you think happens then? Join the course and find out!

Does Law link particularly well with other subjects?
There are no compulsory subjects you must study alongside A Level Law. The choice is yours. Lessons encourage debate, discussion and present opportunities to develop your analytical skills. Studying Law will help you to develop a strong vocabulary, excellent evaluative skills, effective research skills and the ability to work logically and methodically, applying rules and concepts to analyse and solve legal problems. Law also helps you to develop transferable skills that will complement virtually any subject and equip you for other aspects of your life.

Where might it lead me?
Studying Law encourages you to develop the skills necessary to analyse and solve problems by applying sets of rules. Ultimately it enhances your ability to communicate opinions and come to conclusions clearly and succinctly. It will help you to substantiate arguments and to develop an enquiring and critical mind. As such, A Level Law provides an excellent background for many university courses and careers, not only in Law, but also, for example, in: Journalism, Broadcasting, Local and Central Government, Public Relations and a range of Management and Commercial areas and it is widely recognised by employers as a rigorous academic discipline.

We believe we are equipping Law students who leave Sir John Deanes with the ability to handle themselves with confidence in the modern world. Students who have studied the course have left being able to analyse legal material, issues and situations, form and communicate opinions and construct balanced coherent arguments using appropriate legal terminology which are based on fact, logic and legal precedent.

This course will serve to develop and sustain your enjoyment and interest in Law as well as help build those transferable skills we all need in life.