Course Summary
What is Law?
A-level Law provides a comprehensive understanding of the role of law in society. You will study how legal principles are used to make and develop laws within the English legal system, covering criminal, civil, and other aspects of law. The course explores individual rights and responsibilities and how law governs everyday life.
Why Study Law?
Law is a constantly evolving subject that affects us all. This course equips you with essential skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making. It is valuable for those considering a legal career and provides a strong foundation for various other career paths.
Course Details
· Paper 1: Criminal law. This paper focuses on the general principles underlying criminal law. In particular, you will study laws relating to murder and manslaughter, assault, liability and property offences. You will also look at the types of defences a defendant can make. For example, if a man had beaten his wife for thirty years, and then eventually, one day, she snapped and shot him – should she have a defence to murder?
· Paper 2: Tort. A tort is a civil action taken by one citizen against another, rather than a criminal action, this will include things the reasons why people sue each other, for example if they behave negligently. Consider the situation: If you went to a public park in pursuit of Pokemon after the park had officially closed and you fell down a manhole which didn’t have a sign warning you it was there – could you sue the council for any injuries?
· Paper 3: EITHER Law of Contract OR Human Rights. Contract law relates to regulating contracts and you will study the rules and theory of contract law. Alternatively, you will study the rules and theory of Human Rights law, focussing in particular on the 1953 European Convention of Human Rights. The Human Rights questions we might encounter could include - Is torture ever acceptable? Should prisoners have the right to vote? And, why is this death penalty still operating in some of the world’s most developed countries?
Students with a law degree often go on and become lawyers (solicitors or barristers), but also look at a range of other options including working as a civil servant, advice worker, legal executive, teacher, or trading standards officer. It is important to note that you do not need to study law at A-Level to pursue a degree in law, but you can do.
How will it be delivered and assessed?
Please click on the following link for this information.
https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/as-and-a-level/law-h015-h415-from-2017/
Entry requirements
Normal college entry requirements (5 grade 4s or above, including English Language and mathematics). Grade 4 at least in GCSE English Language.
Your next steps...
65.8% of graduates went directly into employment.
Top five graduate destinations:
Professional, scientific, and technical
Wholesale and retail trade
Public administration and defence industries
Financial and insurance
Health and social work
Courses at universities and colleges in the UK range from LLB degrees that provide the skills and knowledge required to practice in law, to BA/BSc degrees that focus on law more as an academic subject. As with other academic courses, its possible to combine many different subjects together. Common combinations include law with business, management, criminology, accounting, policing and a modern foreign language.
Subject combinations and available course option include:
single, joint, and multiple subject combinations
full-time, part-time and flexible study options as well as courses with a placement (sandwich courses)
qualifications ranging from BA/BSc (Hons) and LLB degrees, through to HND, HNC and Foundation Certificates
A key consideration when choosing courses is whether or not you wish to pursue a law related career and choose to take a ‘qualifying’ law degree (LLB). Completion of an LLB degree will exempt you from the need to complete the Graduate Diploma in Law which non-law graduates have to complete if they wish to become a solicitor etc.
Are you considering an accelerated degree? Click here to read more about the possibility of completing your undergraduate course on a shorter timescale.
For more courses like this, check our courses page.
