This course covers many of the key concepts of English law and its practice. The topics covered include criminal law, tort (negligence and liability) and contract law. We will also be looking at the changes in the European Union Law.

You can use your qualifications in one of two ways: as a final qualification allowing you to broaden your studies or as the first half of an Advanced level qualification in Law.

Unit 1: Law Making

You will study:

European legislative process and institutions to learn about the way in which European law takes effects, the functions of the Council, Commission, Parliament and the European Court of Justice.

Domestic legislative process to learn about the formal process of statute creation and the role of the Houses of Commons and Lords.

Statutory interpretation ie. The judicial approaches to interpreting statute eg. The literal, golden and mischief rules.

(Assessment: Two essay questions from a choice of five)

Unit 2 Dispute Solving

 The Court structure: To give you outline knowledge of the criminal process, the distinction between bail and remand and classification of offences. In addition, you will consider the alternatives to court hearing such as tribunals.

The legal profession: The work of barristers, solicitors, judges and magistrates

How to finance and representation through private finance, insurance, conditional fees, pro bono work and legal help and representation in both civil and criminal matters

(Assessment: Two essay questions from a choice of five)

Unit 3 - The Concept of Liability

An introduction to criminal liability: You will study the concept of Actus Reus and Mens Rea and the principle of strict liability. These will be explored in the context of assault, battery, actually bodily harm, wounding and grievous bodily harm.

An introduction to Tort: You will study liability in Negligence for physical injury to people and damage to property.

Sanctions and remedies: You will study the aims of sentencing and the available sentences for adult offenders eg. Custodial and community sentences.

In addition, you will learn about damages for personal injury and property, including lump sum and structured payments.

(Assessment: Two scenarios, one based on criminal liability and one on negligence, with a compulsory, multi part question on each)

(NB all units are time constrained in examination conditions)

YOU

You will certainly have an enquiring mind and relish the argument and debate which is essential in understanding the way our justice system works.

You will be expected to:

You will have already reached the conclusion that knowledge of the rules that society places upon us is a life skill. It can help us get compensation for an accident at work, a holiday that didn’t live up to our expectations or a faulty CD player.

YOUR NEXT STEP

To discuss this option further please contact Mrs Crowther or Mr Prebble.