Studying Law, both case studies and theory gives an understanding of the role of Law in today’s society and raises awareness of the rights and responsibilities of individuals. By learning about legal rules and how and why they apply to real life, you can also develop your analytical ability, decision-making, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. All these skills are highly sought after by higher education and employers.

Topics are clearly structured and include:

The nature of law and the English legal system

Private law

Public law

Legal skills

A Level Law uses the AQA exam board which has 3 papers. Every 2 hours each and worth ⅓ of the overall A-Level.

Please refer to our Sixth Form prospectus for entry requirements.

A-Level Law is entirely linear, meaning all exams are sat at the end of the 2 years and the course is broken down into 4 key units. The first unit underpins all others and is the nature of law and the English legal system. The nature of law looks at the legal system, how laws are made, the court system, and how it is worked and accessed. This foundational knowledge supports the other units of Criminal Law, Tort Law, and Human Rights Law. Criminal Law starts with key theoretical principles about harm, about how laws have changed over time, and how this can be defended against in court. Tort Law is about liability; the different forms of liability and how they must be treated differently in court with key case studies and defense and remedies against liability. The final unit of Human Rights Law ensures understanding of human rights across the globe, international conventions, and difficulties in enforcing this along with key case studies and modern reforms.

Outside of lessons pupils will have the chance to engage with visits to the Supreme Court in London, have guest talks from individuals working within the law, and University visits to see how a Law can be studied after 6th form.

Some students take A-Level Law because they already know that they want a career in law. The A-Level gives an excellent introduction for students who want to read law at university or start a legal apprenticeship. It demystifies the law. Universities recognize the advantages of A-Level Law and the old view that it should not be studied has long since faded away. However, A-Level Law is not just for students who want to enter the legal profession. It is a well-respected subject and is a welcome addition to many A-Level programs of study with its highly analytical, and critical thinking skillset. A Level Law links well with science subjects, humanities, and social science subjects including, history, sociology, philosophy, economics, and business, to name just a few!