‘If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable.’
Louis D. Brandeis
There are many benefits of studying A Level Law. It links all aspects of society. It helps students develop a range of transferable skills: analytical skills, attention to detail, logical thinking, research skills, essay writing skills and the ability to produce a balanced argument. Gospel values underpin the Law curriculum by developing students’ understanding of the law and society through a spiritual, moral and cultural lens.
What we study
Law is a new subject to St. Wilfrid’s and students will start with Component 1 which will see them learning about the English Legal System, with aspects of both criminal and civil law. They will learn a wide range of topics ranging from how laws are made, how a person can sue another, and what happens when someone is given bail. This component covers a wide range of interesting topics culminating in an exam of 90 minutes at the end of Year 13.
Component 2 and 3 will be studied from East in Year 12 up until their exams in Year 13. These components cover three areas of the law:
- Criminal Law
- Tort Law
- Human Rights Law
All quite different aspects of the law, but all equally as fascinating and are widely studied on most Law Degrees, giving those who want to study Law at a higher level the added bonus of an excellent foundation of these topics.
The Component 2 exam is where students are faced with scenarios and put themselves in the position of a lawyer to advise their client in the scenario. The Component 3 exam is essay based where students demonstrate their skills of analysis and evaluation around the law in the three topics studied.
Learning outside of the classroom
All students are provided with homework to extend and consolidate their learning. This involves retrieval activities, academic reading, and research activities, flipped learning, as well as practice exam questions. Students at this level are also expected to complete independent study using extra readings provided by the school. We also believe strongly in giving students the opportunity to widen their learning by planning to visiting local courts and have students experience the workings of a real court and watch trials in action.
Careers/Higher Education Pathways
Law is an A Level which is fully accepted by all universities in the country for points towards higher education entry in any subject. It gives a great foundation for students to work towards a career in one of the many areas of law, alongside the obvious careers such as; a solicitor, a barrister, a legal executive or a police officer. Furthermore, the skills learned are fully transferable across a wide range of careers, not just in the law itself.
Curriculum Intention:
- Develop an understanding of law and how it works
- Learn more about society from a legal perspective – both contemporary and historical
- Learn about the interaction between law and morals, justice and society
- Learn about different areas of law – e.g. criminal law, human rights, contract and tort
- Make connections with business, economics, history, politics and technology
- Develop academic skills, including analysis and evaluation
- Be able to make an informed decision about future careers