Why do we have laws, who makes them and how do they affect our lives? A Level Law gives students the opportunity to explore these questions through the study of the English legal system, law making, the nature of law, criminal law, tort and human rights or contract law.

Students will develop skills in applying legal rules, constructing arguments, analysing evidence and evaluating the law. Most importantly, they will explore a fascinating subject that connects directly to society, current affairs and everyday life.

Students begin by exploring where our laws come from and how they are created. Students will study the different sources of law, including Parliament, the courts and delegated legislation, and will follow the law-making process from an initial idea through to a law being passed. They will also consider the scrutiny that Bills are subject to and the many pressures that can influence Parliament. From major public enquiries such as Grenfell to high-profile cases such as Baby P and the Lucy Letby trial, students will discover how events in society, public opinion and the media can influence the development of new laws.

Students will then explore the English Legal System, getting behind the scenes of how our system of justice operates. They will examine the roles of different legal professionals, the structure and powers of the courts, the role of juries and the powers of the police, including stop and search. This gives students an opportunity to understand how the legal system they encounter in the news and everyday life actually works.

Students then begin to apply their knowledge of the legal system to Tort Law, focusing particularly on negligence. This is an area students often find especially engaging because the principles they learn can be applied to situations that could happen in everyday life. They will explore when someone can be held legally responsible for causing harm and how the courts decide what should happen when a person has been negligent.

Students continue to develop their ability to apply and evaluate the law through the study of Contract Law and Criminal Law. Contract Law allows students to explore the rules that govern agreements between individuals and organisations, while Criminal Law introduces students to the principles surrounding criminal responsibility and offences. Both areas provide plenty of opportunities to apply legal principles to realistic scenarios and consider whether the law is fair and effective.

Alongside Criminal Law, students will also explore the Nature of Law and Theories of Law, stepping back from individual cases and asking some of the bigger questions about the legal system. What is the purpose of law? What makes a law just or unjust? Should the law always reflect morality? Students will examine different theories and perspectives and use them to challenge and evaluate the law they have studied throughout the course.

By the end of Year 13, students will not only understand what the law is, but will be able to explain where it comes from, how it operates, how it affects individuals and society, and whether it achieves justice.