Law

CONTACT

Head of Humanities

Mrs C McGahey       

cmcgahey@lymmhigh.org.uk

Head of Law

Mrs G Wrigley                    

gwrigley@lymmhigh.org.uk

Overview

It is possible to describe law as the body of official rules and regulations, generally found in constitutions, legislation, judicial opinions, and the like, that is used to govern a society and to control the behaviour of its members, so Law is a formal mechanism of social control. Legal systems are particular ways of establishing and maintaining social order.

Law is one of the subjects taught in the Humanities Faculty.  The subject is taught at AS and A2 level. There are 4 modules over the two years, two AS and two A2. Students sit both AS modules (G152 & G151) in the May of Year 12. Students will then go on to sit two further modules (G154 & G153) in the June of year 13.

Law as a subject will allow students to critically reflect on the current state of the English legal system, including analysis of how new laws are formed and also to evaluate the progression of law via cases and the precedents set.

Year 12

Unit 2: Sources of Law

Students will begin by considering how laws are made. They will start the course with Unit 2 which will include the following topics: introduction to UK law, sources of law, mechanism of precedent in UK law and its law making potential, hierarchy of courts, the role of judges, the European Union and its law making institutions, legislation, acts of Parliament and  the legislative process in UK, delegated legislation,  statutory  interpretation and law reform and the reasons for it.

Unit 1: English Legal System 

The module English Legal System allows students to examine the current state and application of the law in the UK. This module demonstrates the different roles that exist within the law and examines how power is used. The content of this course includes: civil courts and other methods of dispute resolution, alternative to courts, criminal courts, police powers and individual rights, criminal courts, the trial process in Magistrates and Crown Courts, and how effective the law currently is.

The different roles explored includes: The Judiciary and the selection and appointment of Judges, separation of powers, appeals, prosecution and defence, and the rights of appeal.

Students will also get to examine sentencing and the legal profession, the penal system and principles of sentencing and powers of the courts and types of sentences. This allows students to consider the differences in offences and the punishments for both adults and young offenders.

The legal profession includes: training, organisation and work of Barristers and Solicitors, regulation of these professions, lay people in the legal system, provision of legal services, government funding of these services and advice services and private funding of cases.

Term 1

Term 2

Term 3

Unit 2: Sources of Law

Unit 1: The English legal system

Revision for Exams

Introduction to A2

Unit: 3 Criminal Law

Year 13

Unit 4: Criminal Law special study

This module will be covered once the pre-released material has been given to school from the exam board. Students are expected to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles of criminal law and to develop a critical awareness of the present state of criminal law in relation both to the scope of specific crimes and the applicability of particular defences. Students are expected to have a general appreciation of the role of criminal law in modern society and to be able to relate this to specific issues, e.g. whether it is justifiable to have crimes of strict liability. The material released will focus on a specific area of criminal law already covered within Unit 3.

Students are required to demonstrate some synoptic thinking. This is achieved by relevant reference to precedent and/or statutory materials including the development of law and comments on justice or morality where appropriate. It is also achieved by relevant use of precedent and/or statutory materials in the application of legal reasoning to given factual situations, including comment on the justice or morality of the outcome where appropriate.

Unit 3: Criminal Law

This module allows students to evaluate different areas of criminal law, reflecting on how effective they are in relation to public policy/protection of society and the individual rights.

General defences including definition of insanity and automatism. The scope and nature of the defences of duress and necessity and intoxication  Definition of non fatal offences against the person, including assaults and battery, actual bodily harm, wounding etc. Also defences including self defence , defence of another etc. Offences against property. Definitions of theft appropriations and dishonesty. Other offences including robbery and burglary.

Students will have the opportunity to study the elements of a crime such as actus reus, mens rea and strict liability of offences alongside the main components of murder, manslaughter, theft and robbery, which are covered within criminal law.

Term 1

Term 2

Term 3

Unit 3: Criminal Law

Unit 4: Criminal Law Special Study

Unit 3: Criminal Law

Unit 4: Criminal Law Special Study

Revision and examinations

Homework: Homework is set every week. It involves note taking, research, completion of worksheets, essay planning and writing and revision.

Useful Information

5 ways I can help my child

1

Talk to your child about what they have been studying.

2

Debate topical issues, demonstrating a balanced argument.

3

Watch the news and read news articles with your child asking them questions that check they have understood the report and ask them to give their opinions.

4

Encourage them to read around the subject and research cases more in-depth, looking at reasons for verdicts etc.

5

Encourage them to keep up to date with changes in the law.