Exam board: Pearson
What is Law?
Law is the study of the English Legal System, looking at how laws are made and how they are applied to achieve justice. Applied law is a vocational course which takes you into the mindset of a legal professional and asks you to apply the law to scenario-based situations. You will study the basics of the law alongside the exciting areas of criminal law and tort law. Learning is practical and research based, linking the law to real life situations.
Why study Law?
BTEC Applied opens many doors to students, whether your ambition is to study law or not. Many of our students move on to study law at University and feel like the BTEC gives them a great grounding, not just with the legal principles but also with their ability to complete research and coursework. This course is 50% coursework based which means students gain invaluable skills in research, referencing, and legal writing.
Is Law right for you?
Useful skills and interests if you want to study law:
Enthusiasm, determination and a willingness to work in teams, and share ideas and knowledge,
An interest in what’s going on in the country (TV, newspapers, conversations). We integrate news, reports and cases into our studying wherever possible.
An ability to read lengthy texts and write detailed essays.
What will you study?
- Dispute solving in civil law
Unit 1. The law of negligence, civil courts, access to justice, alternative dispute resolution and damages. Exam based - Investigating aspects of criminal law and the legal system
Unit 2. Criminal liability, non-fatal offences, criminal courts, legal personnel, sentencing and funding. Coursework based - Applying the law
Unit 3. Fatal offences, property offences, criminal defences and police powers. Exam based - The law of tort
Unit 7. Psychiatric harm, economic loss, occupiers’ liability, nuisance, Rylands v Fletcher and vicarious liability. Coursework based
What happens outside lessons?
If you want to go on to study law at university then make sure you participate in some enrichment activities in order to enhance your subject knowledge and strengthen your application.
There will be various enrichment opportunities throughout the course including trips to universities, conferences, work experience opportunities and guest speakers. We strongly suggest that you get involved in as many activities as you can in order to get the most out of your time at college.
There is a “Law Applicants” Team that you can join to make sure you know about every opportunity.
You can also do your own research and further reading on topics that you are interested in.
Where can Law take you?
Law is an extremely versatile subject and is useful for a wide range of professions, such as Journalism, National and Local Government, Broadcasting, The Police Force, Finance and accounting, The Prison Service, Charity Work and Management/Business and obviously the legal profession.
A high percentage of students who study Law A level then decide to study it a degree level. Past students have gained places on Law degrees at Universities such as Cambridge, Newcastle, Northumbria, Durham, Leeds, Manchester, Lincoln, Sunderland, Teesside, York, Nottingham, Birmingham, Cardiff, Swansea and London School of Economics.
What subjects go well with Law?
Law is commonly combined with any of the following A levels: criminology, psychology, sociology, accounting, business studies, economics, English, geography, government and politics, maths, history, languages, art subjects. Basically, it can be combined with anything.
What are the entry requirements?
- General requirements: Five GCSEs at grade 4 or above.