Entry requirements
A minimum of four grade 5s at GCSE including either English Language, History or Religious Studies.
Law is a subject that will be new to most students coming into York College. It is a fascinating, stimulating and challenging course which will equip you with the skills of logic and reasoning, and also give you an understanding of the way in which the law influences aspects of everyday lives. You will expand your understanding with an Applied Law Certificate through the development of your research and investigation skills. Employers value analysis, application, evaluation and research and these are skills you will develop.
Duration
Two years.
What will I study?
Year 1
Law Making
Parliamentary law making (acts of Parliament)
Influences on parliamentary law making (media, public opinion, pressure groups and law reform bodies)
Statutory Interpretation
Delegated legislation (laws made by government departments, local authorities and by large corporations)
Judicial precedent (how judges make laws/rules in court cases)
The Legal System
Civil courts & Alternative Dispute Resolution; negotiation, mediation, conciliation and arbitration
Criminal courts & lay people working in the criminal courts (jurors and magistrates)
Legal Professionals (solicitors, barristers and judges)
Access to justice (where to go for legal advice & representation)
Funding legal cases (no win no fee agreements, paying as a private client & state funding)
Introduction to Criminal Law
Basic principles of criminal law (elements of a crime)
Non-fatal offences against the person (assault, battery, actual bodily harm, grievous bodily harm and wounding)
Criminal procedure (the role of the Crown Prosecution Service, bail, plea, trial procedure)
Sentencing (the aims of sentencing, aggravating and mitigating factors and adult sentences)
Introduction to Tort Law (civil liability)
The basic principles of negligence (who do you owe a duty of care to and what amounts to a breach of that duty of care)
Damages (the different types of compensation claimed, how it is calculated and paid)
Civil procedure (starting a claim in the courts, the defendant’s response and the pre- trial procedure)
Year 2
The laws relating to homicide: murder and voluntary manslaughter
Offences against property
General defences in criminal law
Police powers
Aspects of Tort
How will I be assessed?
There are two types of assessment. One unit is externally assessed and this gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding, or your skills, in a direct way. You will complete a task set by Pearson in controlled conditions. This is a task which you may have the opportunity to prepare for in advance, to research and make notes about a topic that can be used when completing the assessment.
The second form of assessment is internal assessment. You will complete a series of assignments which will be marked by your tutor. This will usually be in the form of a written report.
Extra-Curricular Activities
The Law team offer a wide range of extra-curricular events:
- Law Club
- Visiting speakers from universities and the legal profession
- Mock trials
- Debating competitions
- Debate Society
- Trips
We take students to Nottingham to take part in a mock trial and do a tour of 300 years of crime and punishment. Pick up a newspaper and see how many articles contain or refer to the law. Follow interesting cases in the news and visit your local magistrate’s court with a parent or friend.
Good course combinations
This course works well with Politics, Sociology and English Language. However it also makes a stimulating fourth subject alongside any combination. Students interested in studying Law at university should consider taking Law as their fourth subject.
What could it lead to?
The Applied Law qualification is widely recognised in industry and higher education. Over 62% of large companies recruit employees with BTEC qualifications and 100,000 BTEC learners apply to UK universities every year. You will understand how claims such as those resulting from a car crash are dealt with in English Law. You will know how disputes are settled and how the law can be used to help people. You will also develop the skills to investigate and research how laws are made both inside and outside Parliament. There is also an emphasis on the application of criminal laws to non-fatal offences and how the criminal justice system works.
Need some help?
If you have any further questions about this course, or would like us to help you with your application, please contact the Schools Liaison team on 01904 770239 or email info4schools@yorkcollege.ac.uk
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this webpage, the content is subject to change where necessary.
