AS Law covers the following areas:

Unit 1: Understanding Legal Structures and Processes

• The development of the common law system and the underlying influence of the rule of law, human rights and morality on our laws
• The court systems and the institutions of the European Union (includes a visit to the courts)
• The criminal process including the granting of bail and jury trials
• The civil process including alternatives to the courts and the tribunal system
• Access to justice and the need for legal aid

There is one written exam (1hr 30mins) in January or June, which consists of answering 2 two-part essays.

Unit 2: Understanding legal reasoning and personnel

• This involves studying the sources of law and looking at how they are used in the courts: Judicial precedent is case law decided by the judges, statutory interpretation involves law made by Parliament and how judges interpret their words, and finally, we examine European laws and how they impact on English law
• The personnel topic looks at the selection and roles of solicitors, barristers, judges and magistrates

There is one written exam (1hr 30mins) in January or June, which consists of two compulsory application questions where students use their knowledge of the sources of law to solve fictional scenarios.

At A2 level - Human Rights goes into depth about the concept of freedom under the law. Topics include:

• The role of the law in regulating liberty and the ability of the Courts and Parliament to protect liberty along with European obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act
• Freedom of speech examines areas such as official secrecy, obscenity, defamation and the control of demonstrations and protest
• Freedom of the person looks at police powers to search arrest and detain citizens
• The right to privacy includes the role of a free press and the ability of the police and security services to carry out covert operations such as telephone tapping
• Freedom of religion looks at the problem of religious observance in a modern multi-cultural Britain
• Finally we examine the growing area of laws against discrimination such as race, sex, disability, sexuality and religion

There are three exams in June. In LW4 students answer two problem questions from a choice of four, where a scenario is set and you must give advice to a client. LW5 is two essays from a choice of six, where you are required to critically analyse issues. LW6 is a synoptic question which requires you to discuss a major area of civil rights with reference to the work done at AS level.

This is an intensive course so you must be certain you are ready for both the academic demands and the workload of the course.  

Exam Fee: £90.00

Course Fee: £583.00

Part-time enrolment fee: £35.00

• A minimum of 5 GCSEs at Grade A* - C including English Language and Maths.
• Interview.

Individual subjects may require higher grades. 
Mature learners without these qualifications may be accepted after an interview with the subject tutor.

17:45 - 20:45 on Wednesdays

Four written exams

• The College welcomes contact with parents/guardians of students who are under 18.
• Additional support is available for students with learning difficulties and disabilities.
• Cardiff and Vale College is committed to inclusion and values diversity. We are determined to promote equality of opportunity and to treat everyone fairly and with respect.
• Cardiff and Vale College reserves the right to make changes to this course without prior notice.
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• Please note, if you choose three or more course choices, then you may be referred for a careers appointment first. This does not apply to A Level or GCSE choices.