A-level Law Specification Specification for first …

1 A-LEVELLAW7162 SpecificationFor teaching from September 2017 onwardsFor A-level exams in 2019 onwardsVersion 18 January 2017 Contents1 Why choose AQA for A-level Support and resources to help you teach52 Specification at a Subject Assessments73 Subject content The nature of law and the English legal Criminal Law of Human Rights174 Scheme of Assessment Assessment weightings225 General Entries and Overlaps with other Awarding grades and reporting Re-sits and shelf Previous learning and Access to assessment: diversity and Working with AQA for the first Private candidates256 Appendix 1: Command words277 Appendix 2: Distribution of non-substantive law topics31A-level Law 7162. A-level exams June 2019 onwards. Version 18 January 2017 Visit for the most up-to-date Specification , resources, support and administration 3 Are you using the latest version of this Specification ?

2 You will always find the most up-to-date version of this Specification on our website We will write to you if there are significant changes to the Visit for the most up-to-date Specification , resources, support and administration1 Why choose AQA for A-level LawStudying Law gives students an understanding of the role of Law in today's society and raises theirawareness of the rights and responsibilities of learning about legal rules and how and why they apply to real life, students also develop theiranalytical ability, decision making, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. All these skills arehighly sought after by higher education and re confident that you and your students will enjoy this Specification . We created it with helpfrom teachers and subject experts and we ve kept the content that you and your students ve included some new case studies and theories to keep content fresh, relevant and are clearly structured and include.

3 The nature of law and the English legal system Private law Public law Legal skillsClear, well-structured exams, accessible for allTo enable your students to show their breadth of knowledge and understanding of legal issues,we ve created a simple and straightforward structure and layout for our papers, using a mixture ofquestion types including multiple choice, short answer and extended response remains 100% can find out about all our Law qualifications at Support and resources to help you teachWe ve worked with experienced teachers to provide you with a range of resources that will helpyou confidently plan, teach and prepare for Teaching resourcesVisit to see all our teaching resources. They include: specimen assessment materials that will give your students a clear idea what to expect in theexams flexible schemes of work to help you plan for course delivery in your own way a student textbook from an AQA approved publisher training courses to help you deliver AQA Law qualifications subject expertise courses for all teachers, from newly qualified teachers who are just gettingstarted to experienced teachers looking for fresh Law 7162.

4 A-level exams June 2019 onwards. Version 18 January 2017 Visit for the most up-to-date Specification , resources, support and administration Preparing for examsVisit for everything you need to prepare for our exams, including: past papers, mark schemes and examiners reports specimen papers and mark schemes for new courses Exampro: a searchable bank of past AQA exam questions example student answers with examiner Analyse your students' results with Enhanced Results Analysis(ERA)Find out which questions were the most challenging, how the results compare to previous yearsand where your students need to improve. ERA, our free online results analysis tool, will help yousee where to focus your teaching. Register at information about results, including maintaining standards over time, grade boundaries and ourpost-results services, visit Keep your skills up-to-date with professional developmentWherever you are in your career, there s always something new to learn.

5 As well as subjectspecific training, we offer a range of courses to help boost your skills. Improve your teaching skills in areas including differentiation, teaching literacy and meetingOfsted requirements. Prepare for a new role with our leadership and management can attend a course at venues around the country, in your school or online whatever suitsyour needs and availability. Find out more at Help and supportVisit our website for information, guidance, support and resources at you'd like us to share news and information about this qualification, sign up for emails andupdates at , you can call or email our subject team : 01483 4778226 Visit for the most up-to-date Specification , resources, support and administration2 Specification at a glanceThis qualification is linear. Linear means that students will sit all their exams at the end of Subject content1. The nature of law and the English legal system (page 9)2.

6 Criminal law (page 12)3. Tort (page 14)Options4. Law of contract (page 15)5. Human rights (page 17) AssessmentsPaper 1:What's assessedThe nature of law and the English legal system (25 marks out of 100).Criminal law (75 marks out of 100).How it's assessed Written exam: 2 hours 100 marks 33% of A-levelQuestionsA combination of multiple choice, short answer and extended writing Law 7162. A-level exams June 2019 onwards. Version 18 January 2017 Visit for the most up-to-date Specification , resources, support and administration 7 Paper 2:What's assessedThe nature of law and the English legal system (25 marks out of 100).Tort (75 marks out of 100).How it's assessed Written exam: 2 hours 100 marks 33% of A-levelQuestionsA combination of multiple choice, short answer and extended writing 3:What's assessedLaw of contract (75 marks out of 100).The nature of law and the English legal system (25 marks out of 100).

7 ORHuman rights (75 marks out of 100).The nature of law and the English legal system (25 marks out of 100).How it's assessed Written exam: 2 hours 100 marks 33% of A-levelQuestionsA combination of multiple choice, short answer and extended writing Visit for the most up-to-date Specification , resources, support and administration3 Subject contentStudents will be expected to: develop competence in using legal skills during the study of the nature of law, legal issues andthe English legal system, and private and public areas of substantive law demonstrate their ability to analyse a scenario by identifying the key facts from which legalissues arise analyse, when formulating a legal argument, legislation by applying the rules and principles ofstatutory interpretation and analyse case law by applying the doctrine of precedent in respect of each private and public area of substantive law they are required to study, toanalyse, apply and evaluate the legal rules and principles of that area of law.

8 Analysis andapplication must include the ability to identify and breakdown into constituent parts the relevantlegal rules and principles for each area of law and apply those legal principles to a hypotheticalscenario. Evaluation must require students to formulate a reasoned argument to support aparticular proposition by reference to the relevant legal rules and principles that support thatargument construct clear, concise and logical legal arguments which are substantiated by legal authority,using appropriate legal terminology construct a persuasive argument including instances where they have recognised that there areno clear legal precedents or conflicting precedents to solve a problem analyse and critically evaluate legal issues by identifying different perspectives, being able tosupport their identification of the strongest viewpoint and demonstrating the ability to counteralternative The nature of law and the English legal systemContentAdditional informationNature of law Basic understanding of the distinction betweenenforceable legal rules and principles and otherrules and norms of behaviour.

9 Basic understanding of the differences betweencriminal and civil law and between differentsources of law including custom, statute law andthe common of law: law and society The role law plays in society. The effect of law on enforceable rights and thebalance required between competing interests (egpublic and private). The meaning and importance of fault in civiland/or criminal Law 7162. A-level exams June 2019 onwards. Version 18 January 2017 Visit for the most up-to-date Specification , resources, support and administration 9 ContentAdditional informationNature of law: law and morality The distinction between law and morality and thediversity of moral views in a pluralist society. The relationship between law and morality and itsimportance. The legal enforcement of moral of law: law and justice The meaning of justice and theories of justice. The extent to which the law (civil and/or criminal)achieves rule of lawBasic understanding of the constitutional doctrine ofthe rule of law and its application to law making, thelegal system and substantive law: no person shall be sanctioned except inaccordance with the law equality before the law fairness and making: parliamentary law makingParliamentary law making including: Green and White papers the formal legislative process the influences on parliament the doctrine of parliamentary supremacy andlimitations on it the advantages and disadvantages of influenceson parliamentary law making: delegated legislation Types of delegated legislation: orders in council,statutory instruments, bylaws (from localauthorities and public bodies).

10 Parliamentary and judicial controls on delegatedlegislation. The reasons for the use of delegated legislation. The advantages and disadvantages of making: statutory interpretation The rules of statutory interpretation: literal, goldenand mischief rules; the purposive approach. Internal (intrinsic) and external (extrinsic) aids. The impact of European Union law and of theHuman Rights Act 1998 on statutoryinterpretation. The advantages and disadvantages of thedifferent approaches to statutory Visit for the most up-to-date Specification , resources, support and administrationContentAdditional informationLaw making: judicial precedent The doctrine of judicial precedent. The hierarchy of the courts including the SupremeCourt. Stare decisis, ratio decidendi and obiter dicta; lawreporting in outline and the reasons for it. The operation of judicial precedent: following,overruling and distinguishing.