Law - Level 3 BTEC Certificate

Studying Law gives students an understanding of the role of Law in today’s society and raises their awareness of the rights and responsibilities of individuals. Students on this course will learn how to study, analyse, apply and evaluate legal issues, rules and principles and construct clear arguments whilst considering differing perspectives.

By learning about legal rules and how they apply to real life, students will also develop their analytical ability, decision making, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

This course covers three core units in the first year:

• Dispute Solving 
• Understanding Law-making 
• Aspects of Legal Liability

In the second year students will cover the following specialist units:

• Homicide and Police Powers 
• Contract Law 
• Tort Law

The six units will provide students with a solid foundation on which they can base future study or can refer to in their working/personal lives.

Course Specific Trips & Visits

Law students have the opportunity to take part in a variety of course related experiences. In the last couple of years, these have included:

• A trip to the Old Bailey designed to give students a practical insight into the workings of the criminal justice system.
• A trip to the Royal Courts of Justice to take part in a mock trial.
• A trip to the local Magistrates Courts which you can read more about here.
• A trip to Parliament giving the students an insight into the creation of Law.
• Guest speakers including Solicitors, Barristers and past students.
• Humanities trip to the USA (New York and Washington DC)

The qualification provides a very useful background for a number of careers and Higher Education courses. Many students who have completed the 2 year course have progressed to university to read a degree in Law. University destinations from recent cohorts include: Portsmouth, Winchester, Bournemouth, Kent, Sussex and Surrey.

The course has also seen students progress to a range of other Higher Education courses including; Youth Justice, Crimonology, Business and Social Work.

The skills and knowledge developed throughout the duration of the course can also lead to many possible career paths which include: training to become a Legal Executive, entering the police force, working within the business/legal sector or teaching.

This course is designed with those students in mind who would like to find out more about the Law and legal system, and who would prefer to follow a programme of learning that does not involve any form of assessment by way of a written examination at the end of a unit or academic year.

Students should have a genuine interest in Current Affairs and Law.

Students are assessed through a variety of assignments including; interviews, creating documentaries, debates, presentations, letters and report writing. The content of the course readily lends itself to both group work and independent study.

The exam board for this BTEC is Pearson BTEC.