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Law

A Level / 2 year Course / OCR

Law affects our everyday lives in more ways than many of us are aware. As such, it is a fascinating subject with something new to learn every day. Studying law will give you the opportunity to explore many interesting and challenging topics. These will include criminal law, negligence, morality and justice.

More on this course

The course encourages students to develop the skills necessary to analyse and solve problems by applying rules and to develop the ability to communicate arguments and conclusions clearly and succinctly. It will help students to substantiate arguments and develop an enquiring and critical mind.

Law is such a dynamic subject that students will have many opportunities to enrich their study with us, for example by visiting the Crown Court sitting at Newcastle, visiting the Old Bailey (Central Criminal Court) and Royal Courts of Justice in London, and entering the Bar Mock Trial Competition. A number of guest speakers and alumni also visit Durham Sixth Form Centre to share their knowledge and experience with students, including solicitors and barristers.

Teaching and learning methods

The course is delivered through a range of teaching and learning methods and will focus on the development of the necessary essay writing and problem solving skills needed to achieve success in the examinations. Students will be introduced to the English legal system as a whole before undertaking a more in-depth study of substantive law. This will include criminal law, the law of tort and contract law. It is important to note that A Level law is assessed solely by examination.

Assessment

The A Level is a linear course with assessment 100% by examination at the end of Year 13. There are three examinations – all two hours in length.

Skills and Careers Insight

A Level Law develops essential skills in critical thinking, analysis, and the ability to construct logical arguments. You'll gain an understanding of legal principles, the justice system, and how laws are applied in society. These skills are highly valued in careers such as law, criminal justice, legal consultancy, politics, and business. Whether you want to become a lawyer, paralegal, legal advisor, or work in government or human rights, A Level Law provides a strong foundation for a career that involves advocacy, decision-making, and upholding justice in a variety of sectors.

Subject Combination

This subject and its content would be ideally suited alongside the following subjects.

Business

Criminology

Geography

English Language

English Literature

Media Studies

Student Testimonials

What do our students think about studying here?

Law is one of my favourite subjects. I feel the subject is interesting and engaging and I have a passion to study law at university.

Jared Turnbull

Former DSFC Student from Belmont Community School

What I enjoy most about the subject is how relevant it is to the real-world, many of the legal stories in the news will directly link to areas studied within our course, helped by the fact that we cover a huge breadth covering criminal, tort and contract law. The course itself is very formulaic meaning there is a greater focus on the essential content. There are numerous extracurricular opportunities in law, such as guest speakers and visits to law courts, which are useful for any progression route.

Jessica Stewart

Former DSFC Student from Belmont Community School

I think the best thing about Durham Sixth Form Centre is the fact that it’s a mature environment and it gives you the independence you need.

Sam Henig

Previous school - Wellfield School

I think Durham Sixth Form Centre is a perfect choice because the lessons are well planned and there is a brilliant balance between independent learning and support from all teachers.

Hannah Warwick

Previous school - Hermitage Academy

When I was in Year 11, the biggest worry for me was the transitional period between Year 11 and Year 12. But the support and the teachers made this so much smoother for me moving from my secondary school to Durham Sixth Form Centre.

Jenni Fairish

Previous school - Whitworth Park Academy

The atmosphere and quality of teaching at Durham Sixth Form Centre is very impressive and you can see a great deal of passion from the educators, which is something I believe is very important.

Logan Aitchinson

Previous school - Park View School