“I have come that you might have life & have it to the full”
John 10 v10
Twyford Church of England High School
Course Guide
Applied Law
BTEC
Academic year commencing September 2014
Contents
1.
COURSE OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................... 3
2.
ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE ............................................................................................................ 9
3.
GENERAL EXPECTATIONS ........................................................................................................... 9
4.
PREPARING FOR LESSONS AND HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS ................................................. 10
5.
RESOURCES .............................................................................................................................. 11
6.
THE LEVEL 4 PROGRAMME YEAR 12 ........................................................................................ 11
7.
STRETCHING THE MOST ABLE AND DIFFERENTIATION ............................................................ 12
8.
COMMUNITY SERVICE .............................................................................................................. 12
9.
ADDITIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND WORK EXPERIENCE ........................................ 13
10.
COMPLETING AN EXTENDED PROJECT ..................................................................................... 13
11.
CELEBRATING SUCCESS AND STUDENT VOICE ......................................................................... 15
Course Guide – Year 12 BTEC APPLIED LAW
Twyford Church of England High School
Page 2 of 15
Course starting in September 2014
Course Guide updated June 2014
1.
COURSE OVERVIEW

We follow the EdExcel BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Applied Law. The qualification is broadly
equivalent to one GCE AS level.

The qualification is entirely assessed by coursework- there is no exam. You will submit three
pieces of coursework over year 12- each piece is worth one-third of the total points
available.

BTEC courses use a different grade system than GCSE AS levels. Instead you will be awarded
a Fail, Pass (70 points), Merit (80 points) or Distinction (90 points) for each unit of
coursework you submit. Each of these levels has a number of points attached to it. At the
end of the year your total points will be added up to determine whether you come out with
an overall Fail, Pass, Merit or Distinction:
OVERALL PASS
OVERALL MERIT
OVERALL DISTINCTION
210 points
230 points
250 points

For the sake of university applications, the level you achieve is converted to GCE grades as
follows:
Pass = E grade
Merit = C grade
Distinction = A grade

Plan for the year:
Unit
number
1
2
3
Unit Name
Dispute Solving in the Legal
System
Understanding Law Making
Aspects of Legal Liability
Course Guide – Year 12 BTEC APPLIED LAW
Twyford Church of England High School
Page 3 of 15
Number of
lessons
Specification
pages
30
21-32
30
30
33-44
45-56
Course starting in September 2014
Course Guide updated June 2014
Unit 1- Introduction
An understanding of how and where disputes are solved is an important basis for studying any area of
law.
It is important that learners understand the difference between civil and criminal law, and how this
determines where disputes are resolved.
The first learning outcome explores the structure and framework of the courts and the fundamental
difference between civil and criminal courts.
The second learning outcome looks at the personnel involved in the administration of the law and the
types of cases heard in the various courts.
The third learning outcome considers alternative forums for dealing with disputes, outside the court
structure.
The fourth learning outcome considers the finance of advice and representation.
Unit 1 Content
1 Understand the hierarchy of the court system- 10 lessons
Civil courts structure: role, function and jurisdiction of Small Claims Court, county court, High Court,
divisional courts, Court of Appeal (Civil Division), House of Lords, European Court of Justice; difference
between first instance and appeal courts
Criminal courts structure: role, function and jurisdiction of Youth Court, magistrates’ court, Crown Court,
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division), House of Lords; first instance and appeal courts; The Criminal Cases
Review Commission
2 Understand the roles undertaken by the personnel of the courts- 10 lessons
The legal profession (lawyers): work, training and regulation of barristers, solicitors, legal executives,
paralegals; the Legal Services Ombudsman and complaints
The judiciary: organisation; selection and appointment of judges; roles in civil and criminal cases; judicial
independence and immunity; removal from office
Lay people: magistrates – selection and appointment; training; role and powers; jurisdiction in civil and
criminal cases; removal; advantages and disadvantages; juries – qualifications and disqualification,
selection and role, summoning, vetting and challenging, advantages and disadvantages
Course Guide – Year 12 BTEC APPLIED LAW
Twyford Church of England High School
Page 4 of 15
Course starting in September 2014
Course Guide updated June 2014
3 Know about the alternatives to the courts- 5 lessons
Alternative dispute resolution (ADR): tribunals; arbitration; mediation; conciliation; negotiation
Comparison: with each other; with civil courts; advantages, disadvantages
Issues: cost; time; privacy; appeals; formality; representation; accessibility; appropriateness
4 Know about the finance of advice and representation- 10 lessons
Alternative sources of advice: Citizens Advice Bureau; media
Finance of advice: private; insurance; conditional fees; pro bono work
Statutory provision: legal help and representation in civil and criminal matters
Unit 2 - Introduction
The first part of the unit explores how law is made by the courts (precedent) and by Parliament
(statutes/ acts of Parliament).
Learners will be introduced to the sources of law and the development of the common law through
precedent.
The emphasis concerning precedent will be to show learners that the law is not static but develops as
society changes, and how important precedent is to lawyers in giving legal advice.
Learners will also look at the legislative process both domestic and European in the creation of legal
rules.
To develop this area, they should understand the concept of sovereignty, and how this is impinged upon
by membership of the European Union, especially the role of the European Court of Justice.
Course Guide – Year 12 BTEC APPLIED LAW
Twyford Church of England High School
Page 5 of 15
Course starting in September 2014
Course Guide updated June 2014
Unit 2 Content
1 Understand how legal rules are created by precedent- 10 lessons
Judicial precedent: development of the system; law reporting; binding authorities; persuasive
authorities; ratio decidendi; obiter dicta statements; advantages and disadvantages
Avoiding judicial precedents: distinguishing previous decisions; reversing decisions; overruling previous
decisions; practice statements
2 Understand how statutory rules are made- 15 lessons
Statutory legal rules: the pre-legislative process; public and private bills; private members bills; the
process in parliament of a bill; commencement of an act; doctrine of parliamentary supremacy;
criticisms of the process
Delegated legislation: types – orders in council, statutory instruments, by-laws; controls on delegated
legislation both by the courts eg ultra vires and parliamentary, eg scrutiny committee; advantages and
disadvantages
Influences on Parliament: Law Commission; Royal Commissions; political power; media; pressure groups
3 Know how statutes are interpreted- 10 lessons
Principles of statutory interpretation: literal rule; mischief rule; golden rule; integrated and purposive
approaches; aids
4 Know the importance of the European legislative process and its institutions- 10 lessons
European Union legal rules: treaties; regulations; directives and decisions; conflicts between EU and
domestic legislation; role and functions of the European Court of Justice, Council, Commission and
Parliament; conflict between European and national law
Course Guide – Year 12 BTEC APPLIED LAW
Twyford Church of England High School
Page 6 of 15
Course starting in September 2014
Course Guide updated June 2014
Unit 3 - Introduction
Negligence is an area of law that affects the day-to-day life of individuals. Negligence has a particular
legal meaning that learners will explore. In very simple terms, it is carelessness for which a person must
compensate the person who has been affected by that carelessness.
Learners will explore the nature of criminal liability through the actus reus (the act) of crimes and the
associated mens rea (state of mind) required for criminal liability. Learners will also explore the
differences between crimes of specific intent and crimes of basic intent.
Learners will then consider a few offences against the person and develop an awareness of the
differences between assault, battery, actual bodily harm, wounding and grievous bodily harm.
Finally, the unit considers the aims and different types of sentences available to the criminal courts.
Unit 3 Content
1 Understand the impact of the law of negligence- 10 lessons
Existence of a duty of care: historical introduction; neighbour principle (Donaghue v Stevenson); threepart test (Caparo)
Breach of duty: standard of the reasonable man; factors affecting standard of care – special
characteristics of the defendant; special characteristics of the claimant; degree of risk; taking
precautions; benefits of taking the risk; relevant case law
Damage: physical injury; to property; causation, intervening events, remoteness of damage (Wagon
Mound)
2 Know the rules on damages- 5 lessons
Damages: remedy; compensatory; pecuniary and non-pecuniary; interim awards; structured
settlements; offsets; contributory negligence
Course Guide – Year 12 BTEC APPLIED LAW
Twyford Church of England High School
Page 7 of 15
Course starting in September 2014
Course Guide updated June 2014
3 Understand the elements of a crime- 10 lessons
Elements of a crime: differences between criminal offence and civil action; differences between legal
and moral rules; the function of criminal law; double jeopardy
The actus reus of a crime: causation; voluntary; involuntary and positive actions; omissions
The mens rea and fault: intention; subjective recklessness; transferred malice; negligence and duty of
care; strict liability; a state of affairs
Application of concepts to specific non-fatal offences: assault; battery; actual bodily harm; wounding;
grievous bodily harm
4 Know the aims of sentencing- 10 lessons
Elements: purpose/aim of criminal sanctions and sentencing; types of sentence for adults, eg custodial,
For more information, you can find the total specification at:
http://www.edexcel.com/migrationdocuments/BTEC%20Nationals%20from%202010/BN021885_B
TEC_Nationals_Applied_Law.pdf
Course Guide – Year 12 BTEC APPLIED LAW
Twyford Church of England High School
Page 8 of 15
Course starting in September 2014
Course Guide updated June 2014
2.
ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE

As said in section 1, this qualification does not require you to sit any examinations. However,
your progress will be monitored against your target minimum grade for Applied Law in the
following ways:
- Half-termly folder checks
- First- draft and final draft coursework levels
- Ability to meet deadlines consistently
- Homework tasks
- Research topics
 Students who are considered to be working below the standard expected by their teacherin terms of working at a level below their target minimum grade, poor attendance, poor
punctuality, poor effort- can expect to face the following interventions:
- Compulsory coursework club after school every week
- Contact home
- Contact with form tutor, head of year and head of sixth form
- Interview with parents
- Withdrawal from the subject
3.
GENERAL EXPECTATIONS
The Business Studies and Law department have high expectations with regards to how students
approach their studies. The following is a list of minimum requirements:






Students will be punctual to all lessons. If you arrive after the 5 minute bell, and without an
adequate reason, you may not be allowed to remain in the lesson.
You will not have mobile phones on loud and they will be out of sight in your pocket/ bag.
You are not allowed to eat or drink in lessons.
Students will need to be organised. This will mean ensuring notes are filed in a folder,
ensuring you bring pen, paper and a textbook to every lesson.
Consistent failure to have the necessary equipment will result in contact home being made.
If you cannot produce your homework due at the start of the lesson, you cannot take part in
the lesson- you will be asked to leave. The same goes for lesson preparation tasks.
Coursework must be submitted (for marking) in a folder and in chronological order by the
deadline date and time.
 If you know in advance that you will be absent, advise your teacher so that you can collect
the work that you will miss.
 Following an absence, see your teacher to collect any missed notes/ resources.
Course Guide – Year 12 BTEC APPLIED LAW
Twyford Church of England High School
Page 9 of 15
Course starting in September 2014
Course Guide updated June 2014
4.
PREPARING FOR LESSONS AND HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS
Preparing for lessons

All Y12 students studying AS levels or BTEC Level 3 Certificates are expected to undertake
one extra hour of work per subject, per day. This means you should be doing school work for
at least 8 hours per day.

The type of lesson preparation (prep) tasks you can expect to receive in Law are:
Preparation for lesson task
Reading
Annotate notes
Cases
Reviewing lesson material
Revising lesson material
Researching current issues e.g.
newspaper articles

Assessed
Lesson focus and Q & A
Check annotations
Feedback and used in coursework
Q&A
Short Answer Questions peer marked
Report back
You will receive a lesson prep task every lesson
Homework tasks

You will receive homework regularly- this will be directly related to your coursework.
 Homework will largely be consolidating what you have learned in the lesson and typing it up
in the context of the assessed coursework brief.
 You can expect to receive between 4-5 hours of Law homework every week; as well as
typing up lesson notes for coursework pieces, you can expect to be asked to research reallife past cases and/ or existing and/ or proposed legislation.
Course Guide – Year 12 BTEC APPLIED LAW
Twyford Church of England High School
Page 10 of 15
Course starting in September 2014
Course Guide updated June 2014
5.
RESOURCES

The textbook is called ‘AQA Law for AS’, published by Nelson Thornes, ISBN number
9780748798650. You can loan these from Student Services for the cost of £10, which will be
returned to you when it is returned at the end of the year in a reusable condition.

Wider reading lists:
- Law Review magazine (we subscribe to this- you can borrow the department copy or buy
your own subscription)
- The Times Law supplement (can be found on their website)
- Department textbooks- see us for these

Links to useful websites:
- http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/law/?CMP=KNGvccp1times%20law%20supplement- The Times Law pages
- http://sixthformlaw.info/ - Sixth Form Law Info can help you with theory notes and
finding case summaries and outcomes
- www.direct.gov.uk – provide advice to UK citizens on government and laws, citizen
rights and crime and justice
6.
THE LEVEL 4 PROGRAMME YEAR 12
A level 4 student in Law is someone who:





Loves this subject
Wants to become an expert in the legal field, perhaps training to become a solicitor or
barrister some day
Is well-organised, skilled at consistently meeting deadlines, enjoys undertaking independent
research, manages his/her time well and enjoys keeping up to date with media reports of
publicised legal cases and pressures for law reform
Does at least one hour of extra study per subject each day – this can mean going above and
beyond the boundaries of the lesson prep and homework tasks- going the extra mile!
Wishes to contribute to the department via their community service- by updating the level 4
notice board with legal cases and current news and promoting the subject at open evenings
and to younger students in the school
The criteria to be a level 4 student in Law is:


Target of a Distinction grade in Law
Projected Distinction grade from termly grade sheets
Course Guide – Year 12 BTEC APPLIED LAW
Twyford Church of England High School
Page 11 of 15
Course starting in September 2014
Course Guide updated June 2014
7.
STRETCHING THE MOST ABLE AND DIFFERENTIATION

Extension activities will be provided in lessons

Students are expected to do their own additional reading (see wider reading and useful
websites)

Students should take advantage of the excellent legal opportunities in London e.g. attend
relevant public lectures (see London universities websites), visit Parliament, visit the Old
Bailey, visit Inns of Court, University open days etc.

Read a broadsheet newspaper weekly.

Watch legal dramas and documentaries on TV or in Internet i-players.
8.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Students are encouraged to contribute to the department by:
 Finding relevant news articles for the notice board.

Promoting the subject at open evenings and in assemblies.

Talking to year 11 students about choosing law at year 12.

Being the law student representative for student voice.

Being the law student representative in charge of the level 4 notice board.

In year 13 there will be an opportunity to mentor year 12 students.
Course Guide – Year 12 BTEC APPLIED LAW
Twyford Church of England High School
Page 12 of 15
Course starting in September 2014
Course Guide updated June 2014
9.
ADDITIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND WORK EXPERIENCE





10.
Relevant work experience opportunities can be found by contacting legal organisations such
as www.Solicitors-online.com to find solicitor firms in your area which you can contact and
ask about volunteering. Also contact your local Magistrates court to enquire about
shadowing legal personnel.
Speakers from specialist organisations will be invited in to school e.g. speakers from Citizens
Advice Bureau and the Metropolitan Police.
Students can research a topic of their choice and write an essay/present to the class on an
area of legal interest not covered on the specification. This is a form of extended project.
(Details of the formal Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) for TAP students is detailed
below).
There will be an organised visit during year 12 to the Old Bailey and Royal Courts of Justice
in central London.
There will be an opportunity to visit the Galleries of Justice in Nottingham as part of a
residential trip in year 13.
COMPLETING AN EXTENDED PROJECT



Extended projects can be completed in any area of interest in law, but it cannot be a topic
that is taught. Topics that could be studied include:
- The brutal defence questioning of the Dowler family in the Levi Bellfield murder trial
2011
- The on-going review of UK privacy laws in the aftermath of super-injunctions held by rich
celebrities
- Are the sentences for serious offences such as rape, strict enough or should they be
more lenient?
Extended project students will meet with their teacher for guidance and support on a
regular basis that will be agreed with individual students.
Extended projects are highly regarded by universities and employers and provide something
additional to discuss during interview, demonstrating interest and independence in law.
Course Guide – Year 12 BTEC APPLIED LAW
Twyford Church of England High School
Page 13 of 15
Course starting in September 2014
Course Guide updated June 2014

Following is an approximate timeline for completing a project:
Time
Meeting
Purpose of
meeting
By Feb Half term
1
Discuss planned title /
area of research
Before Easter holidays
2
Agree working title
Mid-June
3
Early July
4
Agree plan for next 3
weeks
Assess progress. Agree
plan for summer
holidays. Complete
mid-project review
Paperwork
Complete Record of
Initial Planning
(student)
Complete Proposal
Form A (student) and
Proposal Form B
(supervisor)
Complete Plan at start
of project (student)
Complete Mid-Project
Review (student)
Complete Summary
(student) and show
research completed by
first day back in
September
September
5
Discuss structure for
write-up of report
Hand in first draft for
supervisor to review.
October
6
Discuss first draft and
Complete End of
what improvements
Project Review
need to be made
(student)
December
Final Submission
Complete
Presentation Record
part A (student)
Complete
January
Presentation
Presentation Record
part B (supervisor)
Complete Reflection
(student)
Project will now be graded by Supervisor, standardised by Mr Crust and moderated by AQA to
decide your final grade
Course Guide – Year 12 BTEC APPLIED LAW
Twyford Church of England High School
Page 14 of 15
Course starting in September 2014
Course Guide updated June 2014
11.
CELEBRATING SUCCESS AND STUDENT VOICE


-
The level 4 notice board will include examples of outstanding student work, specification
details, details of relevant University open days, trip details and experiences of ex-students
reading Law at university.
Students can achieve an award in law through:
Demonstrating an exceptional interest in the subject through wider reading
Outstanding effort in class and on coursework pieces
Outstanding achievement
 All students will have the opportunity to feedback at the end of each unit.
 You may have the opportunity to take part in a student voice group who will meet with a
teacher at least once every term.
Course Guide – Year 12 BTEC APPLIED LAW
Twyford Church of England High School
Page 15 of 15
Course starting in September 2014
Course Guide updated June 2014