LAW
Welcome to Petroc PACE +
A Level Law
The information on this page will give you a flavour of what life is like studying Law A Level at Petroc and help to expand your knowledge. Take a look around!
Start by watching the welcome presentation from one of our our lecturers, Frances Green, and learn what the content you will be learning on the course.
Why not have a go at this month's activities. You can also gain an understanding of the careers you could go onto and find out what our current and previous students have got up to this year.
Once you are finished why not check out what else Petroc has to offer on the Life at Petroc page.
June Content
Introduction to A Level Law
Watch this video to get an introduction to A Level Law and have a go at the activity!
Click on the image below to watch the video
Trips and visits!
Every year our A Level Law students are given a fantastic opportunity to take part in the Young Citizens National Bar Mock Trials Competition where they are asked to hold a Court Case in front of competing colleges!
The event, supported by Bath and North East Somerset Council and The Bar Council, saw first and second year learners compare two trials as Advocates, Witnesses, Court Clerks, Ushers and Members of the Jury. They even appeared before a Judge during proceedings!
Our students finished as South West runners up last year. Pictured in court are Millie Simmons, Ella Maddocks, Danny Cook, Miranda Agate, Max Hennessey - all set to attend Russell Group Universities for Law!
July Content
An activity for you to complete from home:
STATUTORY INTERPRETATION
The sources of our law are numerous. Legislation (these are rules made by Parliament and other government bodies such as local councils) are the ‘highest’ source of law. You will learn about how these laws are made. You will then also start to discover a source called ‘statutory interpretation’. This is when legislation is not very clear and courts have to decide what the legislation actually means. You will also learn about ‘judicial precedent’ which is where courts make laws.
Because Parliament is elected the laws which come from it are the most important and can change nearly all other sources of law. This is why it is called the highest source of law.
In your lessons at school you may have learned how Parliament makes laws. If not we will look again at this when you start your law A level. Instead i would like you to explore what statutory interpretation and judicial precedent are all about.
There are 2 worksheets attached to this information. Using the websites below (and others if you can find them, have a go at answering the questions.
USE
https://www.e-lawresources.co.uk/
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheLawBank
And just google!- make sure you don’t use any other sites except UK sites, especially not American law as it is very different to our law and our systems.
Please make a copy of the document (open them, click 'File', then 'Make a Copy')
August Content
An activity for you to complete from home:
Judicial Precedent
Where there is no legislation to follow the court has to use other sources. These sources may be decisions of previous courts. This is called judicial precedent- following the precedent of previous court decisions. This is a system of knowing which decisions a court make have to be followed.
Please make a copy of the document (open them, click 'File', then 'Make a Copy')
Useful links
The following links will be useful for you to explore to see the wide variety of topics in the study of law:
Follow this educational youtube account that has been created to help students learn and revise for Law exam success: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheLawBank
Watch to explore why you should study Law
Watch to explore justice (this one is entertaining!)
A debate on Magna Carta
Swearing in of the President of the High Court: