A+ Programme Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Applied Law

Course overview

This course is designed to be studied alongside 2 A Levels and combines well with subjects such as Business, Economics, English, History, Politics and Psychology.

The Extended Certificate in Applied Law is a unique qualification in the legal sector, providing an excellent introduction to law and giving you an edge when progressing to higher education and employment. The qualification carries UCAS points and is taken alongside other qualifications as part of a two-year programme of learning. It is recognised by higher education providers as contributing to meeting admission requirements for many courses. In fact four out of five BTEC students go on to receive a First or Second class degree.

The aim of the course is to explore the underlying framework of the law and learn and apply key areas. You will study four units including Dispute Solving in Civil Law, Investigating Aspects of Criminal Law and the Legal System, Applying the Law and Aspects of Tort Law. Upon completion of the course you will understand the law of negligence, know the different non-fatal offences, advise about a murder case and describe how laws are made and applied.

But the emphasis is not just on knowledge; key skills are also developed throughout the course. There will be opportunities for you to develop essential employability skills including problem-solving, communication, negotiation, self-management, resilience and presentation. If you are looking to enter Higher Education then the course provides skills that are vital for success at university including the ability to learn independently, the ability to research actively and methodically and being able to give presentations.

Much of the subject matter is approached through class discussion, the use of video material, internet activities, text books and reference to topical events. You will be given a course handbook that contains information, activiities and homework tasks to be completed. You will be encouraged to draw on your own experiences in order to look at the world and analyse current affairs within a legal framework.

What else do I need to know?

The Law department is a very innovative department and makes comprehensive use of the college Virtual Learning Environment (i-Site). All materials including online text books, online law journals, Twitter, revision booklets and MP3 revision files can be accessed by all learners via the Internet. In addition to the classroom activities, the Law department runs an annual study visit to London and has a number of guest speakers to visit the college such as solicitors, barristers and the CPS to provide career advice.