A Levels for law – a flexible choice

I consider law to be law. LLB (Hons) is (the start of) a training course to become a solicitor or a barrister, not a humanity.

It is possible to have a career in law with a degree in history or theoretical physics but this is a more circuitous route to take.

IF you are telling the truth, then it means that A Levels for the purpose of a law degree are just pure credentialism because the degree course does not build on the skills and knowledge contained in the A Levels. Therefore a law degree will actually be no more difficult for a person with good GCSE grades and no A Levels than for a person with 3 A* grade A Levels.

I don't think this is the case in reality as I find it difficult to believe that all A Levels are equal preparation for law degree in terms of skills and knowledge.

Is there a reason why a much higher proportion of law students have A Levels in English literature and history than further mathematics and electronics? Foreign languages are more common than physics and chemistry.

I consider law to be law. LLB (Hons) is (the start of) a training course to become a solicitor or a barrister, not a humanity.

It is possible to have a career in law with a degree in history or theoretical physics but this is a more circuitous route to take.

Wrong again. Law degrees are pure academia, with very little practical learning. They aren’t training courses. That’s why the GDL (it’s changing soon so idk what it’s gonna be called) exists. The LPC and BPTC (I think that’s what they’re called, may be changing?) are the courses that train you to become a solicitor and barrister, respectively.

Re: "unteaching":

1) The courses covered in A-level law are extremely straightforward and tend to 'clump' nicely into distinct topics. The format stays the same; it's the content and the links drawn between courses that become more advanced. For example, criminal law and trusts will always be taught in a similar way - and the only difference is whether 'bonus' topics like corporate liability in criminal law or the administration of wills in trusts law are taught at all.

2) A lot of the value of a law degree lies in its advanced modules (usually taken in third year) that aren't available in the A-level course. These modules are where a leading researcher can really add value.

3) The improved legal skills you learn as a law student (key among which is learning how to read cases!) won't enable you to peer into some alternate reality where the law is different to what it was at A-level. At most, they'll allow you to see the nuance in the law and draw links between cases/different areas. But nothing you will have learnt at A-level will be outright discredited - the law, particularly in easier modules, is fairly certain, no matter who teaches it.

The law A Level has been updated as a result of Michael Gove's reforms so there really should be less requirement for universities to have to unteach and students unlearn material from the A Level than with its predecessors.

I have not got round to looking at the reformed A Level in detail but I have the book OCR Law for AS from the previous A Level. It covers the English legal system and sources of law in an easy to understand format which provides a solid foundation for its reader to build their knowledge of law to their own requirements. It is based on a book the English Legal System, by the same author Jacqueline Martin, which is more in-depth.

The previous A2 covers criminal law and either law of contract or law of torts. In my opinion they are superficial and simplistic because an attempt has been made to condense huge subjects into half an A Level.

I believe myself that it would be very helpful and beneficial for anybody who plans on studying a law degree to read the English Legal System / OCR Law for AS. It's almost like a road map of the legal system and institutions and it would demonstrate an interest in law. There have been times when I have thought that students planning on taking a law degree might be better off taking law at AS Level in conjunction with 3 other A Levels rather than as a complete A Level.

The new OCR AS Level covers the legal system and criminal law, and law making and the law of tort.



I'm well aware of this for solicitors where many spend their working lives doing 'bread and butter' type legal work such as conveyancing for property; dealing with broken marriages; or representing petty criminals in police stations. Only a small fraction do anything truly exciting or venture into uncharted territory such as solicitors dealing with cybercrime, terrorism, or human rights.

It's a similar situation with, say, Economics or CompSci. Neither are required A-levels at most (any?) universities to study either Economics or CS.

However, many universities prefer that applicants for these degrees have studied these subjects to A Level or at least they respect them whereas controversies surrounding the suitability of A Level law in relation to a law degree have circulated for many years.

The law A Level has been updated as a result of Michael Gove's reforms so there really should be less requirement for universities to have to unteach and students unlearn material from the A Level than with its predecessors.

I have not got round to looking at the reformed A Level in detail but I have the book OCR Law for AS from the previous A Level. It covers the English legal system and sources of law in an easy to understand format which provides a solid foundation for its reader to build their knowledge of law to their own requirements. It is based on a book the English Legal System, by the same author Jacqueline Martin, which is more in-depth.

The previous A2 covers criminal law and either law of contract or law of torts. In my opinion they are superficial and simplistic because an attempt has been made to condense huge subjects into half an A Level.

I believe myself that it would be very helpful and beneficial for anybody who plans on studying a law degree to read the English Legal System / OCR Law for AS. It's almost like a road map of the legal system and institutions and it would demonstrate an interest in law. There have been times when I have thought that students planning on taking a law degree might be better off taking law at AS Level in conjunction with 3 other A Levels rather than as a complete A Level.

The new OCR AS Level covers the legal system and criminal law, and law making and the law of tort.



I'm well aware of this for solicitors where many spend their working lives doing 'bread and butter' type legal work such as conveyancing for property; dealing with broken marriages; or representing petty criminals in police stations. Only a small fraction do anything truly exciting or venture into uncharted territory such as solicitors dealing with cybercrime, terrorism, or human rights.