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Ace A-Level Law with Smart Revision

Prepare for A-Level Law with practice on the English legal system, criminal law, tort law, contract law, and human rights.

Content reviewed February 2026 · Aligned to current specifications

About A-Level Law

A-Level Law introduces you to the English legal system and the principles that underpin it. You will study criminal law, tort law (civil wrongs), contract law, and human rights law, alongside the structure of the courts, the legislative process, and the role of judges and juries. The course develops your ability to apply legal rules to factual scenarios and to evaluate whether the law achieves justice.

Law is directly relevant for law degrees, but universities do not require it — many law schools actually value diversity of A-Level subjects. It is also excellent preparation for politics, criminology, business, and any career involving regulation, compliance, or dispute resolution. The analytical reasoning and argumentation skills are highly transferable.

The main challenges include learning and accurately applying legal rules and case law, developing the skill of applying law to hypothetical scenarios (a key exam skill), and writing structured arguments that weigh competing legal principles. Students who are precise, logical, and enjoy debating tend to thrive.

Topics Covered

English Legal System Criminal Law Tort Law Contract Law Human Rights Law Making Judicial Precedent Legal Skills

Exam Boards

A-Level Law is available from these exam boards

How UpGrades Helps

Exam-Style Questions

Practice with Law questions that mirror the format and difficulty of real A-Level exams.

Detailed Explanations

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Progress Tracking

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Study Tips for Law

  • Learn case law with precision — know the case name, the key facts, and the legal principle it established. For example, Donoghue v Stevenson (1932) established the neighbour principle in negligence. You must cite cases accurately in exam answers to earn full marks.
  • Practise applying the IRAC method (Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion) to scenario questions. Identify the legal issue, state the relevant law and supporting case, apply it to the facts given, and reach a conclusion. This structured approach is what examiners expect.
  • Create summary charts for each area of law showing the elements that must be proved. For example, in negligence: duty of care, breach of duty, causation (factual and legal), and remoteness of damage. These frameworks help you work through scenarios systematically.
  • Read about current legal cases and developments in the news. Being able to reference contemporary examples in your evaluation questions demonstrates engagement with the subject and strengthens your critical analysis.

Exam Tips for A-Level Law

  • In scenario-based questions, work through each legal element methodically. Do not jump to a conclusion — the marks are for the legal reasoning, not just the answer. Discuss each element of the offence or claim, apply the relevant case law, and then reach a conclusion on liability.
  • For essay questions evaluating the law, present both sides of the argument with specific supporting evidence (cases, statistics, academic commentary) before reaching a balanced conclusion. One-sided arguments will not access the top mark bands.
  • Use legal terminology precisely. Saying the defendant is guilty is appropriate in criminal law but not in tort — in civil law, the defendant is liable. These distinctions demonstrate legal literacy and are expected at A-Level.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need A-Level Law to study law at university? +
No. Most law schools do not require A-Level Law, and many actively state they have no preference for it. Some even prefer students who bring different subject perspectives. However, A-Level Law does give you a useful introduction to legal concepts and study skills that can help in the first year of a degree.
How hard is A-Level Law? +
A-Level Law is moderately challenging. The content is accessible and often interesting, but the volume of cases and legal rules you need to learn is substantial. The application and evaluation skills required for top grades take practice. Students who enjoy structured logical reasoning tend to find it very manageable.
How many exams are there in A-Level Law? +
Typically three written papers at the end of Year 13, each around two hours. These cover the legal system, criminal law, and either tort or contract law (depending on your exam board and option choice). There is no coursework component. Papers include scenario-based and essay questions.
What careers does A-Level Law lead to? +
Law leads to careers as a solicitor, barrister, paralegal, legal executive, police officer, compliance officer, human resources manager, mediator, civil servant, and journalist. The analytical and argumentation skills are valued across many professions beyond the legal sector.

Law at other levels: International A-Level Law

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