Qualification
AQA A-level Law
AQA specification 7162, Option A, covering criminal law, tort, contract law and the English legal system.
AQA A-level · Specification 7162A
Online A-level Law Course
Explore how English law is created, interpreted and applied while developing the analytical skills needed to solve legal problems and construct clear, authoritative arguments. This structured home-study course covers the English legal system, criminal law, tort and contract law.
Immediate access to the online course
35 lessons across eight Law modules
Optional tutor marking, tutorials and printed materials
Start your Law course
£14.99 / month
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£24.99
Includes:
- Course materials subscription
- Academic induction session and booking fee
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Course overview
Understand how law is made, interpreted and applied
A-level Law introduces the institutions, rules and principles that shape the legal system of England and Wales. You will study how Parliament and the courts create law, how judges interpret legislation and precedent, and how legal disputes move through the civil and criminal courts.
The course then develops your understanding of substantive law through criminal liability, tort and contract law. You will learn to identify the legal issues within hypothetical scenarios, select relevant statutes and cases, apply legal principles and construct balanced conclusions.
This course follows AQA specification 7162, Option A. Paper 3 therefore assesses Contract Law rather than the alternative Human Rights option.
Course structure
8 modules · 35 lessons
Study law making, the legal system, criminal liability, tort, law and society and contract law.
Recommended study time
Approximately 700 hours
Students should normally allow two years for lesson study, legal reading, assignments and examination preparation.
Enrolment
Start at any time
There is no fixed term date, allowing you to plan study around your intended examination year.
Assignments
16 tutor-marked assignments
Thirteen topic assignments and three full A-level practice papers develop knowledge, application and examination technique.
Assessment
3 written papers
Each paper lasts two hours, carries 100 marks and contributes one third of the qualification.
Coursework
No NEA or coursework
The qualification is assessed entirely through written examinations.
Entry and grading
Grades A*–E
All three papers must be taken during the same examination period.
This course follows the Contract Law option
AQA Paper 3 offers a choice between Contract Law and Human Rights. Oxford Home Schooling teaches Option A, Contract Law, so examination entry may be recorded as 7162A. The course does not provide preparation for the Human Rights option.
Flexible home study
How the A-level Law course works
Work through the modules in sequence, beginning with the sources and institutions of English law. These early lessons provide the foundation needed to understand later work on criminal liability, tort and contract.
Lessons contain revision points, self-assessment tests and opportunities to apply legal rules to realistic scenarios. You will progressively develop the ability to identify issues, explain the relevant law, use statutory and case authority and apply that law to the facts presented.
Tutor-marked assignments closely reflect the combination of multiple-choice, short-answer and extended-writing questions used in the AQA examinations. The final practice papers allow you to rehearse the full examination format for criminal law, tort and contract law.
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Enrol and start online
Enrol at any time and receive immediate access to your online Law course. Your included academic induction session helps you understand the structure and plan your studies.
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Learn the legal rules
Study legislation, judicial precedent, court structures and the principles governing criminal law, tort and contract.
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Apply law to scenarios
Develop the ability to identify legal issues, select relevant authority and apply legal rules to hypothetical disputes and offences.
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Prepare for all three papers
Use assignments and full practice papers to improve accuracy, timing, legal argument and examination technique.
Flexible additional support
Add personal support when you need it
Assignment marking, Email Tutor Support, one-to-one tutorials, mock-exam marking and printed course materials can be purchased separately.
Course content
What you’ll study
The course contains 35 lessons across eight modules. You will begin with law making and the English legal system before developing detailed knowledge of criminal law, tort and contract law.
Module 1 Law Making Study sources of law, parliamentary legislation, delegated legislation, statutory interpretation and judicial precedent. 7 lessons
- The English Legal System
- Sources of Law
- The Formal Legislative Process
- Influences on Parliament
- Delegated Legislation
- Statutory Interpretation
- Judicial Precedent
Module 2 The Legal System Examine civil and criminal courts, alternative dispute resolution, legal personnel, the judiciary and access to justice. 4 lessons
- The Civil Courts and Other Forms of Dispute Resolution
- The Criminal Courts and Lay People
- The Legal Profession, Access to Justice and Funding
- The Judiciary
Module 3 Introduction to Criminal Liability Explore the underlying principles of criminal responsibility, court procedure and sentencing. 2 lessons
- Underlying Principles of Criminal Liability
- The Criminal Courts: Procedure and Sentencing
Module 4 Introduction to Tort Develop an initial understanding of negligence, civil procedure and damages. 2 lessons
- Liability in Negligence
- The Civil Courts: Procedure and Damages
Module 5 Law and Society Consider the relationship between law, morality, justice and the wider society in which law operates. 1 lesson
- Society, Morality and Justice
Module 6 Criminal Law Study liability, fatal and non-fatal offences, property offences, attempts and criminal defences. 5 lessons
- General Elements of Liability
- Fatal Offences Against the Person
- Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person
- Theft, Robbery and Attempt
- General Defences in Criminal Law
Module 7 Law of Tort Explore negligence, vicarious liability, occupiers’ liability, nuisance, defences, remedies and compensation. 7 lessons
- The Rules and Theory of Tort
- Liability in Negligence: Physical and Economic Loss
- Vicarious Liability
- Occupiers’ Liability
- Defences in Tort
- Private Nuisance
- Remedies and Compensation
Module 8 Law of Contract Study contract formation, terms, exclusion clauses, vitiating factors, discharge and remedies. 7 lessons
- The Rules and Theory of Contract Law
- Essential Requirements in Contract
- Contract Terms: Common Law and Statute
- Exclusion Clauses
- Vitiating Factors
- Discharging a Contract
- Remedies
Practice Examination — Paper 1: Criminal Law
Practice Examination — Paper 2: Tort
Practice Examination — Paper 3: Contract Law
Build legal knowledge progressively
The modules should normally be studied in sequence. Later criminal, tort and contract problems rely on the legal principles, court structures and methods of interpretation developed during the first-year modules.
Exams and assessment
How the course is assessed
AQA A-level Law is assessed through three equally weighted written examination papers. Each paper combines multiple-choice questions, short answers and extended legal writing.
You will be assessed on your knowledge of legal rules and institutions, your ability to identify issues within scenarios, your application of relevant law and your ability to construct clear arguments supported by legislation and case authority.
Criminal law and the legal system
Paper 1
2 hours
Exam duration
100 marks
Available marks
33⅓%
Of the qualification
Twenty-five marks assess the nature of law and the English legal system, while 75 marks assess criminal law.
Tort and the legal system
Paper 2
2 hours
Exam duration
100 marks
Available marks
33⅓%
Of the qualification
Twenty-five marks assess the nature of law and the English legal system, while 75 marks assess the law of tort.
Contract law and the legal system
Paper 3 · Option A
2 hours
Exam duration
100 marks
Available marks
33⅓%
Of the qualification
Seventy-five marks assess Contract Law, while 25 marks assess the nature of law and the English legal system.
Question styles
Mixed examination format
Each paper contains multiple-choice, short-answer and extended-writing questions.
Legal application
Scenario-based analysis
Students must identify legal issues and apply statutory provisions, cases and principles to the facts supplied.
Coursework
No NEA component
The qualification is assessed entirely through the three written papers.
Qualification structure
Linear A-level
All three papers must be taken during the same examination period and individual results cannot be carried forward.
Arranging your examinations
Enter for AQA Law 7162, Option A
Home-educated students enter as private candidates through a suitable examination centre. Before booking, confirm that the centre can enter you for all three AQA Law papers and that Paper 3 is recorded under the Contract Law option.
Support & add-ons
Add extra Law support when you need it
Your subscription provides the structured online course materials and suggested answers required for independent study. Assignment marking, tutorials, mock-exam feedback and printed materials can be purchased separately. Current linked add-on prices are shown below.
Written feedback
Assignment marking
Submit legal explanations, scenario answers and extended arguments for feedback on accuracy, authority, application, structure and examination technique.
Assignment marking bundle£116.88
Personal tuition
One-to-one Law tutorials
Book a live session to discuss difficult legal principles, practise applying law to scenarios or review your approach to extended questions.
Tutorial time Purchased separately
Exam preparation
Mock exam marking
Complete examination-style criminal law, tort and contract papers and receive feedback on knowledge, application, timing and legal writing.
Mock examination marking bundle£85.50
Ongoing guidance
Email Tutor Support
Ask brief course-related questions when a case, statute, legal rule or assignment requirement needs further clarification.
Email Tutor Support£10.00 / month
Printed materials
Law course pack
Add printed, spiral-bound copies of the course materials if you prefer to read, annotate and revise away from the screen.
Printed course materials£50.00
Build examination confidence
Use feedback to improve legal application
Successful Law answers require more than recalling legal rules. Tutor feedback can help you select relevant authority, apply it accurately to a scenario and construct a logical, balanced argument.
Explore your options
See all available Law support
Prospective students can compare the available support services. Existing students can purchase Law marking, tutorials and other course-specific add-ons through their account.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about the A-level Law course
Find answers about starting the course, the topics studied, examinations, Contract Law, tutor support and the additional books required.
Can I start the Law course at any time?
Yes. There are no fixed term dates, so you can enrol and begin studying when it suits you. You should plan your timetable around the year in which you intend to sit all three examinations.
How long should I allow for the course?
We recommend allowing approximately 700 hours of study and normally completing the A-level over two years.
Which specification does the course follow?
The course prepares students for AQA A-level Law specification 7162, Option A.
What does Option A mean?
Paper 3 allows candidates to study either Contract Law or Human Rights. This course follows Option A and prepares students for Contract Law.
Does the course cover Human Rights for Paper 3?
No. The course teaches Contract Law for Paper 3 and does not provide preparation for the alternative Human Rights option.
How is A-level Law assessed?
The qualification is assessed through three two-hour written papers. Each carries 100 marks and contributes one third of the final qualification.
Does A-level Law include coursework?
No. There is no coursework or non-exam assessment. All assessment takes place through the three written examinations.
What types of question appear in the examinations?
Each paper contains a combination of multiple-choice questions, short answers and extended legal writing. Many questions require you to apply law to a hypothetical scenario.
Do I need to remember legal cases?
Yes. Case authority is an important part of legal argument. You should know the principle established by key cases and be able to use relevant examples to support your analysis.
Do I need previous experience of Law?
No prior Law qualification is required. The course begins with the sources, institutions and methods of the English legal system before progressing to substantive law.
Is tutor marking included in the subscription?
No. Suggested answers support independent study, but personal tutor marking must be purchased separately for individual assignments or as a marking bundle.
Can I book tutorials for difficult legal topics?
Yes. One-to-one tutorials can be purchased separately for help with legal principles, scenario application, case law or examination technique.
Do I need the accompanying textbooks?
Yes. The course is designed to be used with the recommended Year 1 and Year 2 AQA Law textbooks. The lessons contain reading references linked to those books.
Should I study the modules in order?
Yes. The course is progressive, and the later substantive-law modules rely on the legal concepts, institutions and methods introduced earlier.
Ready to begin?
Start your online A-level Law course
Enrol at any time and begin working towards the AQA A-level Law qualification through a structured, flexible home-study course.
- Start studying at any time
- Immediate access to the online course
- Prepare for criminal law, tort and contract law examinations
Start your Law course
Return to the enrolment panel to review today’s payment and add the course to your basket.