Applied Law

Who is this qualification for?

The Pearson BTEC National Extended Certificate in Applied Law is an Applied General qualification for post-16 learners who want to continue their education through applied learning and who aim to progress to higher education and ultimately to employment, possibly in the legal sector. The qualification is equivalent in size to one A Level and aims to provide a detailed introduction to the legal sector.

What does this qualification cover?

The content of this qualification has been developed in consultation with academics to ensure that it supports progression to higher education. It includes the opportunity to develop the research, communication, presentation, decision-making and critical-thinking skills valued by higher education. In addition, employers have been involved and consulted in order to confirm that the content is appropriate and consistent with current practice for learners planning to enter employment directly in the legal sector.

The learning programme covers the following content areas:

• dispute solving in civil law
• investigating aspects of criminal law and the legal system
• applying the law

The optional units have been designed to support choices for further study, preferred interest or employment needs. They support the mandatory unit content and link with relevant occupational areas. They cover content areas in:

• aspects of family law
• consumer law
• contract law
• aspects of tort

What could this qualification lead to?

The qualification carries UCAS points and if it is taken alongside other qualifications as part of a two-year programme of learning, then it is recognised by higher education providers as contributing to meeting admission requirements for many courses. It will support entry to many higher education courses, depending on the other qualifications learners have taken. Learners should always check the entry requirements for degree programmes with specific higher education providers. The qualification can also support progression to employment directly or via an Apprenticeship.

How does the qualification provide employability skills?

In the BTEC National units there are opportunities during the teaching and learning phase to give learners practice in developing employability skills. Where employability skills are referred to in this specification, we are generally referring to skills in the following three main categories:

• cognitive and problem-solving skills: use critical thinking, approach non-routine problems applying expert and creative solutions, use systems and technology
• intrapersonal skills: communicating, working collaboratively, negotiating and influencing, self-presentation
• interpersonal skills: self-management, adaptability and resilience, self-monitoring and development.

There are also specific requirements in some units for assessment of these skills where relevant, for example, where learners are required to undertake real or simulated activities.

How does the qualification provide transferable knowledge and skills for higher education?

All BTEC Nationals provide transferable knowledge and skills that prepare learners for progression to higher education. The transferable skills that universities value include:

• the ability to learn independently
• the ability to research actively and methodically
• being able to give presentations and being active group members.

BTEC learners can also benefit from opportunities for deep learning where they are able to make connections among units and select areas of interest for detailed study. BTEC Nationals provide a vocational context in which learners can develop the knowledge and skills required for particular degree courses, including:

• reading legal texts
• effective writing
• research skills
• analytical skills
• creative development
• preparation for assessment methods used in degrees

Qualification structure

Mandatory units There are three mandatory units that learners must complete, one internal and two external. Learners must complete and achieve at Near Pass grade or above in all mandatory external units and achieve a Pass or above in all mandatory internal units. The three mandatory units are Dispute Solving in Civil Law, Investigating Aspects of Criminal Law and the Legal System and Applying the Law.

Optional units
Learners must complete at least one optional unit. We can choose from Aspects of Family Law, Consumer Law, Contract Law or Aspects of Tort.

External assessment

This is a summary of the type and availability of external assessment, which is of units making up 58% of the total qualification learning hours.

Unit 1: Dispute Solving in Civil Law

• A task set and marked by Pearson and completed under supervised conditions.
• Learners will be given information about a case one week before a supervised assessment period in order to carry out research.
• The supervised assessment period is a maximum of one and a half hours, in one sitting, on a specified date timetabled by Pearson.
• Submission completed using a computer.
• Worth 60 marks and completed in Jan or May/June

Unit 3: Applying the Law: A task set and marked by Pearson and completed under supervised conditions.

• Learners are given information about two cases two weeks before a supervised assessment period in order to carry out research.
• The supervised assessment period is a maximum of two hours, in one morning sitting, on a specified date timetabled by Pearson.
• Written submission.
• worth 72 marks and again sat in either Jan or May/June