All about law…

Andy McGowan CUSU Access Officer,

Law GraduateTrinity Hall, Cambridge

What do we mean by ‘the law’?

-Have you been affected by the law?

- How do you define it?

When people think about law…

Some of the other areas of law

Studying Law at University

• 2 main aspects of the law:1. What is the law?

2. Is the law correct or should it be changed?

• Study a wide range of modules – 7 compulsory ones – Criminal, Public, Tort, Contract, Land, European Union, Trusts.

What is actually involved??

Reading?

Controversial issues?

Critical Thinking?

Debating?

Essays?

Gaining skills to

become a lawyer?

Work Experience

?

Mooting/Mock Trials

Lectures?

Small-Group Teaching?

My Timetable

Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri

9am

10am Criminal Constitutional

11amCriminal Civil Constitutional

12pmTort Tort Civil

1pm

2pm Constitutional Supervision (2:30) (Wk1)

3pm

Civil Supervision (Wk2)

4pmTort (Wk2) Criminal Supervision (Wk1)

What can you go on to do after a law degree?

Danielle Brown (GB Paralympian)

Barack Obama (President of USA)

Cherie Booth(Barrister)

David Lammy(Former Minister for Higher Education)

John Cleese (Comedy Actor (Monty Python))

Andrea Bocelli(Singer)

Choosing where/what to study

• 1534 law courses in UK alone!• What type of law course would you want to

study?• Criminology• European Law• Combined courses• Qualifying/non-qualifying?• Year abroad?

A-Level Choices

• No required subjects• Essay-based subjects can be useful.• Subjects that involve reading/thinking critically• A Level Law is neither frowned upon or

required – universities are neutral.• Check university websites/UCAS website.• http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergradu

ate/apply/requirements.html

Law in Action• Assault - "any act by which a person intentionally or

recklessly causes another person to apprehend immediate and unlawful ad personal violence."

• Battery - "any act by which a person, intentionally or recklessly inflicts unlawful personal violence upon another person." (no particular injury is necessary). Can be direct or indirect

• Common assault = Assault + battery

Law in Action

• Duress - To succeed in the defence, the defendant must show that he

committed the crime in response to threats of death or serious harm,

usually directed at the defendant or his immediate family or someone close

to him.

Defence to murder???

How to find out more about law• Ask me questions today

• E-mail me – access@cusu.cam.ac.uk

• ‘What about law?’ – by Virgo, O’Sullivan & Barnard

• UCAS Website – www.ucas.ac.uk

• Read a broadsheet newspaper, watch the news, go to a court, look around you!