Learning about the Law

Learning about the LawClassroom Notes

Age Range: KS3 or KS4

Timing: This unit is designed to be run across a lesson, lasting approximately one hour. Rough guidelines for timings have been given for each activity.

Curriculum references:

Citizenship KS3: ■ The nature of rules and laws and the justice system,

including the role of the police and the operation of courts and tribunals.

Citizenship KS3: ■ The legal system in the UK, different sources of law

and how the law helps society deal with complex problems.

Related lessons plans:

■ Law Makers ■ Human Rights ■ Police Powers ■ Youth Justice Context This resource will give your students an introduction to the legal system in the UK and the roles of those who are involved in the law. Students will also explore the differences between criminal and civil law.

Worksheets and Resources:

Worksheet 1 - Who is involved in the law?Worksheet 2 - Civil/Criminal quiz

© Young Citizens is an initiative of the Citizenship Foundation • Charity Reg. No. 801360 1

Lesson ObjectivesBy the end of the lesson students will:

■ Know the job descriptions of people involved in the law.■ Share what you already know about the law.■ Understand the difference between civil and criminal law.


Cross Curricular links:

SMSC■ Recognise legal boundaries and, in so doing,

respect the civil and criminal law in England. Accept and engage with the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberties and mutual respect.


Introduction (15 mins)

Explain that in today’s lesson pupils will be introduced to discussing legal issues. The focus will be on three main areas: the key reasons why we have law, who is involved in the legal world, and the difference between civil and criminal law. Ask pupils the following question:

Q: What do you know about the law

Use the prompts from slide 3 to further extend your discussion.

Q: Why do we have laws?Q: Who makes the law?Q: Who applies the law?Q: How does the law affect your life?

Conclude this section by asking student what they would like to learn about the law. Record their ideas to refer to later.


Activity 1: Who is involved in the Law (10 mins)

Ask the pupils to match up the name of the legal professional or team to their job description using worksheet 1. Answers can be found on slide 4.

Activity 2: What is a crime? (20 mins) Give pupils the criminal definition of “criminal” law and “crime” on slide 5.

Using slide 6 briefly explain that some things are still offences, even though they are not crimes. These are known as Civil offences. Some examples of Civil offences include:

■ Breaking a contract ■ Unequal pay ■ Trespass■ Unfair Dismissal ■ Divorce settlements ■ Rent disputes

You may wish to run this activity as a “stand up; sit down” activity (i.e. pupils stand up if they think the scenario is a crime, but remain seated if they think it is not). Alternatively it could be used as the basis for a class discussion. Explain that you will now be doing a quick quiz. Students must decide if each example is a crime or not.


Activity 2: Contd. Slide 8: Killing someone - CrimeKilling someone could be murder or manslaughter. The maximum sentence for murder is a mandatory life sentence; manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Slide 9: Breaking a contract - No crimeYou can be sued for damages (money) for breaching a contract, but it is not a criminal offence!

Slide 10: Cheating on someone - No crimeAdultery has never been a criminal offence in England.

Slide 11: Insulting someone on Twitter - No CrimeUnless the insult is threatening or grossly offensive it will not be a criminal offence. What matters is how a reasonable person would interpret the insult.

Slide 12: Unfairly dismissing someone from their job - No CrimeThis is an employment law issue, not a criminal offence.

Slide 13: Carrying a weapon - CrimeCarrying an offensive weapon is illegal under the Prevention of Crime Act 1953.

Slide 14: Swapping the price tags in a shop - CrimeAs soon as you switch the tags, it is a crime because you intend to dishonestly pay the wrong price for your goods and you have interfered with the owner’s rights.

Slide 15: Failing to save a stranger drowning in a river - No crimeYou have no legal duty to save a drowning person unless you have a close relationship (e.g. someone who has parental responsibility for a child) or it is your professional duty (e.g. because you are a lifeguard).

Slide 16: Trespassing on a private land to take a shortcut - No crimeEven though you may have seen signs that say ‘trespassers will be prosecuted’, this type of trespass is not a crime.

Discussion point: Not all trespassing is a crime.The types of trespass that are criminal offences can be found in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. This Act banned collective trespass and nuisance on land, and included bans on raves, disruptive trespass, squatters, and unauthorised campers.

Slide 17: Biting someone during a football game - No crimeIf your physical behaviour is outside of what could be reasonably expected in the normal rules of the game (e.g. biting in football), it could be considered an offence against the person.



Activity 3: What is Civil Law (15 mins)

This activity focuses on the differences between criminal and civil law. The key differences are outlined below.

■ Different remedies - in criminal proceedings the outcome is either an aquittal or the imposition of a punishment (prison, a fine, or a community penalty). In civil proceedings, the outcome is either that the claimant loses, or receives an award of damages.

■ Different parties and party names - in criminal cases, the two parties are the government and the “defendant” or the person accused of the crime, whereas civil cases are brought by private parties called the claimant and defendant.

■ Different balance of probabilities - For someone to be found guilty of a crime, guilt must be proved “beyond reasonable doubt”. In civil cases, the claimant must prove their case “on the balance of probabilities”.

■ Different courts - especially at the lower level

The diagram on slide 18 gives a good overview of the hierarchy of the criminal and civil law court system. You may feel that this is adequate or you may like to discuss each court in more detail using the slides 19 - 24.

Once pupils begin to understand the difference between criminal and civil law, they can complete the quiz on worksheet 2. The answers to the quiz questions can be found on the following page and on slides 25 - 26. Alternatively, an interactive Kahoots quiz can be used via this link: http://bit.ly/LATL1617


Plenary (10 mins)

Return to the question you asked students at the start of the lesson. What new information have they now learnt that they could add to this list.

Ask the pupils the questions below as a conclusion to the lesson. Questions can be found on slide 27.

Q: What surprised you the most from what we’ve discussed today?Q: Are there any laws or ideas that you have particularly disagreed with?


A

B

E

C

D

F

G

H

Someone deliberately takes something from a shop without paying for it.

Criminal law - theft is an offence.

A bus shelter is smashed and covered in graffiti.

Criminal law - criminal damage is an offence.

You buy an MP3 player that stops working after two weeks

Civil law - consumers generally have the right to a refund if they purchase something that is not of satisfactory quality.

You download a lot of music from the internet without paying.

Criminal and civil law - breach of copyright is a criminal offence. It also becomes a civil matter if the owner of the copyright tries to obtain compensation for the losses that they have suffered.

Your neighbours play loud music at night, which stops you from sleeping.

Criminal and civil law - noise abatement is a civil matter and can lead to claims for compensation. It can also be a criminal offence and prosecution can lead to fine or forfeiture of the noise-making equipment.

You apply for a part-time job, but are turned down. You believe it is because of your ethnicity.

Civil law - unlawful discrimination is a civil matter.

You are in a hurry, and take a short cut across what you know is private land.

Civil law - despite notices saying ‘trespassers will be prosecuted’, this type of trespass is invariably not a criminal offence if it belongs to private individuals.

A married couple split up and can’t agree who will look after their child.

Civil law - in this case, a court would decide on the arrangements that would be in the best interests of the child.


Activity 3: What is Civil Law - ANSWERS


Who is involved in the law?Match the role to the job description of the key people involved in the legal system

Role Job description

Police The legal team presenting the case for the person being accused of a crime.

JudgeA person who is a volunteer serving in magistrates’ courts. They do not need legal qualifications.

Barrister A lawyer who is qualified to give opinions to clients and argue cases in all courts, including the higher courts.

SolicitorAn organised force for maintaining order, preventing and detecting crime, and enforcing the laws.

Magistrate The legal team presenting the case accusing a person of committing a crime.

Prosecution A lawyer who is qualified to advise clients on certain legal matters and represent them in lower courts.

Defence A person who makes decisions in legal matters taken to court.

Learning about the LawWorksheet 1


Criminal or civil?

Tick whether the scenario is a criminal or civil matter or both.

ASomeone deliberately takes something from a shop without paying for it.

Criminal Civil

BA bus shelter is smashed and covered in graffiti.

Criminal Civil

CYou buy an MP3 player that stops working after two weeks.

Criminal Civil

DYou download a lot of music from the internet without paying for it.

Criminal Civil

EYour neighbours play loud music at night, which stops you from sleeping.

Criminal Civil

FYou apply for a part-time job, but are turned down. You believe it is because of your ethnicity.

Criminal Civil

GYou are in a hurry, and take a short cut across what you know is private land.

Criminal Civil

HA married couple split up and can’t agree who will look after their child.

Criminal Civil

Learning about the LawWorksheet 2

Learning about the Law

Documents

Transcript of Learning about the Law