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This is a 9-page student handout or worksheet on the topic of the reform of the law on murder and voluntary manslaughter. It is designed for the AQA Specification but can be used with any Specification requiring a knowledge of reform of the law. The handout discusses the need for reform in the laws governing murder and voluntary manslaughter, highlighting criticisms and proposed changes. Criticisms of Current Murder Law: The current law on murder is criticised for its handling of intent, self-defence, and the mandatory life sentence. Issues with Intent: Establishing intent can be problematic, especially when the primary intent was not to kill but to cause serious bodily harm. Proposals for Intent: A draft criminal code proposed in 1989 aimed to clarify the definition of murder by including awareness of causing death as part of the intent. Self-Defence Concerns: The all-or-nothing approach in self-defence cases is seen as unjust, with defendants either acquitted or sentenced to life imprisonment. Mandatory Life Sentence Issues: The mandatory life sentence for murder is criticized for not allowing judges to consider the seriousness of the killing and for leading to inappropriate manslaughter verdicts. Reform Suggestions for Sentencing: Suggestions include making life sentences discretionary or introducing different degrees of murder with varying sentences.

This PowerPoint presentation consists of 74 slides and covers all 5 of the Non-fatal Offences. It is aimed at AQA A Level Law students but could be used with anyone requiring a knowledge of this vital area of law. The PowerPoint incorporates review questions and activities and is an invaluable aid to anyone teaching this topic.

This is a 29-slide PowerPoint presentation which considers why Donald Trump won the 2024 US Presidential election. It is suitable for all students 14+ in Politics or Citizenship classes. Introduction: The presentation starts with an overview of the election results, highlighting the contentious nature of the election and the significant public and media attention it received. It also mentions Trump’s unexpected victory and the various factors influencing the electorate, including political, social, and economic factors. It considers things like the handling of Key Issues and Policy Stances: Trump’s stances on key issues such as immigration, healthcare, and foreign policy resonated with voters. He emphasized a tough stance on immigration, proposed healthcare reforms, and prioritised American interests in foreign policy. The PowerPoint also considers the reasons for Kamala Harris’ loss including perceived ineffectiveness as Vice President, campaign strategy and messaging failures, lack of enthusiasm and voter turnout, negative media coverage, and internal party divisions. The PowerPoint ends with some issues to think about and these may form the basis of discussion or debate,

This invaluable resource is a completely original practice examination paper for the AQA A Level Law Paper 2 examination. This document also includes written Model Answers for each question on the paper. All the questions and answers have been written by a teacher and Examiner with 30 years’ experience of teaching AS/A Level Law. This resource is perfect for classroom use, homework assignments, or revision sessions. Teachers will find it indispensable for helping students understand the intricacies of political concepts and improve their exam techniques. Don’t miss out on this essential teaching tool. Purchase the AQA Law - Practice (Mock) Paper and Model Answers Paper 2 now, and give your students the edge they need to succeed! Mark’s Learning Hub If you find this resource useful, please check out the other Mock Examination papers covering the other Units and also check out my teaching resources for AS/A Level Politics, Law, BTEC Business Studies and GCSE English in addition to resources for the EPQ.

This is a Handout on the Law of Murder, written by an experienced examiner and used over many years with my students. It is a short introduction to the topic and is an invaluable aid for AS and A Level students of the subject. It is 7-pages long and it is estimated that it would take about 60-minutes of teaching time. There are questions and exercises throughout. The Handout is structured as follows: Definition and Jurisdiction of Murder: Murder is defined as the unlawful killing of a reasonable person under the Queen’s peace with malice aforethought, and British citizens can be charged with murder committed in any country. Actus Reus Elements: The actus reus of murder includes four elements: D killed, a reasonable creature in being, under the Queen’s Peace, and the killing was unlawful. The document primarily focuses on the first element. Importance of Causation: For murder, it is crucial to prove that D’s act or omission caused the death of V, with examples like Gibbins v Proctor illustrating how omissions can fulfill actus reus. Reasonable Person in Being: The term refers to a human being, with complexities arising in cases involving a foetus or brain-dead individuals. Unlawful Killing: Killing is unlawful unless it is in self-defence, defence of another, or prevention of crime with reasonable force. Mens Rea for Murder: Murder requires specific intent, meaning the jury must be convinced of an intention to kill or cause grievous bodily harm, as illustrated in cases like Vickers and Swift. Indirect or Oblique Intention: Issues arise when D’s primary aim is different from causing death or serious injury, but death results, requiring examination of indirect intention. An invaluable introduction to murder for any students of the subject!

A short Handout and questions on the law on Diminished Responsibility written by an experienced examiner of Law and delivered to my own students across many cohorts and students. This 7-page Handout is all that you need to teach and study Diminished Responsibility. The Handout is structured as follows: Definition and Legal Basis. Application in Trials: A defendant cannot be charged with voluntary manslaughter directly; it is a verdict the jury may reach if the defense of diminished responsibility is successfully pleaded during a murder trial. Criteria for Diminished Responsibility: To qualify for diminished responsibility, the defendant must prove an abnormality of mental functioning arising from a recognized medical condition that substantially impaired their ability to understand their conduct, form rational judgments, or exercise self-control. Impact of the Defence. Case Law Examples: Several cases illustrate the application of diminished responsibility, including BYRNE, where a sexual psychopath’s conviction was reduced to manslaughter, and LUC THIET THUAN, where a head injury did not qualify as a recognized medical condition. Substantial Impairment: The defence requires that the abnormality of mental functioning substantially impair the defendant’s abilities, such as understanding their conduct or forming rational judgments, as seen in the GITTENS case. Challenges in Application: Juries sometimes disregard the defense of diminished responsibility, as seen in the SUTCLIFFE case, where the defendant was convicted of murder despite evidence of mental abnormality. An invaluable set of notes for anyone studying this vital concept in Law.

Written by an experienced Law Examiner, this set of student notes on “Views on Morality” is invaluable any any students and teachers of A Level Law. The Handout explores the relationship between law and morality, focusing on the Hart-Devlin debate and various legal theorists’ views. Hart vs. Devlin on Law and Morality: Hart argued that law should remain separate from morality, while Devlin believed law should enforce moral standards. Sources of Morality: Morality can be influenced by family, media, religion, and education, and while some aspects can be enforced, others cannot. Paternalist vs. Liberal Views: Paternalists argue that law should guide and protect people, while liberals believe law should not interfere in private lives. Functions of Law: Summers and Raz identified practical functions of law such as providing remedies, prohibiting harmful conduct, and settling disputes. Hart’s Distinction Between Legal and Moral Rules: Hart distinguished legal rules, which can be changed and enforced by authorities, from moral rules, which are subject to social pressure and personal sacrifice. Fuller’s Guidelines for Law: Fuller proposed that laws should be well-considered, known, understandable, consistent, and not require the impossible, among other criteria.

This 5-page Handout or Worksheet consists of revision questions on the topic of Law and Morality. Written by an experienced Law Examiner, it wraps up the study of the topic and ensures that students also undertake some research (on the Bulger case) as well. Designed for the AQA Specification, this Worksheet can be used with any students undertaking study of this vital topic.

This is a 22-page student Handout/Worksheet on the various theories of Justice. Written by an experienced Examiner in Law and used with classes with excellent results. A summary of the Handout is below: The document discusses various legal cases and theories of justice, exploring different perspectives on fairness and legal principles. Case of Reeves: Two men convicted of receiving stolen goods received different sentences; one was fined £25 in the Magistrates’ Court, while the other, who elected for a jury trial, was sentenced to nine months in prison but was released after serving three months due to the perceived disparity in sentencing. Perelman’s Justice Theories: C. H. Perelman identified six meanings of justice, including formal and substantive justice. His ideas emphasize the importance of following correct procedures and ensuring that the rules themselves are just. Beycan Case: The Court of Appeal quashed Beycan’s conviction for supplying heroin because he was not informed of his right to legal advice, violating Perelman’s principles of justice. Promissory Estoppel: Lord Denning introduced the concept of promissory estoppel in the case of Central London Property v High Trees House to ensure substantive justice, preventing a party from going back on a promise if others have relied on it in good faith. Aristotle’s Justice: Aristotle’s theories of distributive and corrective justice are illustrated through cases like Jebson v Ministry of Defence and Beswick v Beswick, emphasizing proportionate compensation and restoring balance. Utilitarianism: Utilitarianism, associated with Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, focuses on maximizing happiness for the greatest number, but it faces criticism for potentially justifying immoral acts if they increase overall happiness. John Rawls’ Theory: John Rawls’ theory of justice emphasizes fairness through the ‘veil of ignorance’ and includes the principles of liberty and the difference principle, which aims to benefit the least well-off members of society. The Handout contains questions and exercises throughout and gives a thorough examination of the topic.

An excellent Handout for students of AS and A Level Law which revises General Defences in English Law. The Worksheets are best used with the accompanying resource: General Defences in English Law. This 9-page Handout consists of: Defences and Burden of Proof: The document includes a table to complete, showing the defences (automatism, consent, duress, insanity, intoxication, self-defense) and the burden of proof for each. Automatism and Insanity: It discusses the differences between non-insane automatism and self-induced automatism, and the principal difference between automatism and insanity. Duress and Intoxication: The document poses true or false questions about duress and intoxication, referencing various cases such as Graham, Cole, Bowen, Abdul Hussain, and others to illustrate key legal principles. Case Scenarios: Several scenarios are given for analysis, asking which defences might be appropriate and assessing the likelihood of success for each defence. An excellent resource Worksheet for any students and teachers of Law.

A 7-page student Handout/Worksheet on the defence of loss of control. Written by an experienced Law Examinaer and used with many groups and classes across the years. The Handout is structured as follows: This defence, along with diminished responsibility, can reduce a murder charge to voluntary manslaughter if successfully pleaded. It replaces the old defence of provocation and is outlined in the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. A person (D) is not convicted of murder if: D’s actions resulted from a loss of self-control. The loss of self-control had a qualifying trigger. A person of D’s sex and age, with normal tolerance and self-restraint, might have reacted similarly. The Act provides guidelines for these points, with cases from the old provocation defence serving as illustrations. If D shows evidence of loss of control, the prosecution must disprove it. Key Cases: Doughty: D killed his baby due to continuous crying. The Court of Appeal quashed his murder conviction, stating provocation should have been considered. Thornton: D, a battered wife, killed her husband. The Court recognized ‘battered wife syndrome’ and quashed her murder conviction. Ahluwalia: D killed her abusive husband after hours of contemplation. The defence of provocation was accepted on appeal. Ibrams: D planned and killed V after a week of provocation. The defence failed as D had time to cool off. Humphreys: D, a prostitute, killed her abusive pimp. The Court of Appeal allowed her characteristics to be considered in the defence. The defence is not available if D acted out of revenge or had time to cool off. Certain characteristics, like age and sex, are relevant in assessing if a hypothetical person would act similarly. However, temporary states of mind or mood are not considered relevant characteristics.

Length of document: 54 pages; 16, 586 words. Teaching time: 4 hours. This Handout contains model answers for all questions set in the Edexcel A Level Politics Paper 2 in 2023. It has been written and prepared by a Politics teacher and Examiner with 30 years’ experience of teaching and marking Politics. The Handout also provides grids for students to compare their answers with the model answers, aiding in effective revision. Model Answer for First Extract Question on an entrenched UK constitution. Model Answer for Second Extract Question on Cabinet v Prime Ministerial power. There are then 2 Model Answers for the essay questions in Section A on the House of Lords and the role and power of select committees within the House of Commons. Section B consists of 10 Model Answers. Answers are written for the 2 questions on each of the 5 “ideas” or concepts: (a) anarchism, (b) ecologism, © feminism, (d) multiculturism and (e) nationalism. This makes a total of 14 Model Answers for only £5! **This is an invaluable resource for teachers and students working towards their A Level in Politics. If you have found this resource useful, then please take a look at my other Model Answers for Politics and other resources for Business, Politics, EPQ, Law and English, as well as some PSHE materials.

This invaluable resource is a completely original practice examination paper for the AQA A Level Law Paper 3B (Human Rights) examination. This document also includes written Model Answers for each question on the paper. All the questions and answers have been written by a teacher and Examiner with 30 years’ experience of teaching AS/A Level Law. This resource is perfect for classroom use, homework assignments, or revision sessions. Teachers will find it indispensable for helping students understand the intricacies of political concepts and improve their exam techniques. Don’t miss out on this essential teaching tool. Purchase the AQA Law - Practice (Mock) Paper and Model Answers Paper 3B now, and give your students the edge they need to succeed! Mark’s Learning Hub If you find this resource useful, please check out the other Mock Examination papers covering the other Units and also check out my teaching resources for AS/A Level Politics, Law, BTEC Business Studies and GCSE English in addition to resources for the EPQ.

This is a 10-page student Handout written by an experienced A Level Law Examiner, which has been tried and tested with many groups and across many years. The Handout covers the topic of how morality has influenced the law. It covers such topics as the different theories of law and the ideas of legal theorists and looks at how practical examples from recent times, such as the Discrimination Act, was influenced by morality. An essential aid to the topic for any students/teachers of morality and law.

This is a model answer, written by an experienced Law Examiner, to the question, “What is the association between law and morality?”. It is 4-pages or 1500 words long and provides an insight in how to answer questions on this difficult topic. It includes all of the main legal theorists such as Bentham and Rawls and can be adapted to suit other questions on the topic.

This is a 9-page student Handout, written by an experienced Law Examiner, which provides a guide as to what to include when answering questions on law and morality. The Handout discusses legal cases involving the intersection of law and morality, focusing on battered women who kill violent partners and the withdrawal of life support from comatose patients. Sara Thornton’s Case: Sara Thornton’s murder conviction was quashed after arguments that her violent husband provoked her, highlighting the recognition of “battered women’s syndrome” in legal defenses. Law and Morality: The document explores the relationship between law and morality, referencing debates and cases such as R v R, which questioned the legality of marital rape, and the evolving legal perspectives on moral issues. Tony Bland’s Case: Tony Bland’s case involved the withdrawal of life support for a Hillsborough disaster victim in a persistent vegetative state, marking a significant legal decision on medical treatment and end-of-life issues. This is designed for the AQA Specification but could be used with any students studying the topic of law and morality.

This is a 10-page student handout or worksheet on the topic of the reform of the law on non-fatal offences. It includes review questions at the end and will take around 75 minutes to teach. It is designed for the AQA Specification but can be used with any Specification requiring a knowledge of reform of the law. The Handout is structured as follows: The law on non-fatal offences is widely criticized and in need of reform. Academics, judges, and practitioners have highlighted issues such as outdated language, complex structure, and inconsistent sentencing. The Law Commission has proposed reforms to simplify and modernize the law, including clearer definitions and a more logical hierarchy of offences. Despite these proposals, significant changes have yet to be implemented. Review questions at end of Handout.