📚 Year 7 AQA Law: Summer Preparation & Bridging Course | Year 7 AQA 法律：暑期预习与衔接课程
Welcome to your Year 7 AQA Law bridging course. This summer programme is designed to give you a confident start before you enter the classroom. You will explore how law shapes everyday life, understand the structure of the English legal system, and begin to think like a lawyer. No prior knowledge is needed – just curiosity and a willingness to debate. By the end of this course, you will have a solid foundation in key legal concepts, vocabulary, and skills that will help you thrive throughout Year 7.
欢迎参加 Year 7 AQA 法律衔接课程。这个暑期项目旨在让你在正式上课之前就建立信心。你将探索法律如何塑造日常生活，了解英格兰法律体系的结构，并开始像法律人一样思考。你不需要任何预备知识——只需要好奇心和辩论的意愿。完成本课程后，你将掌握关键的法律概念、词汇和技能，为整个七年级的学习打下扎实基础。
1. What is Law? | 法律是什么？
Law is a set of rules created by the state that everyone must follow. These rules help keep order, protect people’s rights, and resolve disputes peacefully. Without law, society would struggle to function fairly. In England and Wales, laws are made by Parliament and interpreted by judges. The law applies equally to all – from ordinary citizens to government ministers. Even the Queen (now the King) is not above the law.
法律是由国家制定的一套每个人都必须遵守的规则。这些规则有助于维持秩序、保护人们的权利并和平解决争端。没有法律，社会将难以公平运转。在英格兰和威尔士，法律由议会制定，由法官解释。法律对所有人平等适用——从普通公民到政府大臣都不例外。即使是女王（现为国王）也不能凌驾于法律之上。
Think of law as the referee in a football match. Without a referee, players might cheat, argue endlessly, or get hurt. The referee enforces the rules and makes sure the game is fair. That is exactly what law does in society.
可以把法律想象成足球比赛中的裁判。没有裁判，球员可能会作弊、无休止地争吵或受伤。裁判执行规则，确保比赛公平。这正是法律在社会中的作用。
2. Why Do We Need Law? | 为什么我们需要法律？
We need law to protect our safety, our property, and our freedoms. Imagine a world where anyone could take your belongings without punishment – life would become chaotic and frightening. Law provides consequences for harmful behaviour, such as theft or violence, which deters people from breaking the rules. It also gives us a way to solve disagreements without fighting: if your neighbour damages your fence, the law offers a civil remedy instead of a feud.
我们需要法律来保护我们的安全、财产和自由。想象一下，如果有人可以随意拿走你的东西而不受惩罚——生活会变得混乱而可怕。法律为有害行为（如盗窃或暴力）提供了后果，从而阻止人们违反规则。它还为我们提供了不靠争吵解决分歧的方法：如果你的邻居损坏了你的围栏，法律提供民事补救，而不是引发世仇。
Law also protects fundamental human rights, such as the right to a fair trial and freedom of expression. In the UK, the Human Rights Act 1998 incorporates the European Convention on Human Rights into domestic law. This means British courts must protect your rights, and public authorities cannot act in a way that is incompatible with them.
法律还保护基本人权，例如接受公正审判的权利和言论自由。在英国，《1998 年人权法》将《欧洲人权公约》纳入国内法。这意味着英国法院必须保护你的权利，公共当局不得以不符合人权的方式行事。
3. The English Legal System: An Overview | 英格兰法律体系概览
The English legal system is based on common law, which means judges create law through decisions in individual cases. This is different from civil law systems found in France or Germany, where codes of written law are the primary source. In England and Wales, we have two main branches of law: criminal law and civil law. Criminal law deals with offences against the state, such as theft and murder. Civil law resolves disputes between individuals or organisations, like contract disagreements or divorce.
英格兰法律体系建立在普通法（common law）的基础上，这意味着法官通过在个案中作出判决来创造法律。这不同于法国或德国的大陆法系，在那里成文法典是主要的法律来源。在英格兰和威尔士，我们有两个主要的法律分支：刑法和民法。刑法处理针对国家的犯罪，如盗窃和谋杀。民法解决个人或组织之间的纠纷，如合同争议或离婚。
The court system has a hierarchy. At the bottom are Magistrates’ Courts and the County Court. More serious cases go to the Crown Court, and appeals may reach the High Court, Court of Appeal, and ultimately the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Understanding this hierarchy helps you see how legal rules develop and where justice is administered.
法院系统是分级别的。最基层的是治安法院和郡法院。更严重的案件进入刑事法院，上诉可能到达高等法院、上诉法院，最终到达英国最高法院。了解这个层级结构有助于你看到法律规则如何发展，以及司法审判在哪里进行。
4. Sources of Law: Parliament and Judges | 法律渊源：议会与法官
In the UK, the main sources of law are Acts of Parliament (also called statutes) and common law (judge-made law). Parliament consists of the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and the Monarch. A proposed new law is called a Bill; after it is debated and approved by both Houses, it receives Royal Assent and becomes an Act. Statutes can cover any topic, from criminal justice to environmental protection. For example, the Theft Act 1968 defines what counts as theft in criminal law.
在英国，主要的法律渊源是议会法案（也称制定法）和普通法（法官造法）。议会由下议院、上议院和君主组成。一项拟议的新法律称为法案；经两院辩论并批准后，获得御准就成为法令。制定法可以涵盖任何主题，从刑事司法到环境保护。例如，《1968 年盗窃法》定义了刑法中什么算作盗窃。
Judges make law through the doctrine of precedent (stare decisis). When a higher court decides a legal principle, lower courts must follow that decision in future similar cases. This creates consistency and predictability. Over centuries, judges have shaped areas like negligence and contract law through their rulings. Together, statutes and case law form the rich tapestry of English law.
法官通过先例原则（遵循先例）来创制法律。当上级法院确定了一项法律原则时，下级法院在今后类似案件中必须遵循该判决。这创造了一致性和可预测性。几个世纪以来，法官通过裁决塑造了诸如过失侵权法和合同法等领域。制定法和判例法共同构成了英格兰法律丰富多彩的图景。
5. Criminal Law vs Civil Law | 刑法与民法的区别
The distinction between criminal law and civil law is one of the first things you will learn. Criminal law deals with behaviour that the state considers harmful to society. A person accused of a crime is prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on behalf of the state. If found guilty, the defendant may be punished by a fine, community sentence, or imprisonment. The standard of proof is ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ – a very high threshold.
刑法与民法的区别是你最先要学的内容之一。刑法处理被国家视为危害社会的行为。被指控犯罪的人由皇家检察署（CPS）代表国家提起公诉。如果被判有罪，被告可能面临罚款、社区刑罚或监禁。证明标准是“排除合理怀疑”——这是一个非常高的门槛。
Civil law, by contrast, deals with disputes between private parties. The person bringing the case is the claimant, and the person defending is the defendant. The remedy is usually compensation (damages) or an injunction, not punishment. The standard of proof is ‘on the balance of probabilities’ – meaning it is more likely than not that something happened. Common civil claims include breach of contract, personal injury, and family disputes.
相比之下，民法处理私人当事方之间的纠纷。提起诉讼的人是原告，应诉的人是被告。补救措施通常是赔偿（损害赔偿金）或禁令，而不是惩罚。证明标准是“概然性权衡”——意味着某事发生的可能性大于未发生。常见的民事索赔包括违约、人身伤害和家庭纠纷。
6. The Court Structure in England & Wales | 英格兰和威尔士的法院结构
Let us map out the courts you need to know. At the lowest level for criminal matters are the Magistrates’ Courts, where less serious offences (summary offences) are tried by magistrates (Justices of the Peace). More serious indictable offences, such as robbery, are sent to the Crown Court, where a judge and jury decide the verdict. The Crown Court also hears appeals from Magistrates’ Courts. From there, further appeals go to the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) and, with permission, to the Supreme Court.
让我们画出你需要了解的法院图景。刑事事务最基层的是治安法院，由治安法官（太平绅士）审理较轻的犯罪（即决犯罪）。更严重的可公诉罪行，如抢劫，会被移送到刑事法院，由法官和陪审团作出裁决。刑事法院还审理来自治安法院的上诉。从那里，进一步的上诉进入上诉法院（刑事庭），经许可后可达最高法院。
For civil cases, most small claims are handled in the County Court. Higher-value or more complex cases go to the High Court, which has three divisions: King’s Bench, Chancery, and Family. Appeals from the High Court move to the Court of Appeal (Civil Division) and then the Supreme Court. There are also specialised tribunals for immigration, employment, and mental health matters.
对于民事案件，大多数小额索赔由郡法院处理。更高价值或更复杂的案件进入高等法院，高等法院有三个庭：王座庭、大法官庭和家事庭。来自高等法院的上诉进入上诉法院（民事庭），然后到最高法院。此外，还有移民、就业和精神健康事务的专门法庭。
7. The Role of Legal Professionals | 法律专业人士的角色
In Britain, lawyers are generally divided into solicitors and barristers. A solicitor is usually the first point of contact for clients. They provide legal advice, draft documents, and handle negotiations. Solicitors can represent clients in lower courts but may instruct a barrister for specialist advocacy in higher courts. A barrister, on the other hand, is an expert in court advocacy and giving detailed legal opinions. Barristers often wear traditional wigs and gowns in court, which adds to the formality of proceedings.
在英国，律师通常分为事务律师和出庭律师。事务律师通常是客户的第一个接触点。他们提供法律建议、起草文件并处理谈判。事务律师可以在下级法院代表客户，但在上级法院可能需要委托出庭律师进行专业辩护。另一方面，出庭律师是法庭辩护和提供详细法律意见的专家。出庭律师在法庭上经常穿传统的假发和法袍，这增加了诉讼程序的正式性。
Judges are chosen from experienced barristers or solicitors. They must be impartial and make decisions based solely on the law and evidence. Magistrates, however, are unpaid volunteers from the community who receive training. They handle the vast majority of criminal cases. There is also the Crown Prosecution Service, which decides whether to charge suspects and prosecutes criminal cases.
法官从经验丰富的出庭律师或事务律师中选任。他们必须公正，仅根据法律和证据作出判决。然而，治安法官是来自社区的经过培训的无薪志愿者。他们处理绝大多数刑事案件。还有皇家检察署，负责决定是否起诉嫌疑人并提起刑事诉讼。
8. The Legislative Process: How Laws Are Made | 立法过程：法律是如何制定的
A journey through Parliament shows how an idea becomes a law. First, a Bill is introduced, usually in the House of Commons. It goes through a First Reading (formal introduction), Second Reading (debate on principles), Committee Stage (detailed examination), Report Stage (further amendments), and Third Reading (final debate). The Bill then passes to the House of Lords for similar scrutiny. If the Lords make amendments, the Bill returns to the Commons. Once both Houses agree, it goes to the Monarch for Royal Assent – a formality – and becomes an Act of Parliament.
看看议会中的流程就能明白一个想法如何成为法律。首先，一项法案被提出，通常在下议院。它要经过一读（正式介绍）、二读（对原则的辩论）、委员会阶段（详细审查）、报告阶段（进一步修正）和三读（最终辩论）。然后，法案移交上议院进行类似的审查。如上议院作出修正，法案退回下议院。一旦两院达成一致，便呈交君主御准——这是一个形式——并成为议会法令。
Take the example of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. It started as a private member’s Bill to protect animals from cruelty. Through debates and amendments, it became comprehensive legislation setting out a duty of care for pet owners. This shows how law evolves to reflect society’s values.
以《2006 年动物福利法》为例。它最初是一项旨在保护动物免受虐待的议员个人法案。通过辩论和修正，它成为一项全面的立法，规定了宠物主人的照顾责任。这表明法律是如何演变以反映社会价值观的。
9. Introduction to Human Rights | 人权简介
Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person, regardless of nationality, gender, or belief. The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) includes rights such as the right to life (Article 2), prohibition of torture (Article 3), right to a fair trial (Article 6), and freedom of expression (Article 10). In the UK, the Human Rights Act 1998 allows British courts to hear human rights cases without going to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
人权是属于每个人的基本权利和自由，不论国籍、性别或信仰。《欧洲人权公约》包含的权利有：生命权（第 2 条）、禁止酷刑（第 3 条）、公正审判权（第 6 条）和言论自由（第 10 条）。在英国，《1998 年人权法》允许英国法院审理人权案件，无需诉诸位于斯特拉斯堡的欧洲人权法院。
Rights must be balanced against each other. For instance, the right to privacy must be weighed against the right to freedom of expression. Courts often have to make difficult decisions, such as whether a newspaper’s story is in the public interest or an invasion of privacy. Understanding this balance is key to studying law.
权利之间必须相互平衡。例如，隐私权必须与言论自由权衡。法院经常要做出艰难的决定，例如一篇新闻报道究竟符合公共利益还是侵犯隐私。理解这种平衡是学习法律的关键。
10. The Jury System | 陪审团制度
Trial by jury is a fundamental part of the English legal system. In criminal trials at the Crown Court, 12 jurors are randomly selected from the electoral register. Their job is to listen to the evidence and decide on the facts – whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty. The judge directs the jury on the law, but the verdict is theirs alone. Juries deliberate in secret, and their decisions do not set legal precedent.
陪审团审判是英格兰法律体系的一个基本组成部分。在刑事法院的刑事审判中，从选民登记册上随机选出 12 名陪审员。他们的工作是听取证据并决定事实——被告是有罪还是无罪。法官就法律问题指示陪审团，但裁决完全由他们做出。陪审团秘密评议，其裁决不构成法律先例。
Juries are used in less than 1% of criminal cases because most are dealt with in Magistrates’ Court. However, for serious crimes, the right to a jury trial is seen as a protection against the power of the state. There are arguments for and against juries: supporters say they add common sense and democracy; critics argue they can be swayed by emotions or lack legal expertise.
陪审团在不到 1% 的刑事案件中使用，因为大多数案件都在治安法院处理。然而，对于严重犯罪，陪审团审判权被视为对抗国家权力的保护机制。对于陪审团存在支持和反对的论点：支持者说他们带来了常识和民主；批评者则称他们可能被情绪左右或缺乏法律专业知识。
11. Legal Skills: Thinking and Arguing | 法律技能：思维与论证
Law is not just about memorising rules. To succeed in Year 7 AQA Law, you need to develop skills of analysis, evaluation, and argument. You will learn to identify the relevant legal issues in a situation, apply the appropriate rules, and reach a reasoned conclusion. This is often done using a structured approach such as IRAC: Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion. Practise this with everyday scenarios.
法律不仅仅是记住规则。要在 Year 7 AQA 法律课程中取得成功，你需要培养分析、评价和论证的技能。你将学会在某种情境中识别相关的法律问题，运用适当的规则，并得出有推理的结论。这通常使用结构化的方法，如 IRAC：问题、规则、适用、结论。用日常情景练习这种方法。
Debating is also central. You will be asked to discuss questions like: ‘Should the voting age be lowered to 16?’ or ‘Should prisoners have the right to vote?’ In these debates, you must present balanced arguments, supported by reasons and evidence, before reaching a judgment. This builds critical thinking – a skill that is useful far beyond the law classroom.
辩论也是核心。你会被要求讨论诸如：“投票年龄应降低到 16 岁吗？”或“囚犯应该有投票权吗？”在这些辩论中，你必须提出平衡的论点，附上理由和证据，然后作出判断。这建立了批判性思维——一项在法律课堂之外也大有用处的技能。
12. Preparing for Your First Term | 为第一学期做好准备
To get the most out of this bridging course, start building a legal vocabulary. Learn words like ‘defendant’, ‘prosecution’, ‘precedent’, ‘statute’, and ‘liable’. Keep a glossary notebook. Read news stories about court cases or new laws and ask yourself: which branch of law does this involve? Who is the case between? What outcome would be fair? Try to watch short clips of parliamentary debates or mock trials online.
为了从这个衔接课程中获得最大收益，开始积累法律词汇。学习像“被告”、“控方”、“先例”、“制定法”和“有责任的”之类的词语。保持一个词汇笔记本。阅读关于法庭案件或新法律的新闻故事，并问自己：这涉及哪个法律分支？案件双方是谁？什么结果是公平的？尝试在线观看议会辩论或模拟审判的短视频。
During the summer, keep a ‘law diary’. Each day, note down one way law has affected you: buying a snack (contract law), a traffic sign (public law), or a school rule (rules made by an authority). This habit will train your eyes to see law everywhere. When you arrive for your first Year 7 lesson, you will already think like a young lawyer.
在暑假期间，坚持写“法律日记”。每天，记录下法律影响你的一种方式：买零食（合同法）、交通标志（公共法）或学校规则（由当局制定的规则）。这个习惯将训练你的眼睛看到无处不在的法律。当你来到七年级的第一堂课时，你将已经能够像一位年轻的法律人那样思考了。
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