Year 10 SQA Law: Summer Preparation and Bridging Course | Year 10 SQA 法律：暑期预习与衔接课程

📚 Year 10 SQA Law: Summer Preparation and Bridging Course | Year 10 SQA 法律：暑期预习与衔接课程

As you prepare to begin your SQA Law course in Year 10, this summer bridging programme will introduce you to the fundamental concepts and structures of Scots law. Scotland has a unique legal system that blends civil law traditions from Roman law with common law principles. Understanding these foundations will give you a strong start for your studies. This course covers the sources of law, court systems, key distinctions between criminal and civil law, and essential topics like contract, delict, and human rights. Additionally, you will learn effective study techniques to excel in your SQA Law assessments.

在你准备开始Year 10的SQA法律课程之际，这一暑期衔接项目将向你介绍苏格兰法律的基本概念与结构。苏格兰拥有独特的法律体系，融合了源自罗马法的民法传统与普通法原则。掌握这些基础将为你的学习提供坚实的起点。本课程涵盖法律渊源、法院体系、刑法与民法的关键区别，以及合同、侵权和人权等重要主题。此外，你还将学习有效的学习技巧，在SQA法律评估中取得优异成绩。

1. Introduction to the Scottish Legal System | 苏格兰法律体系简介

The Scottish legal system is distinct and separate from the legal systems of England and Wales and Northern Ireland. It has its own courts, legal profession, and sources of law. This separation is guaranteed by the Treaty of Union 1707, which preserved the Scottish legal system as a condition of union.

苏格兰法律体系独立于英格兰、威尔士和北爱尔兰的法律体系。它拥有自己的法院、法律职业和法律渊源。这种独立性由1707年《联合条约》保障，该条约将保留苏格兰法律体系作为联合的条件。

Scots law is often described as a ‘mixed’ legal system because it combines elements of civil law, derived from Roman law, with elements of common law. Unlike England, which is almost entirely common law, Scotland’s legal principles have been influenced by continental European legal thought, particularly through institutional writers such as Stair and Erskine.

苏格兰法律通常被描述为’混合’法律体系，因为它融合了源自罗马法的民法元素与普通法元素。与几乎全部为普通法的英格兰不同，苏格兰的法律原则受到欧洲大陆法律思想的影响，尤其是通过Stair和Erskine等体系化学者的著作。

The modern Scottish legal system operates within the United Kingdom, but the Scotland Act 1998 established a devolved Scottish Parliament with law-making powers over many domestic matters, including criminal law, education, and health. However, certain matters such as foreign affairs and defence remain reserved to the UK Parliament.

现代苏格兰法律体系在英国框架内运作，但1998年《苏格兰法案》设立了拥有多个国内事务立法权的苏格兰议会，其中包括刑法、教育和卫生。不过，外交和国防等特定事项仍保留给英国议会。

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2. Sources of Scots Law | 苏格兰法律的渊源

Statute law is the most prominent source. This includes Acts passed by the Scottish Parliament and Acts of the UK Parliament that apply to Scotland. Statutes written by the Scottish Parliament often reflect distinctly Scottish policy choices in areas such as land law and criminal procedure.

制定法是最突出的法律渊源。这包括苏格兰议会通过的法案以及适用于苏格兰的英国议会法案。苏格兰议会制定的法律常常在土地法和刑事诉讼等领域反映苏格兰特有的政策选择。

Case law, or judicial precedent, is created by decisions of Scottish courts. The reasoning (ratio decidendi) in a judgment binds lower courts in future similar cases, ensuring consistency. The High Court of Justiciary and the Court of Session issue precedents that shape both criminal and civil law.

判例法，或称司法先例，由苏格兰法院的判决产生。判决中的说理（ratio decidendi）在将来类似案件中约束下级法院，以确保一致性。高等刑事法院和最高民事法院作出的先例影响着刑法和民法。

Institutional writings hold a unique place as a source of law in Scotland. Works by authors such as Stair, Erskine, and Bell are treated with high authority and can be cited in court. These writings systematised Scots law, drawing on Roman and continental influences.

体系化著作在苏格兰作为法律渊源具有独特地位。Stair、Erskine和Bell等作者的著作被视为高度权威，并可在法庭上引用。这些著作将苏格兰法律系统化，吸收了罗马法和欧洲大陆的影响。

European Union law once played a major role, and although the UK has left the EU, certain retained EU law provisions continue to affect Scotland. Additionally, the European Convention on Human Rights, given domestic effect by the Human Rights Act 1998, is an important source of rights and duties.

欧盟法律曾经发挥重要作用，虽然英国已脱离欧盟，但某些保留的欧盟法律条款仍对苏格兰产生影响。此外，《欧洲人权公约》通过1998年《人权法案》在国内生效，是权利与义务的重要渊源。

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3. The Court Structure in Scotland | 苏格兰的法院结构

The criminal courts in Scotland are led by the High Court of Justiciary, which deals with the most serious offences such as murder and rape. It can sit as a trial court or as an appeal court. There is no further appeal in criminal cases beyond the High Court, except on certain devolution or human rights issues.

苏格兰的刑事法院由高等刑事法院主导，负责审理谋杀和强奸等最严重的罪行。它既可作为初审法院，也可作为上诉法院。除少数权力下放或人权问题外，刑事案件不可上诉至高等法院之外。

The Sheriff Court is the main criminal court for most cases. It can operate under summary procedure (without a jury, for less serious matters) or solemn procedure (with a jury, for more serious crimes). The Justice of the Peace Court is the lowest level, handling minor road traffic offences and petty crime.

郡法院是审理大多数案件的主要刑事法院。它可以按简易程序（无陪审团，处理较轻事项）或正式程序（有陪审团，处理较严重犯罪）运作。治安法院是最低层级，处理轻微交通违法行为和小额犯罪。

For civil disputes, the Court of Session sits in Edinburgh as the supreme civil court. Its Outer House hears cases at first instance, while the Inner House acts as an appeal court. Below it, the Sheriff Court has extensive civil jurisdiction over matters such as contract, delict, and family law, with cases often heard by a sheriff without a jury.

对于民事争议，最高民事法院设在爱丁堡，是最高民事法院。其初审部负责一审，上诉部则作为上诉法院。其下，郡法院对合同、侵权和家庭法等民事事项拥有广泛管辖权，案件通常由一名郡法官无陪审团审理。

In civil cases only, appeals may proceed from the Inner House of the Court of Session to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. However, the Supreme Court cannot hear criminal appeals from Scotland, preserving the High Court of Justiciary as the final arbiter in criminal law.

仅在民事案件中，可从最高民事法院上诉部向英国最高法院上诉。然而，最高法院不能受理来自苏格兰的刑事上诉，从而保留了高等刑事法院作为刑法最终裁决者的地位。

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4. Criminal Law vs Civil Law | 刑法与民法

In criminal law, the case is brought by the state, represented by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, against a person accused of a crime. The purpose is to punish wrongdoing and to protect the public. The standard of proof is ‘beyond reasonable doubt’, a very high threshold that requires the jury or sheriff to be sure of guilt.

在刑法中，案件由国家通过皇家办公室与检察服务处提起，指控犯罪之人。其目的在于惩罚不法行为并保护公众。证明标准为’排除合理怀疑’，这是一个很高的门槛，要求陪审团或法官确信有罪。

In civil law, a dispute arises between private parties – individuals, companies, or organisations. The objective is to resolve the conflict and provide a remedy, such as damages (financial compensation) or an order to do or not do something. The standard of proof is ‘on the balance of probabilities’, meaning it is more likely than not that the claim is true.

在民法中，争议发生在私人主体之间——个人、公司或组织。目标在于解决冲突并提供救济，例如损害赔偿（金钱补偿）或要求做或不做某事的命令。证明标准为’盖然性权衡’，即主张真实的可能性更大。

The outcomes also differ: a criminal trial may result in imprisonment, a fine, a community sentence, or an acquittal. A civil trial typically ends with an award of damages, an injunction, or a declaration of rights. The same incident, such as a dangerous driver causing injury, can lead to both a criminal prosecution and a civil claim for damages.

结果也有所不同：刑事审判可能导致监禁、罚款、社区刑罚或无罪释放。民事审判通常以赔偿金、禁令或权利宣告告终。同一事件，如危险驾驶致人受伤，既可引起刑事起诉，也可引起民事索赔。

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5. Key Principles of Criminal Law | 刑法的主要原则

Most crimes require two elements: the actus reus (guilty act) and the mens rea (guilty mind). The actus reus is the physical conduct or omission prohibited by law, while the mens rea is the mental state, such as intention, recklessness, or knowledge. For example, in theft, the actus reus is the appropriation of property, and the mens rea is the intention to deprive the owner permanently.

大多数犯罪要求具备两个要素：犯罪行为（actus reus）和犯罪意图（mens rea）。犯罪行为是法律禁止的作为或不作为，而犯罪意图是心理状态，如故意、轻率或明知。例如，在盗窃中，犯罪行为是挪用财产，犯罪意图是永久剥夺所有者的意图。

Some offences are crimes of strict liability, where the prosecution does not need to prove mens rea for at least one element of the crime. These are usually regulatory offences concerning public safety, such as certain road traffic offences. It is enough that the forbidden act was committed, even without fault.

某些罪行属于严格责任犯罪，控方不必证明至少一个犯罪要素的犯罪意图。这些通常是涉及公共安全的监管类犯罪，如某些交通违法行为。只要实施了被禁止的行为就足以构成犯罪，即使没有过错。

Scottish criminal law recognises several defences that can lead to acquittal or a reduced charge. These include self-defence, mental disorder, automatism, and necessity. The accused must raise the defence, and once some evidence is given, the Crown must disprove it beyond reasonable doubt.

苏格兰刑法承认若干可能导致无罪释放或减轻罪名的辩护理由。这包括自卫、精神障碍、自动行为和紧急避险。被告必须提出辩护，一旦提出一些证据，控方必须排除合理怀疑地推翻辩护。

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6. Key Principles of the Law of Contract | 合同法的主要原则

A contract is a legally enforceable agreement. Its core elements in Scots law are an offer and acceptance, intention to create legal relations, and capacity to contract. Consideration (something of value given in exchange) is required in English law, but Scots law does not require consideration. A gratuitous unilateral promise can be binding if it is made in writing and indicates an intention to be bound.

合同是具有法律执行力的协议。苏格兰法律中其核心要素为要约与承诺、建立法律关系的意图以及缔约能力。英格兰法要求对价（交换的有价值物），但苏格兰法律不要求对价。一项无偿的单方允诺如果以书面形式作出并表明受约束的意图，则可具有约束力。

The offer must be clear and communicated to the offeree. Acceptance must mirror the offer unconditionally. Advertisements and displays of goods are generally invitations to treat, not offers. The parties must also intend that their agreement be legally binding; social or domestic arrangements are presumed not to be intended to be legal, while commercial agreements are presumed legally binding.

要约必须明确并传达给受要约人。承诺必须无条件地与要约一致。广告和

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