OCR A Level Law The nature of law and human rights
(H418/03)
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
June 2026 – Morning
A Level Law
H418/03 The nature of law and human rights
Time allowed: 2 hours
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must
be clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Answer four questions in total:
• Answer one question in Section A.
• Choose one option in Section B. Answer the three questions in either Part 1 or Part 2
from the option you have chosen.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 80.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 8 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
, 2
Section A
The nature of law
Answer one question using examples from your full course of study.
1* ‘The problem with defining justice is that very few people agree on what justice actually means.’
Discuss how the legal system defines justice given this statement. [20]
2* ‘The rule of law is a deceptive term because there is no single ‘rule’ to follow. It is best
understood as a collection of principles designed to produce fair and just outcomes.’
Discuss this view of the rule of law. [20]
, 3
Section B
Human rights law
Choose Part 1 or Part 2
Part 1
Answer the three questions.
The first two questions are about the scenarios. The scenarios are related.
Sam is a controversial journalist on a tour promoting his new book Citizens in Action. He does not
allow cameras into his venues. However, at his first venue he is secretly filmed explaining that citizen
action means taking ‘any direct action necessary’ to pursue a goal, including criminal acts. He also
says that ‘any lawyer acting for an asylum seeker should have his house burned down’. The video clip
is posted online and soon goes viral. As a result, the following events happen:
• At his second venue the local council, having viewed the online clips from the first show, withdraw
the license. When he arrives, he finds the venue is closed and his show has been cancelled.
• A government official acting for the Home Office applies for a banning order to prevent Sam’s
book being sold on the grounds that it is spreading hate speech.
• Yana, a protestor, throws green paint over Sam and is arrested and charged with battery.
While Yana is awaiting her trial, her boyfriend, Riley, starts harassing Sam and his family. He spies on
Sam’s home and family taking photographs which he emails to Sam. Sam is very worried about his
family’s safety. Sam’s wife, Amaya, starts to receive anonymous phone calls accusing Sam of being
violent and of having abused his partners over many years. She also receives messages appearing to
be from Sam’s previous girlfriend. In fact, the calls and messages are from Riley.
Amaya is also sent links to a pornographic website containing obscene video material showing Sam
participating in a variety of disturbing and illegal sexual acts. In fact, all the images are fake and have
been created by Riley using an AI (artificial intelligence) video generating programme.
3 Advise Sam whether he will be able to rely on his Article 10 rights to challenge the closure of
the venue and the banning of the book and advise Yana on whether she can rely on her Article
10 rights in relation to the criminal charge for throwing the paint over Sam. Do not consider
Article 11. [20]
4 Advise Sam and Amaya how the law on harassment would apply to Riley’s emails, phone calls
and messages and how the law on obscenity would apply to Riley’s fake video material. [20]
Essay question on human rights law
5* ‘Despite its fundamental significance as a human right, the right to a fair trial under the European
Convention on Human Rights has been far too frequently violated.’
Discuss whether the mechanisms to protect a fair criminal trial are effective given this statement.
[20]
, 4
Part 2
Answer the three questions.
The first two questions are about the scenarios. The scenarios are not related.
During an international flight to the UK, a flight attendant notices that two passengers are showing
symptoms of an unusual illness. The Ministry of Health orders that the plane should be kept on the
runway until all the passengers have been medically checked. All the passengers are checked for
symptoms and, sixteen hours later, they are finally allowed to leave the plane.
The passengers are also told that they must self-isolate at home for fourteen days as a precaution.
The next day, one of the passengers, Jamal, goes out shopping for food. He is spotted by police,
arrested and taken to a secure medical facility. He is kept there in strict isolation for two months.
On another international flight to the UK, one of the passengers, Umi, is fleeing a warzone. They claim
asylum and are taken to a secure detention centre. Eight months later, Umi is still in the centre waiting
for their claim to be processed.
Felix is the new prison governor at Lawton Prison. He has introduced strict new rules to combat a
recent rise in violence, drug use and unrest in the prison. Under the new rules the following events
happen:
• Hugo is a prisoner serving a life sentence. His parole hearing is cancelled and he is told it would
be ‘a waste of time’. His request to consult a lawyer is also refused.
• Felix implements a new rule to cut the pay of any prison officer on duty whenever there is a
disturbance. The rule is made without following the usual requirement of consulting the prison
officers’ union. Jack is the first officer to have his pay cut.
• Leo is a suspected terrorist who is on remand. Felix orders that he is kept in solitary confinement
for long periods and not allowed to mix with the ordinary prisoners.
Hugo, Jack and Leo seek a judicial review of the decisions made by Felix.
6 Advise all the passengers and Jamal on the first flight, and Umi on the second flight, whether
any of them have had their right to liberty breached under Article 5. [20]
7 Advise Hugo, Jack, and Leo on which grounds they might challenge the decisions using judicial
review and, if successful, which orders each of them should seek from the court. [20]
Essay question on human rights law
8* ‘Despite its fundamental significance as a human right, the right to a fair trial under the European
Convention on Human Rights has been far too frequently violated.’
Discuss whether the mechanisms to protect a fair criminal trial are effective given this statement.
[20]
END OF QUESTION PAPER
(H418/03)
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
June 2026 – Morning
A Level Law
H418/03 The nature of law and human rights
Time allowed: 2 hours
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must
be clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Answer four questions in total:
• Answer one question in Section A.
• Choose one option in Section B. Answer the three questions in either Part 1 or Part 2
from the option you have chosen.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 80.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 8 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
, 2
Section A
The nature of law
Answer one question using examples from your full course of study.
1* ‘The problem with defining justice is that very few people agree on what justice actually means.’
Discuss how the legal system defines justice given this statement. [20]
2* ‘The rule of law is a deceptive term because there is no single ‘rule’ to follow. It is best
understood as a collection of principles designed to produce fair and just outcomes.’
Discuss this view of the rule of law. [20]
, 3
Section B
Human rights law
Choose Part 1 or Part 2
Part 1
Answer the three questions.
The first two questions are about the scenarios. The scenarios are related.
Sam is a controversial journalist on a tour promoting his new book Citizens in Action. He does not
allow cameras into his venues. However, at his first venue he is secretly filmed explaining that citizen
action means taking ‘any direct action necessary’ to pursue a goal, including criminal acts. He also
says that ‘any lawyer acting for an asylum seeker should have his house burned down’. The video clip
is posted online and soon goes viral. As a result, the following events happen:
• At his second venue the local council, having viewed the online clips from the first show, withdraw
the license. When he arrives, he finds the venue is closed and his show has been cancelled.
• A government official acting for the Home Office applies for a banning order to prevent Sam’s
book being sold on the grounds that it is spreading hate speech.
• Yana, a protestor, throws green paint over Sam and is arrested and charged with battery.
While Yana is awaiting her trial, her boyfriend, Riley, starts harassing Sam and his family. He spies on
Sam’s home and family taking photographs which he emails to Sam. Sam is very worried about his
family’s safety. Sam’s wife, Amaya, starts to receive anonymous phone calls accusing Sam of being
violent and of having abused his partners over many years. She also receives messages appearing to
be from Sam’s previous girlfriend. In fact, the calls and messages are from Riley.
Amaya is also sent links to a pornographic website containing obscene video material showing Sam
participating in a variety of disturbing and illegal sexual acts. In fact, all the images are fake and have
been created by Riley using an AI (artificial intelligence) video generating programme.
3 Advise Sam whether he will be able to rely on his Article 10 rights to challenge the closure of
the venue and the banning of the book and advise Yana on whether she can rely on her Article
10 rights in relation to the criminal charge for throwing the paint over Sam. Do not consider
Article 11. [20]
4 Advise Sam and Amaya how the law on harassment would apply to Riley’s emails, phone calls
and messages and how the law on obscenity would apply to Riley’s fake video material. [20]
Essay question on human rights law
5* ‘Despite its fundamental significance as a human right, the right to a fair trial under the European
Convention on Human Rights has been far too frequently violated.’
Discuss whether the mechanisms to protect a fair criminal trial are effective given this statement.
[20]
, 4
Part 2
Answer the three questions.
The first two questions are about the scenarios. The scenarios are not related.
During an international flight to the UK, a flight attendant notices that two passengers are showing
symptoms of an unusual illness. The Ministry of Health orders that the plane should be kept on the
runway until all the passengers have been medically checked. All the passengers are checked for
symptoms and, sixteen hours later, they are finally allowed to leave the plane.
The passengers are also told that they must self-isolate at home for fourteen days as a precaution.
The next day, one of the passengers, Jamal, goes out shopping for food. He is spotted by police,
arrested and taken to a secure medical facility. He is kept there in strict isolation for two months.
On another international flight to the UK, one of the passengers, Umi, is fleeing a warzone. They claim
asylum and are taken to a secure detention centre. Eight months later, Umi is still in the centre waiting
for their claim to be processed.
Felix is the new prison governor at Lawton Prison. He has introduced strict new rules to combat a
recent rise in violence, drug use and unrest in the prison. Under the new rules the following events
happen:
• Hugo is a prisoner serving a life sentence. His parole hearing is cancelled and he is told it would
be ‘a waste of time’. His request to consult a lawyer is also refused.
• Felix implements a new rule to cut the pay of any prison officer on duty whenever there is a
disturbance. The rule is made without following the usual requirement of consulting the prison
officers’ union. Jack is the first officer to have his pay cut.
• Leo is a suspected terrorist who is on remand. Felix orders that he is kept in solitary confinement
for long periods and not allowed to mix with the ordinary prisoners.
Hugo, Jack and Leo seek a judicial review of the decisions made by Felix.
6 Advise all the passengers and Jamal on the first flight, and Umi on the second flight, whether
any of them have had their right to liberty breached under Article 5. [20]
7 Advise Hugo, Jack, and Leo on which grounds they might challenge the decisions using judicial
review and, if successful, which orders each of them should seek from the court. [20]
Essay question on human rights law
8* ‘Despite its fundamental significance as a human right, the right to a fair trial under the European
Convention on Human Rights has been far too frequently violated.’
Discuss whether the mechanisms to protect a fair criminal trial are effective given this statement.
[20]
END OF QUESTION PAPER
