Law Merit Badge

Overview

Earning this merit badge enables a Scout to learn about the history and kinds of laws, the purpose and methods of law enforcement, consumer protection agencies, emerging law, and careers in the legal profession.

Requirements

• (1) Define “law.” Tell some of its sources. Describe the functions it serves.
• (2) Discuss TWO of the following:
  • (a) Justinian’s Code, the Code of Hammurabi, and the Magna Carta
  • (b) The development of the jury system
  • (c) Two famous trials in history.
• (3) Tell what civil law is; tell what criminal law is. Tell the main differences between them. Give examples of each.
• (4) Ask five people (not more than one from your immediate family) about the role of law enforcement officers in our society. Discuss their answers with them. Go to a law enforcement officer in your neighborhood and ask about his or her responsibilities and duties. Report your findings to your counselor.
• (5) Discuss with your counselor several laws that were passed to protect the consumer and the seller. Describe several organizations that provide help to consumers and sellers.
• (6) Do ONE of the following:
  • (a) Attend a session of a civil or criminal court. Write 250 words or more on what you saw.
  • (b) Plan and conduct a mock trial with your troop or school class. After the trial is over, discuss it with the group.
• (7) Arrange a visit with a lawyer who works for a business, bank, title company, or government agency. Find out his or her duties and responsibilities. Report what you have learned.
• (8) Explain the requirements for becoming a lawyer in your state. Describe how judges are selected in your state.
• (9) Make a list of 15 jobs that deal with some aspects of law or legal processes. Tell which you prefer. Why?
• (10) Tell where people can go to obtain the help of a lawyer if they are unable to pay for one. Tell what you can do if you can afford a lawyer but do not know of any in your area.
• (11) Discuss with your counselor the importance in our society of TWO of the following areas of the law or process:
  • (a) Administrative
  • (b) Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • (c) Bankruptcy
  • (d) Biotechnology
  • (e) Environmental
  • (f) Family
  • (g) Immigration
  • (h) Information Technology
  • (i) Intellectual Property, (Copyright, Patents and Trademarks)
  • (j) International
  • (k) Privacy.

Resources

• Law merit badge page
• Law merit badge PDF (local copy)
• Law merit badge pamphlet

Note: This is an unofficial archive of Scouts BSA Merit Badges that was automatically extracted from the Scouting America website and may contain errors.