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