Street Law
Grades 10-12
Units of Credit:
One semester (Elective)
Prerequisites:
None
Course Overview:
This class emphasizes practical law and provides opportunities for students to become educated in the American legal system. Students learn basic legal principles to apply as a citizen, consumer and employee. Study includes the structure and history of the legal system (criminal and civil), laws applying to minors, contract law, consumer law, employment law, property and landlord/tenant law, insurance, credit law, tort law, and white collar crimes relating to computers.
The content of Street Law is arranged around the four MCPS Career and Technical Education Standards. These standards include Technical Skills and Content Knowledge, Career and Life Planning, Skills for Life and Work, and Structure of Organizations and Work.
This course offers available introduction to the laws that influence and shape our personal and professional lives. Instructional strategies and assessment varies.
Topics:
Kinds of Law
History of Law
Careers in Law
Law Enforcement in Courts
Types of Crimes
Employment Contracts and Conditions
Varieties of Insurance
Substance Abuse
Contract Law
Consumer Law
Tort Law
Juvenile Justice
Credit Law
Bankruptcy
Real and Personal Property Law
Landlord Tenant Law
Warranty and Product Liability
Laws Affecting Computers
Internet Safety
Content Competencies:
Standard #1: Technical Skills and Content Knowledge
Students acquire and demonstrate current knowledge and skills leading to an occupation.
Develop the ability to utilize technology while enhancing research skills. Accumulation of all units instructed
Identify each student’s rights and responsibilities while using technology.
Define terminology related specifically to the legal system. Accumulation of all units instructed
Determine which conflict resolution option would be most beneficial to utilize for a given situation (negotiation, mediation, arbitration, fact-finding, courts).Ch. 4, Ch. 34, Ch. 28, Ch. 44
Create an awareness and understanding of Indian Tribal Court law. Ch. 5, Guess speaker
Standard #2: Career and Life Planning
Students develop self-knowledge, explore different educational, career, and life options available, and design and implement educational, career, and life plans.
Create student awareness of positions and careers available within the Legal System. Accumulation of all units instructed
Realize appropriate behaviors that are needed for work.Ch. 1, Ch. 3, Ch. 4, Ch. 10, Ch. 20, Ch. 22, Ch. 23, Ch. 25, Ch. 39, Ch. 43, Ch. 44
Enhance career opportunities through guest speaker presentations. Accumulation of all units instructed
Standard #3: Skills for Life and Work
Students acquire and apply the necessary skills that will help them become successful, productive citizens. Workplace skills must build upon basic academic skills; and higher order thinking skills and personal qualities must be practiced in an environment that accurately represents the realities of today’s workplace.
3a: Skills for Life and Work Content
Develop the ability to analyze specific legal issues in a relevant fashion. Accumulation of all units instructed, Mock trial
Evaluate and resolve disputes involving legal issues in their lives. Accumulation of all units instructed
Identify rights and responsibilities to be a valuable citizen. Accumulation of all units instructed
Formulate decision-making skills to allow for appropriate behaviors in all aspects of life. Accumulation of all units instructed
3b: Workplace Competencies
WC Standard #1: Workplace Resources—Students identify, organize, plan, and allocate workplace resources of time, money, materials, facilities, and human resources.
Select goal-relevant activities, rank them, allocate time, and prepare and follow schedules. Accumulation of all units instructed
Use or prepare budgets, make forecasts, keep records, make adjustments to meet objectives, and evaluate financial records. Accumulation of all units instructed
Allocate and evaluate time, materials, facilities and resources to set and achieve goals. Accumulation of all units instructed
Assess skills and distribute work accordingly; evaluate performance and provide feedback toward the accomplishment of personal and team goals. Accumulation of all units instructed
WC Standard #2: Interpersonal Workplace Skills—Students acquire and demonstrate interpersonal workplace skills.
Practice various roles required as a member of an effective team while recognizing individual differences and cultural diversity. Mock Trial
Demonstrate and teach a learned skill including performance evaluation of self and others in this process.Mock Trial
Communicate ideas to justify position, persuade and convince others, and responsibly challenge existing procedures and policies.Ch. 39
Practice and evaluate negotiating process including researching, goal setting, presenting, listening, clarifying, adjusting and compromising. Ch. 4, Ch. 34, Ch. 28, Ch. 36, Ch. 39, Ch. 41, Ch. 42, Ch. 43, Ch. 44
Practice and evaluate positive service skills (e.g., resolving misunderstanding, consumer complaints).Ch. 3, Ch. 4, Ch. 5, Ch. 24, Ch 42, Ch 43, Ch. 44
WC Standard #3: Workplace Information—Students acquire and use workplace information.
Gather, compile and analyze data from a variety of sources, and evaluate relevance and accuracy in making informed decisions in the workplace. Ch. 4, Ch. 34, Ch. 28, Ch. 36, Ch. 39, Ch. 41, Ch. 42, Ch. 43, Ch. 44
Organize, process, analyze, and maintain written and computerized records and other forms of information using systematic methods.
Select, analyze, and present information using a variety of methods (e.g., oral, written, graphic, pictorial, multimedia). Mock Trial
Acquire, organize, communicate, process, analyze and evaluate information from print and electronic sources. Accumulation of all units instructed
3c: Applied Academics and Reasoning Skills: Communication Arts and Math Content
Respond to constructed writing prompts in the subject area using six-trait writing methods.
Read, analyze, and report (oral, written) on current civil and criminal issues. Accumulation of all units instructed
Participate in small group discussions and problem solving activities (i.e. mock trials, legislative writings). Accumulation of all units instructed
Apply mathematical concepts (add, subtract, multiply, divide, fractions) within the context of financial contracts and agreements (i.e.. Credit cards, bank loans, interest earned, overdraft fees, etc.).Ch. 24, Ch. 25, Ch. 26, Ch. 27, Ch. 28
Standard #4: Structure of Organizations and Work
Students gain an understanding of simple and complex organizations; engage in analysis or application of organizational concepts; incorporate the perspectives of management, workers, volunteers, and the community in the study of organizational behavior.
4a: Specific Course Content:
Compare and contrast organizational structures of national, state, and local legal systems. Accumulation of all units instructed
Organize and present legal arguments that incorporate critical thinking and leadership skills.Mock Tial
4b: Workplace Competencies
WC Standard #4: Workplace Systems—Students demonstrate an understanding of how social, organizational, and technological systems work.
Evaluate quality and performance of a variety of systems (e.g., impact of technology on production). Accumulation of all units instructed
Practice and analyze principles of successful system management considering external factors and planning for uncontrolled variables (e.g., balance professional and personal lives). Accumulation of all units instructed
Design, evaluate, and refine a system composed of subsystems (e.g. community service project, peer mediation, web page design).Ch. 3, Ch. 4, Ch. 34, Ch. 28, Ch. 44
Resources:
Street Law: A Course in Practical Law, West Educational Publishing.
Supplementary materials to include computer programs, law reviews, mock trial materials, law-related videos and guest speakers from the legal system.
Assessments:
Assessments may include daily assignments, student projects/simulations, performance/written tests, group/individual presentations, writing assignments, and mock trial presentations.
Meeting Diverse Student Needs:
Students with diverse needs—those with unique abilities and/or disabilities—will have differentiated opportunities to achieve competencies and standards, and at rates and in manners consistent with their needs. For methodology, please see Appendix I.