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Distinctive badges seem strange without a degree on law (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

emblems

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'distinctive badges' is the definition.
'emblems' can be an answer for 'badges' (I've seen this in another clue). I am not certain of the 'distinctive' bit.

'seem strange without a degree on law' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'degree' could be 'ms' (MS is an example) and 'ms' is found in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for emblems that I've seen before include "Insignias" , "Representative devices or symbols" , "tokens" , "Design or visual objects, representing groups say" , "Symbols; insignia" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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