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Presents fundamental principles of the law of contracts. Includes elements of a contract, contract defenses, performance, breach, and remedies. Includes drafting tips and practical exercises. Compares the common law of contracts and U.C.C. provisions governing sales. Includes an overview of related areas, such as consumer protection, commercial paper, security interests and bankruptcy.

TEXT: P. Tepper, "Contracts and the U.C.C." (Lawyers Coop - Delmar Publishing - latest edition).

COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. Students will identify black letter principles of the common law of contracts, and will apply those principles to solve hypothetical problems.
2. Students will distinguish the common law of contracts from the law contained in the Uniform Commercial Code (U.C.C.), and will identify situations governed by each.
3. Students will explain the purposes of contract law and the intended effect of contract law on business transactions.
4. Students will identify black letter principles of the laws governing debtor-creditor relations, including consumer protection, product liability, bankruptcy, insurance and security interest laws. Students will apply these principles to solve hypothetical problems.
5. Students will draft clear and effective contract provisions.
6. Students will identify ethical issues in contract law, and will spot and solve these issues in the context of hypothetical problems.
7. Students will be synthesize the knowledge gained in the course to
analyze hypothetical problems that might be presented by a client in a
legal setting, to work through appropriate solutions, and to perform tasks
commonly delegated to paralegals working in the area of contract law.
8. Students will use the Internet to locate relevant statutes, cases, regulations and forms.

SAMPLE COURSE OUTLINE
(Each session below represents 3 contact hours)

Session One: Course Overview. Definition and elements of a contract. Sources and purposes of contract law.

Session Two: Offers. Hypothetical problem solving and drafting exercises.

Session Three: Acceptances. Bilateral and unilateral contracts. Hypothetical Problems solving and drafting exercises.

Session Four: Consideration and its substitutes. Hypothetical problems solving and case law research.

Session Five: Formation issues. What happens when there is no meeting of the minds? Sample cases and case briefing exercises

Session Six: Unit One Review. Small group hypothetical problem solving.

Session Seven: Conditions, performance and breach. Sample cases and hypothetical problem solving.

Session Eight: The statute of frauds. Internet research for specific state statutes. Small group problem solving: satisfying the requirements of this statute.

Session Nine: The parol evidence rule. Case law research and hypothetical problem solving. Practical and ethical implications for lawyers and paralegals - what to do about the drafts?

Session Ten: Performance and Breach. Express Warranties. Drafting Exercises.

Session Eleven: Implied warranties. Statutory research and small group problem solving.

Session Twelve: Contract Defenses. Video on contract cases. Small group issue identification and problem solving for unit two review.

Session Thirteen: Negotiation and drafting exercises. Principles of clear and effective drafting. Loyalty to the client and ethical problems posed by over-reaching.

Session Fourteen: Third part beneficiaries. Assignment and delegation. Small group problem solving and case law examples. Drafting exercises.

Session Fifteen: Virginia and federal consumer protection laws. Overview of basic principles governing product liability, insurance, security interests, bankruptcy, and commercial paper. Ethical implications for lawyers and paralegals. Small group problem solving.

Session Sixteen: Contract Remedies. Equity versus law in contracts. Drafting and case briefing exercises. Alternative Dispute Resolution and the future of contract law. Cp Exam review.

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