Course Outline for Paralegal Studies 36
Contract Law

Effective: Fall 2019
SLO Rev: 10/01/2018
Catalog Description:

PLGL 36 - Contract Law

3.00 Units

As part of the Paralegal Program, this course will examine the fundamental elements of contract law, including the principals of formation, agreement, and consideration. Students will also learn contract interpretation, the necessary elements for creating legally enforceable contracts, and breach and remedies.
Strongly Recommended: ADMJ 50.
1402.00 - Paralegal*
Optional
Type Units Inside of Class Hours Outside of Class Hours Total Student Learning Hours
Lecture 3.00 54.00 108.00 162.00
Total 3.00 54.00 108.00 162.00
Measurable Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. properly research various sources of contract law, including common law, case law, general obligation statutes and the Uniform Commercial Code;
  2. describe the manner in which a contract can be formed by “mutual assent”;
  3. differentiate between an offer and a mere expression of interest or an invitation to negotiate;
  4. identify and describe the rules of revocation by actions or expressions, and apply those rules to fact patterns;
  5. identify and describe actions that constitute acceptance of an offer;
  6. identify and describe why particular agreements are supported by consideration in various hypothetical fact patterns;
  7. identify and describe the concept of legal detriment, as it relates to adequate consideration;
  8. analyze and apply the more complex aspects of the rule of consideration, including the rules governing partial payment checks and promises to pay rewards;
  9. identify, describe and apply the rules regarding defenses against the enforcement of a contract;
  10. summarize and analyze cases in which a contract can be voided due to grounds such as mistake, duress, unconscionability, statute of frauds and determine whether any such defense is applicable in a particular case;
  11. analyze and apply the rules for contract remedies, i.e., expectation, reliance and restitution damages, to a particular fact pattern and predict the kind of remedy a court will be most likely to order in a particular case;
Course Content:

  1. Contracts and consideration

  2. Problems in consideration

    1. Bargain promises and the mutuality rule
    2. Bargain promises and the legal duty rule I and II
    3. Accord and satisfaction, donative promises, moral or past consideration

  3. Mutual assent: offer and acceptance 

    1. Mutual assent

    2.  Offers

    3. Termination of the power of acceptance 

  4. Defenses to formation
    1. Indefiniteness

    2. Mistake

    3. Misrepresentation, nondisclosure, duress and undue influence

    4. Unconscionability, lack of capacity, illegal contracts

    5. Statute of frauds

  5. Performance and breach
    1. Good faith
    2. Conditions
    3. Order of performance
    4. Substantial performance

    5. Divisible contracts

    6. Material breach v. minor breach

    7. Anticipatory breach

    8. Discharge 

    9. Circumstances: impracticability

  6. Remedies

    1. Damages and restitution
    2. Specific performance
    3. Other forms of damages
Methods of Instruction:
  1. Lecture/Discussion
  2. Problem Solving
  3. Diagnostic Quizzes
  4. Written assignments
  5. Distance Education
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
  1. Analyze various fact patterns to differentiate between an offer and a mere expression of interest or an invitation to negotiate. 2. Analyze various fact patterns and scenarios to identify actions that constitute acceptance of an offer. 3. Analyze various fact patterns and scenarios to identify when there has been consideration of a contract. 4. Analyze various fact patterns and scenarios to identify when there has been revocation of a contract.
  1. Attendance
  2. Class Participation
  3. Final Examination
  4. Exams/Tests
  5. Group Projects
  6. Written assignments
Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. Identify, analyze and apply various sources of contract law, including common law, statutory law (both state and federal), case law, and the Uniform Commercial Code.
  2. Identify and analyze fact patterns and cases in which a contract can be deemed null and void due to grounds such as mistake, duress, statute of frauds and determine possible defenses.
  3. Understand and apply the rules for contract remedies to various fact patterns and analyze potential court ordered remedies.
Textbooks (Typical):
  1. Helewitz, J., A. (2018). Basic Contract Law for Paralegals (9th). Wolters Kluwer.
  2. Reed., K., Cheeseman, H.,R., Schlageter., J.J. (2013). Contract Law for Paralegals (2nd). Pearson.
Abbreviated Class Schedule Description:
This course will examine the fundamental elements of contract law, including the principals of formation, agreement, and consideration. Students will also learn contract interpretation, the necessary elements for creating legally enforceable contracts, and breach and remedies.
Strongly Recommended: ADMJ 50.