CONTRACT LAW
Complete Study Notes — UK, US & General Principles
Formation, Terms, Vitiating Factors/Defenses, Discharge & Remedies
A comprehensive reference covering English common law, US common law/Restatement/UCC,
and broadly applicable principles — with leading cases, statutes, and comparative notes
throughout.
,Table of Contents
Table of Contents........................................................................................................................ 2
Part 1: Foundations of Contract Law............................................................................................4
1.1 What is a Contract?........................................................................................................... 4
1.2 Sources of Contract Law...................................................................................................4
1.3 The Essential Elements of a Valid Contract.......................................................................4
1.4 Classifying Contracts.........................................................................................................4
Part 2: Formation — Offer and Acceptance.................................................................................6
2.1 The Offer........................................................................................................................... 6
Offer vs Invitation to Treat...................................................................................................6
Termination of an Offer.......................................................................................................6
2.2 Acceptance....................................................................................................................... 7
The Mirror Image Rule........................................................................................................7
Communication of Acceptance...........................................................................................7
The Battle of the Forms......................................................................................................7
Part 3: Consideration, Promissory Estoppel & Intention...............................................................8
3.1 Consideration.................................................................................................................... 8
Key Rules........................................................................................................................... 8
The Pre-Existing Duty Rule and Its Erosion........................................................................8
3.2 Promissory Estoppel.........................................................................................................8
3.3 Intention to Create Legal Relations...................................................................................9
Part 4: Capacity to Contract.......................................................................................................10
4.1 Minors............................................................................................................................. 10
4.2 Mental Incapacity and Intoxication...................................................................................10
Part 5: Terms of the Contract.....................................................................................................11
5.1 Express Terms................................................................................................................ 11
5.2 Implied Terms.................................................................................................................. 11
5.3 Classification of Terms: Conditions, Warranties and Innominate Terms..........................11
5.4 Exclusion and Limitation Clauses....................................................................................11
Incorporation..................................................................................................................... 11
Construction (Interpretation).............................................................................................12
Statutory Controls............................................................................................................. 12
Part 6: Vitiating Factors and Defenses to Enforcement..............................................................13
6.1 Misrepresentation............................................................................................................ 13
6.2 Mistake............................................................................................................................ 13
6.3 Duress and Undue Influence...........................................................................................14
6.4 Unconscionability (Primarily a US Doctrine, with English Parallels).................................14
6.5 Illegality and Public Policy...............................................................................................14
Part 7: Discharge of a Contract..................................................................................................15
7.1 Discharge by Performance..............................................................................................15
7.2 Discharge by Agreement.................................................................................................15
7.3 Discharge by Frustration / Impossibility / Impracticability.................................................15
7.4 Discharge by Breach.......................................................................................................16
Part 8: Remedies for Breach of Contract...................................................................................17
8.1 Damages......................................................................................................................... 17
The Expectation Measure.................................................................................................17
Limiting Principles............................................................................................................. 17
Liquidated Damages and Penalties..................................................................................17
8.2 Equitable Remedies........................................................................................................ 17
, 8.3 Remedies Specific to the Sale of Goods (UCC)..............................................................18
Part 9: Comparative Summary, Glossary & Final Revision Checklist.........................................19
9.1 Key Comparative Points: England vs US.........................................................................19
9.2 Glossary of Key Terms....................................................................................................19
9.3 Final Revision Checklist..................................................................................................20
Complete Study Notes — UK, US & General Principles
Formation, Terms, Vitiating Factors/Defenses, Discharge & Remedies
A comprehensive reference covering English common law, US common law/Restatement/UCC,
and broadly applicable principles — with leading cases, statutes, and comparative notes
throughout.
,Table of Contents
Table of Contents........................................................................................................................ 2
Part 1: Foundations of Contract Law............................................................................................4
1.1 What is a Contract?........................................................................................................... 4
1.2 Sources of Contract Law...................................................................................................4
1.3 The Essential Elements of a Valid Contract.......................................................................4
1.4 Classifying Contracts.........................................................................................................4
Part 2: Formation — Offer and Acceptance.................................................................................6
2.1 The Offer........................................................................................................................... 6
Offer vs Invitation to Treat...................................................................................................6
Termination of an Offer.......................................................................................................6
2.2 Acceptance....................................................................................................................... 7
The Mirror Image Rule........................................................................................................7
Communication of Acceptance...........................................................................................7
The Battle of the Forms......................................................................................................7
Part 3: Consideration, Promissory Estoppel & Intention...............................................................8
3.1 Consideration.................................................................................................................... 8
Key Rules........................................................................................................................... 8
The Pre-Existing Duty Rule and Its Erosion........................................................................8
3.2 Promissory Estoppel.........................................................................................................8
3.3 Intention to Create Legal Relations...................................................................................9
Part 4: Capacity to Contract.......................................................................................................10
4.1 Minors............................................................................................................................. 10
4.2 Mental Incapacity and Intoxication...................................................................................10
Part 5: Terms of the Contract.....................................................................................................11
5.1 Express Terms................................................................................................................ 11
5.2 Implied Terms.................................................................................................................. 11
5.3 Classification of Terms: Conditions, Warranties and Innominate Terms..........................11
5.4 Exclusion and Limitation Clauses....................................................................................11
Incorporation..................................................................................................................... 11
Construction (Interpretation).............................................................................................12
Statutory Controls............................................................................................................. 12
Part 6: Vitiating Factors and Defenses to Enforcement..............................................................13
6.1 Misrepresentation............................................................................................................ 13
6.2 Mistake............................................................................................................................ 13
6.3 Duress and Undue Influence...........................................................................................14
6.4 Unconscionability (Primarily a US Doctrine, with English Parallels).................................14
6.5 Illegality and Public Policy...............................................................................................14
Part 7: Discharge of a Contract..................................................................................................15
7.1 Discharge by Performance..............................................................................................15
7.2 Discharge by Agreement.................................................................................................15
7.3 Discharge by Frustration / Impossibility / Impracticability.................................................15
7.4 Discharge by Breach.......................................................................................................16
Part 8: Remedies for Breach of Contract...................................................................................17
8.1 Damages......................................................................................................................... 17
The Expectation Measure.................................................................................................17
Limiting Principles............................................................................................................. 17
Liquidated Damages and Penalties..................................................................................17
8.2 Equitable Remedies........................................................................................................ 17
, 8.3 Remedies Specific to the Sale of Goods (UCC)..............................................................18
Part 9: Comparative Summary, Glossary & Final Revision Checklist.........................................19
9.1 Key Comparative Points: England vs US.........................................................................19
9.2 Glossary of Key Terms....................................................................................................19
9.3 Final Revision Checklist..................................................................................................20
