1L - First Year Lesson Topics

This set of Topics covers subjects typically taught during the first year of law school.
Lesson Viewed

Good Faith: Discussions in Contracts Podcast

The topic of this podcast is the basic concept of good faith. Good faith, sometimes called the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, is an implied term in a party's obligation of performance in every contract. The podcast examines both the subjective and objective standards of good faith. It discusses the obligations of good faith under the common law - as expressed in Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 205 - and the Uniform Commercial Code § 1-304. It provides some history on the evolution of good faith in UCC Articles 1 and 2, and considers the variations on the definition of good faith adopted among the jurisdictions. Finally, the podcast covers the consequences of a breach of good faith. The cases of Reid v. Key Bank, Billman v. Hensel, and Neumiller Farms v. Cornett are discussed.

Lesson Viewed

Implied Conditions: Discussions in Contracts Podcast

This podcast will explain when a court will supply a condition even where the parties have not expressly written one into the contract. It distinguishes between a promise and a condition under Restatement (Second) Contracts §§ 2 and 224. This podcast references two other podcasts: Express Conditions and the Excuse of Conditions that is used by courts to avoid harsh results of conditions. Additionally, this podcast provides hypotheticals that illustrate the relationship between implied conditions and the rule of constructive conditions of exchange.

Lesson Viewed

Discussions in Contracts: Impossibility, Impracticability and Frustration Podcast

The topic of this podcast is impossibility, impracticability and frustration. Ordinarily we expect the parties to perform their contracts under the principle of pacta sunt servanda, meaning promises are to be kept. Contract law, though, does provide excuse for non-performance (meaning a party is not in breach) in the event of certain contingencies the nonoccurrence of which are basic assumptions of a contract. This podcast covers the three distinct grounds for excuse provided by contract law: (i) impossibility; (ii) impracticability; and (iii) frustration of purpose.

Lesson Viewed

Discussions in Contracts: Manner of Acceptance: Bilateral and Unilateral Contracts Podcast

This podcast explains how to determine if the offer is one that can be accepted by a return promise, a return promise or performance or whether a return performance is required. Sometimes you will hear reference to bilateral and unilateral contracts. The terms bilateral and unilateral do not relate to the number of parties to the contract. Instead, a bilateral contract is where there is a set of mutual promises made by both parties.

Lesson Viewed

Discussions in Contracts: Misunderstanding and Mistake Podcast

There are three sets of defenses that might be used to avoid enforcement of a contract which is otherwise valid: (i) capacity related defenses; (ii) assent related defenses; and (iii) public policy related defenses. The topic of this podcast is the basic concepts related to the assent related defense of mistake. This podcast will also distinguish the doctrine of misunderstanding, which sometimes gets confused with mistake. Misunderstanding is not a defense at all, but a doctrine that when used prevents contract formation.

Lesson Viewed

Mitigation: Discussions in Contracts Podcast

This podcast explores the basic concept of mitigation, or, as it is sometimes called, avoidable consequences, which is used in computing damages. Mitigation is a principle that can limit a plaintiff’s recovery in a claim for breach of contract. The principle is stated in Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 350(1). The podcast also discusses Rockingham County v. Luten Bridge Co. and the twist on the common law rule of mitigation found in U.C.C. § 2-704. 

Lesson Viewed

Discussions in Contracts: Offer Podcast

The topic of this podcast is the basic concepts related to offers. In particular, the podcast examines the basic attributes of offers and also looks at the particular types of communications that are typically not offers, such as advertisements and price quotations. Cases discussed include Lefkowitz v. Great Minneapolis Surplus Store (fur coat ad) and Fairmont Glass Works v. Cruden-Martin Woodenware Co.

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