Handbook

Contract Law is a core compulsory course, continuing the work completed in Principles of Private Law. Like tort law, contract law is one aspect of the law of obligations. Contract law is the study of legal obligations voluntarily assumed. The course focuses on understanding the nature, significance and operation of legal agreements in disparate contexts, varying from corporate to commercial practice, and from family and consumer to employment law. Particular attention is placed on the decisions of appellate courts, and on key legislation such as relate to consumer law, unfair contracts and unconscionable dealings. The course also aims to provide future lawyers with the knowledge needed to negotiate, draft and interpret contractual documents.

Main Topics

• Terms (including implied terms)
• Interpretation (including the parol evidence rule and exclusion clauses)
• Misrepresentation and misleading or deceptive conduct (including the Competition and Consumer Act 2010)
• Mistake, unconscionable dealing and other vitiating factors
• Frustration
• Performance, breach and termination of contracts
• Damages and rescission