In Brief: Contract Law

OJEN In Brief resources are designed to provide high school students with an introduction to basic legal concepts. Each resource includes a short lesson plan for the teacher; a plain language description of the legal topic; and activities that provide students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge of the topic.

This handout provides students with an overview of various types of contracts and the building blocks of a contract, including offer, acceptance and consideration. Students learn about defects in contractual relations, such as misrepresentation, mistake, frustration, illegality, duress, undue influence and unconscionability. Furthermore, students are introduced to the remedies available for breach of contract, including damages, specific performance, injunction and rescission. Classroom activities encourage students to apply their knowledge to discussion-based scenarios and case studies. This handout can be broken down into small sections and be used as a full unit on contract law.