Guidance on how to answer problem-style questions Guidance on writing answers to problem questions in contract law. General organisation. Facts. Let the facts guide you in identification of the relevant legal issues. Deal with one issue at a time. Discuss the law relevant to the issue. Apply the law to the facts.
Contract exams are not as transactional as criminal law or torts, so many law students find them more difficult. There are a lot of interlocking pieces on a contract law exam. Generally, the exam has one to three contracts at issue and you must analyze those in great depth.
How to Approach a Contracts Question Start with the Fact Pattern. First, I start with a fact pattern. Take Notes. If it's on a screen, I'm taking mental notes or jotting down a word, just to remind myself. Figure Out the Issues. Write Short Answers. Fill Out the Outline with CRAC.
A valid contract is a written or expressed agreement between two parties to provide a product or service. A void contract is missing an element. In a voidable contract, there is an option for the parties to enforce the terms even though an element is missing, or some other issue exists with the terms.
A contract is an agreement between two parties that creates an obligation to perform (or not perform) a particular duty. A legally enforceable contract requires the following elements, all of which are discussed in more detail below.
You'll organize your answer by answering each question. Of course, each section is complicated and has subparts (e.g., under obligation, you might consider if it's a bilateral or unilateral contract). But mentally highlighting each section will give you a great jumping off point to answer the question.
For example, if the scenario involves the question whether a contract has been concluded between A and B, then the obvious points to consider are 'offer' and 'acceptance'; after having defined and explained what e.g. an offer is in the eyes of the law, you then need to apply the requirements for an offer to the case, ...
Understanding these 5 elements of contract law—offer, acceptance, consideration, legal capacity, and lawful purpose—ensures that your agreements are legally binding and enforceable. This knowledge helps you navigate the complexities of contracts and avoid common pitfalls.