About This Course
Contracts play a wide-ranging and important role in our society and daily lives, influencing areas such as employment, personal relationships (e.g., marriages) and purchases large and small. They are also integral to every area of legal practice, including attorney-client fee agreements, tort settlements, criminal plea agreements, and property distribution agreements in a marriage dissolution action. An understanding of the substantive law of contracts is vital for any paralegal professional.
In this course, you’ll discover the key elements of a legally enforceable contract and the defenses that can be raised in an enforcement action. We’ll explore various remedies, assess damages and discuss contract negotiation and drafting techniques. By the end of the course, you’ll understand how to expertly analyze, interpret and draft and revise contracts, adding valuable knowledge to your paralegal skillset.
What You’ll Learn
- The sources of law applicable to contracts, including the common law and the Revised Code of Washington (RCW)
- Basic requirements for creating a valid and enforceable contract, from offer and acceptance to capacity and legality
- Laws relating to assignment of contract rights, delegation of contract duties, novation, and the rights of third-party beneficiaries
- Monetary and equitable remedies available under contract law
- How to read and analyze a contract, and how to draft and revise a precise, understandable contract
