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Shane Patrick Irvine

Contracts, Criminal Laws, and Torts Law

For many students, the first year of law school is the most difficult. After completing this course you will have developed a rudimentary understanding of contracts, criminal law, and the law of torts. After the first year, you will have become adept at being a law student and you will have a much more thorough understanding of the type of studying required. You'll also find yourself thinking more like a lawyer than a trivia contestant on a game show., as you will come to realize a system that ties it all together.

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Contracts, Criminal Laws, and Torts Law

For many students, the first year of law school is the most difficult. After completing this course you will have developed a rudimentary understanding of contracts, criminal law, and the law of torts. After the first year, you will have become adept at being a law student and you will have a much more thorough understanding of the type of studying required. You'll also find yourself thinking more like a lawyer than a trivia contestant on a game show., as you will come to realize a system that ties it all together.

You will come to understand that a contract is formed when the parties to the agreement can contract, an offer is made; and that offer is certain, definite, unambiguous, and demonstrates to a reasonable person that an offer is being made.

That offer must be accepted by timely and authorized means. An acceptance must be unequivocal and mirror back the same terms.

There must also be a meeting of the minds, a mutuality of accent. Each party must have the same understanding of the terms of the contract.

There must also be a quid pro quo – something for something of value bargained for and given in exchange. This is known as consideration.

After that, it’s a matter of understanding any remedies that may be available in the event of a breach of the contract.

Criminal Law involves the evolution of major felonies such as the seven-enumerated felonies at common law and their progression to definitions laid out in the Model Penal Code. Criminal Law involves memorizing definitions of crimes, including the elements that must be met for a conviction. Conversely, you will also become familiar with common criminal defenses to crimes.

In Torts law, you will become familiar with intentional torts and their relationship to criminal and wrongful acts and the remedies thereof. You will also learn about negligence and the elements of negligence, eg, the breach of a duty not to expose others to an unreasonable risk of harm, and that the actions were both the direct and proximate cause resulting in ascertainable damages.

The following textbooks are available online at Barnes and Noble, enter my name, Shane Irvine, as the publisher and you can find the following publications, under my name, Shane Irvine:

The Executive Juris Doctor ISBN 979-8-891-45669-3

The Bootstrapped Entrepreneur ISBN 979-8-892-17209-7

The Sales Management Team Textbook ISBN 979-8-891-45086-8

The Perfect Business Plan ISBN 979-8-892-17201-1

Business Law for the Nascent Entrepreneur ISBN 979-8-892-17208-0

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What's inside

Learning objective

Students will learn the basic business principles of accounting principles.

Syllabus

Contracts 5
Students will learn about contract capacity and lehality
Contracts 1
Students will learnabout offers to contract
Read more
Contracts 2
Acceptance of an Offer
Contracts 3
Students will learn about Mutuality of Assent
Contracts 4
Students will learn about Consideration
Consideration Review
Students will learn about Warranties and Conditions
Contracts 6
Warrenties and Conditions Review
Students will learn about the statue of frauds doctrine
Chapter 7
Statute of Frauds Review
Students will learn about the evolution of 3rd party contracts
Contracts 8
Third Party Contracts Review
Students will learn about recission of contracts and accord and satisfaction
Chapter 9
Recission Review
Students will learn about breach of contracts
Chapter 10
Breach of Contract Review
Students will learn about legal remedies and damages
Chapter 11
Legal Remedy and Damages Review
Students will learn about some of the most significant case law on contracts
Chapter 12
Students will learn about intentional torts
Chapter 13
Intentional Torts Review
Students will learn about negligence
Chapter 14
Negligence Review
Students will learn about significant case law in torts
Torts Case Law Review
Students will learn about the elemnts of crimes
Chapter 16
Criminal Elements Review
Students will learn about criminal defenses
Chapter 17
Criminal Defenses Review
Students will learn about significant cases in criminal law
Chapter 18
Criminal Case Law Review

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Provides an overview of contracts, criminal law, and torts, which are foundational subjects covered in the first year of law school
Familiarizes learners with key concepts like offer, acceptance, consideration, and breach of contract, which are essential for understanding contract law
Explores the evolution of major felonies and criminal defenses, providing a solid base for further study in criminal law
Covers intentional torts and negligence, including elements like duty, breach, and causation, which are crucial for understanding tort law
Includes reviews of key concepts and case law in contracts, torts, and criminal law, reinforcing learning and comprehension
Recommends textbooks published by the instructor, which may limit learners to a single perspective on the material

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in First-Year Law with these activities:
Read 'Getting to Maybe: How to Excel on Law School Exams'
Prepare for law school exams by understanding legal reasoning and argument construction.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Getting to Maybe'.
  • Read the book and highlight key concepts.
  • Practice applying the techniques to sample exam questions.
Review Basic Contract Law Principles
Strengthen your understanding of fundamental contract law concepts before diving into the course.
Browse courses on Contract Law
Show steps
  • Review introductory materials on contract formation.
  • Practice identifying the elements of a valid contract.
  • Summarize key contract law principles.
Discuss Contract Scenarios with Peers
Reinforce your understanding of contract law by discussing hypothetical scenarios with classmates.
Show steps
  • Form a study group with classmates.
  • Prepare contract law scenarios.
  • Discuss the scenarios and analyze the legal issues.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a Chart of Criminal Defenses
Solidify your knowledge of criminal defenses by creating a visual aid for memorization and understanding.
Show steps
  • Research common criminal defenses.
  • Organize the defenses into a chart or table.
  • Include elements and examples for each defense.
Read 'Torts: A Contemporary Approach'
Deepen your understanding of tort law with a contemporary and comprehensive textbook.
View Alter Ego on Amazon
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Torts: A Contemporary Approach'.
  • Read the book and take detailed notes.
  • Review case examples and apply the principles to hypothetical scenarios.
Draft a Mock Contract
Apply your knowledge of contract law by drafting a mock contract for a specific scenario.
Show steps
  • Choose a realistic contract scenario.
  • Draft the contract, including all essential elements.
  • Review and revise the contract for clarity and completeness.
Prepare a Presentation on a Landmark Criminal Law Case
Enhance your understanding of criminal law by researching and presenting on a significant case.
Show steps
  • Select a landmark criminal law case.
  • Research the case and its legal significance.
  • Prepare a presentation summarizing the case and its impact.
  • Present the case to classmates or colleagues.

Career center

Learners who complete First-Year Law will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Lawyer
A career as a Lawyer involves advising clients on legal rights, representing clients in court, and drafting legal documents. This course, designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of law, including contracts, criminal law, and torts, helps build a solid foundation for aspiring lawyers. The curriculum's focus on contract law, covering offer, acceptance, mutuality of assent, and consideration, provides essential knowledge for drafting and interpreting contracts. Understanding criminal law and torts also helps lawyers navigate legal cases and provide informed advice to clients.
Contract Specialist
Contract Specialists are responsible for drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts to ensure compliance with legal and company policies. With its detailed exploration of contract law, this course is directly relevant to the responsibilities of a contract specialist. It covers essential aspects of contract formation, including offer, acceptance, consideration, and potential remedies for breach of contract. Understanding the statute of frauds and third-party contracts, as taught in this course, is also critical for contract specialists to navigate complex contractual agreements.
Judge
Considering a role as a Judge? Judges preside over court proceedings, interpret laws, and make legal rulings. The study of contracts, criminal law, and torts, as provided by this course, introduces students to the broad legal landscape that forms the basis of judicial decisions. The course's emphasis on understanding the evolution of criminal law and the elements of torts equips aspiring judges with the core legal concepts necessary for fair and informed judgment. The lessons on significant case law provide a valuable foundation for interpreting legal precedents.
Paralegal
Paralegals assist lawyers by conducting legal research, drafting documents, and managing case files. For individuals aspiring to become paralegals, this course provides a foundational understanding of key legal areas. The focus on contracts, criminal law, and torts provides exposure to the core areas of law that paralegals often encounter. The detailed study of contract formation, elements of negligence, and criminal defenses helps paralegals effectively support lawyers in preparing cases, researching legal issues, and organizing relevant information.
Claims Adjuster
A Claims Adjuster investigates insurance claims, determines coverage, and negotiates settlements. This course touches on the fundamentals of law relevant to claims adjusting, particularly in the area of torts. The course's discussion of negligence, including duty of care and proximate cause, provides insight into evaluating liability in personal injury claims. Familiarity with intentional torts also prepares claims adjusters to assess cases involving wrongful acts and intentional harm.
Arbitrator
Arbitrators hear evidence and arguments in disputes and issue binding decisions. This course helps build a foundation for understanding the legal principles involved in arbitration. The study of contracts, criminal law, and torts helps arbitrators understand the underlying legal issues in disputes. Detailed knowledge of contract law, elements of negligence, and criminal defenses allows arbitrators to make informed and fair decisions.
Mediator
A Mediator facilitates negotiations between parties to help them reach a mutually agreeable resolution. This course may be useful for aspiring mediators. The overview of contract law, torts, and potential breaches provides a legal framework for understanding disputes. Understanding the elements of contract formation, potential defenses, and remedies for breach helps mediators guide parties toward productive resolutions.
Police Officer
Police Officers enforce laws, maintain order, and protect public safety. Since the described course focuses on criminal law, this course is directly relevant to the work of a Police Officer. The course's discussion of Criminal Law involves memorizing definitions of crimes, including the elements that must be met for a conviction. This gives Police Officers knowledge of the elements of crimes. Conversely, you will also become familiar with common criminal defenses to crimes.
Compliance Officer
Compliance Officers ensure that an organization adheres to legal standards and internal policies. This course may be useful for individuals looking to enter the field of compliance. The course provides an overview of contracts, criminal law, and torts, which is useful for creating and enforcing compliance policies. A compliance officer will find it useful to study legal scenarios and defenses in the course.
Risk Analyst
Risk Analyst involves assessing and mitigating potential risks for an organization, often involving legal and compliance considerations. This course may be useful for those wanting to become Risk Analysts. Understanding the fundamentals of contract law, criminal law, and torts, as this course provides, helps in identifying and managing legal risks. This can include risks related to contractual obligations, regulatory compliance, and potential liabilities from wrongful acts or negligence.
Human Resources Manager
Human Resources Managers oversee employee relations, ensure compliance with labor laws, and manage personnel policies. This course provides a foundation for navigating legal aspects of employment. Understanding contract law helps in drafting and interpreting employment agreements. Knowledge of criminal law and torts may be useful in addressing workplace misconduct or liability issues. The ability to comprehend legal principles helps HR managers create fair and legally sound employment policies.
Legal Assistant
Legal Assistants provide administrative support to lawyers and legal teams, managing correspondence, scheduling appointments, and organizing legal documents. This course may be useful for building a foundational understanding of law for prospective legal assistants. The course's introduction to contracts, criminal law, and torts helps legal assistants to better organize and manage legal information and documentation, and support lawyers in their daily tasks. Familiarity with key legal concepts enhances the ability to manage cases and legal files efficiently.
Business Consultant
Business Consultants advise organizations on strategy, operations, and management to improve performance and efficiency. This course may be useful for understanding the legal and contractual aspects of business. An understanding of contract law is helpful for evaluating agreements and managing risks. The insights into criminal law and torts provide knowledge necessary to assess and address legal and ethical considerations consulting projects.
Real Estate Agent
Real Estate Agents assist clients in buying, selling, or renting properties. This course covers several legal aspects relevant to real estate transactions. A detailed knowledge of contract law is useful when drafting and negotiating purchase agreements and lease agreements. Understanding the elements of a valid contract, potential breaches, and available remedies helps real estate agents protect their clients' interests and ensure smooth transactions.
Lobbyist
Lobbyists advocate for specific interests before government officials and policymakers. The course provides a foundational understanding of legal principles, particularly in the area of criminal law. The course's focus on criminal law helps lobbyists understand the legal and ethical considerations involved in advocating for or against specific legislation. This knowledge helps lobbyists craft persuasive arguments and navigate the complex legal landscape of policymaking.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in First-Year Law.
Provides a framework for analyzing legal issues and constructing persuasive arguments, which is crucial for success in law school exams. It emphasizes understanding the nuances of legal rules and applying them to complex fact patterns. The book is particularly helpful for mastering the 'thinking like a lawyer' aspect of legal education. It offers practical strategies for issue spotting, rule application, and crafting well-reasoned legal arguments.
Offers a modern perspective on tort law, covering both traditional and emerging areas. It provides clear explanations of complex legal concepts and includes numerous case examples to illustrate the application of tort principles. The book is particularly useful for understanding the nuances of negligence, intentional torts, and strict liability. It is commonly used as a textbook in law schools and provides a comprehensive overview of the subject.

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