Key Ideas in Contract Law

Description

This book introduces the reader to a number of ideas and issues that underlie the English law of contract—an area of law that is often regarded as forbiddingly dry and technical but which is here made easy to understand and full of interest. Taking as its starting point the role contract law plays in helping markets to operate, the book explains how contract law regulates the commercial risks people take, while at the same time placing limits on what may be bought and sold, and ensuring that contractual powers are not unacceptably abused. A final chapter discusses how contract law can be used to make gifts of binding promises to other people. The book provides a rigorous and stimulating journey through the ideas underpinning contract law and is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the subject. Key Ideas in Law: Volume 1 Contents 1 Introduction 2 Markets 1. Artificial Trust 2. Aspects of Contract Law 3. Distrust of Contract Law 4. Actual Trust 3 Risk 1. Protecting Against Risk 2. The Limitations of Contractual Protections 3. Mistake 4. Change of Circumstances 5. Controls on Contractual Discretion 4 Conscience 1. Withdrawal of Offers 2. Enforcement of Debts 3. Forfeiture 4. Rescission of Contract 5. The Attack on Conscience 5 Limits 1. Giving and Selling 2. Some Actual Limits 3. Evaluation 4. Fall-Out 6 Gifts 1. Deeds 2. Gift-Promises Supported by Consideration 3. Enforcement of Contractual Gift-Promises 4. Non-Contractual Gift-Promises Acknowledgements Bibliography Table of Cases