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An Introduction to Contract Law: Principles, Cases, and Context, First Edition

Authors
  • Stephen M. Rice
Series / Aspen College Series
Description
Table of contents
Preface

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An Introduction to Contract Law: Principles, Cases, and Context, by Stephen M. Rice, is a textbook created specifically for undergraduate and (non-law school) graduate students that explores important aspects of contract law in detail while omitting granular points and exceptions that pose a digression from foundational concepts.    

Given the pervasiveness and power of contractual relationships in society, it is no wonder that undergraduate and post-graduate programs outside of law school have increasingly included Contract Law among their offerings. Until now, however, nearly every Contract Law textbook available has been written specifically for law school students. An Introduction to Contract Law: Principles, Cases, and Context, represents a voice and scale ideally suited to the undergraduate, LLM, or BLAW Contracts course. It weaves hypotheticals, definitions of key terms, and numerous examples throughout every chapter. Advanced topics are clearly signposted as optional coverage. Introductory Examples at the start of each chapter illustrate the types of issues contract law addresses. Marginal notes and end-of-chapter questions circle back to the facts and issues in the Introductory Example

And because professors don’t all agree on one best way to teach Contract Law, a modular organization of chapters enables every professor to chart their own course, navigating in their preferred order of preference through the bases of enforcement, assent, defenses, the Statute of Frauds, performance and breach, and basic assumptions. 

Professors and students will benefit from: 

  • Connection Points that place topics in their larger context or framework 
  • Short example sets that show how contract rules apply to different sets of facts 
  • Questions that ask students to apply the rule or concept to a given set of facts 
  • Tightly edited cases that demonstrate how the courts move from abstract general rules to specific outcomes 
  • Chapter Summaries 
  • End-of-chapter Discussion Questions
  • Generous teaching support
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Table of contents

SUMMARY OF CONTENTS

Preface 
Acknowledgments 
Introduction 


1: An Introduction to the Nature, Process, Sources,
and Study of Contract Law 
2: Making Promises the Law Will Enforce 
3: “Getting to Contract”: Alternatives to Consideration 
4: “Getting to Contract”: Mutual Assent 
5: “Getting to Contract”: Problems with Assent 
6: Unenforceable Contracts 
7: “Get It in Writing”: The Statute of Frauds 
8: Parol Evidence, Contract Interpretation, Ambiguous Language,
and Implied Terms 
9: Performing and Breaching the Contract 
10: Failed Basic Assumptions: Mistake, Impracticability,
and Frustration of Purpose 
11: Remedies for Breach of Contract 
12: Third-Party Rights: Who Can Enforce a Contract? 


Glossary 
Index 

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About the authors
Stephen M. Rice

Steve Rice began his career in private practice at a Midwest commercial litigation firm. He actively litigated hundreds of proceedings at both the trial and appellate levels. His litigation portfolio spans an array of business disputes, including commercial contracts, secured financing, asset valuation, franchisee-franchisor relationships, adversary proceedings in bankruptcy, intellectual property matters, securities fraud, and professional standards of care.

This broad practical experience informs his current work at Liberty University School of Law, where he teaches Contracts, Business Associations, and Mergers & Acquisitions. Professor Rice has designed and taught contract law courses for students at every level of higher education. He is the author of the NITA-published book The Force of Logic: Using Formal Logic as a Tool in the Craft of Legal Argument, as well as numerous law review articles exploring the design and persuasive force of legal arguments.

Product Information
Edition
First Edition
Publication date
2026-02-06
Copyright Year
2026
Pages
448
Print + eBook
9798894101323
eBook
9798894101330
LLPOD
9798894101354
Subject
Pre-Law , Business Law , Contract Law
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