Contracts course overview
Week 1 of 48 Sofai Legal Counsel enabled
Introductory Principles & Applicable Law
What makes a promise legally enforceable, the Common Law vs. UCC Article 2, and the roadmap of Contract Law that every later week builds on.
Live class: Thursday, July 9 Professor: Dean Brandi McAlexander, Esq.
Welcome to Contracts · Happy Fourth of July!
Before you head out to enjoy the Fourth of July weekend, welcome to your first Contracts course at LA Law Institute. Contracts is one of the foundational subjects tested on the California First-Year Law Students' Examination (Baby Bar), and it forms the backbone of nearly every legal transaction you'll encounter throughout your legal career. This week begins the foundation for the next four years.
This weekend's challenge:as you head to McDonald's, the grocery store, or a fireworks stand, ask yourself — am I entering into a contract? When was it formed? Was there an offer? An acceptance? What was the consideration? Is this governed by the Common Law or Article 2 of the UCC? You don't need every answer yet. The goal is to start looking at the world through the eyes of a lawyer — and once you start, there's no going back.
Our first live Zoom class is Thursday, July 9. Before then, complete Chapter 1 in the Study Guide and Textbook, review this week's key terms, build your Contract Law Framework roadmap, complete Review Questions 1–5 and both practice scenarios, and read and brief Bailey v. West and Lucy v. Zehmer. Being prepared to engage is far more important than being perfect — being wrong is expected, being engaged is required.
— Dean Brandi McAlexander, Esq., Dean & Contracts Professor, LA Law Institute
Read the original announcement →Interactive · Framework Activity
Build your Contract Law roadmap
Click each stage to reveal what it covers. Formation — this week's focus — is highlighted; every later week builds on it.
Interactive · Vocabulary
Key terms flashcards
Sixteen Week 1 terms drawn from the CA Bar Content Map, Section I. Flip through the deck until the language feels familiar.
Term 1 of 17 · CA Bar Content Map § I.A
Case Briefing Lab
Brief the Dean's assigned cases
Draft your own IRAC brief for Bailey v. West and Lucy v. Zehmer, then ask Sofai to check it or reveal a model brief.
196 Va. 493, 84 S.E.2d 516 (Va. 1954) · Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia (1954) · Doctrine: Objective theory of contracts; present intent to contract
Sofai · Legal Counsel
Ask the legal cortex anything
Interactive · Practice
Practice problems
Try to issue-spot each hypothetical yourself before revealing the model analysis or asking Sofai for a winning strategy.
These two supplemental hypotheticals were written for this lesson to give you extra reps issue-spotting Week 1 doctrine before Thursday's class — they are practice in addition to, not a replacement for, the Review Questions and Practice Problems in your Study Guide.
Supplemental Practice — The Fourth of July Food Truck
On July 4th, Priya sees a food truck's chalkboard sign: 'Today only — any burger + fries, $9.99, cash only, while supplies last.' She gets in line, and when she reaches the window, the cashier says the sign is 'just an eye-catcher' and the real price is $14. Priya says 'the sign said $9.99, I'll pay that,' hands over a $10 bill, and the cashier takes it and hands her a burger and fries. Later, the truck's owner says there was never a real deal because the sign was 'just marketing.'
Supplemental Practice — The Roadside Fireworks Stand
Marcus stops at a roadside fireworks stand run by Deshawn, an experienced fireworks retailer. Marcus picks out $60 worth of fireworks and hands Deshawn his card, but Deshawn's card reader is broken. Deshawn says, 'Just Venmo me tonight and take the fireworks now — I trust you, we do this with regulars all the time.' Marcus takes the fireworks, promises to Venmo the money, and drives off — but never pays.
Before Thursday, July 9
Your Week 1 checklist
0 of 10 complete before Thursday, July 9