Bridge to Spring

Last class of the fall. No new doctrine — we close the arc we have been building since Class 1 and lay out where the spring goes.

What the fall asked

The whole fall answered one question: is there a contract the law will enforce? Formation, consideration, and the Module IV defenses are the gates that answer it. By now you should be able to take an unseen fact pattern and run it through those gates in order, stopping at whichever one controls.

What the spring asks

Spring assumes the contract is valid and asks a different family of questions. The four modules:

• Interpretation (Module V). Once a contract exists, what does it mean? The Williston / Corbin opposition — four corners versus context — shapes the parol evidence rule and ambiguity. Class 27 opens it with Frigaliment (what is “chicken?”).
• Performance and breach (Module VI). What does each party have to do, and what counts as falling short? Conditions, substantial performance, material breach.
• Remedies (Module VII). When a contract is broken, what does the law give — expectation, reliance, restitution?
• Third parties. Who besides the original parties can sue or be bound.

Using the break

Over-learn the rules you would most want the cold-caller to use, by section number. Watch for contract language in everyday life — a lease, a click-through EULA, an employment offer — and notice where an interpretive dispute would arise. Bring one question you held over the break about a fall case. Come back ready; you may be called.