The Contracts course is one of the foundation subjects in the JD programs. It examines a central aspect of the law of obligations. In this course we look at the evolution of contract, its central role in a market economy and the criteria for making legally enforceable promissory obligations. The requirements for the formation of a binding contract are examined together with the content of agreements. This involves an examination of the associated rules and doctrines used to ascertain the meaning and scope of the obligations expressly or impliedly undertaken by the parties to a contract.
We will also be looking at breach of contract and its consequences, including a consideration of the remedies available at common law and in equity. The law of contract is affected and influenced by a range of other legal doctrines and statutory measures, notably the doctrines of estoppel, duress, undue influence and unconscionable conduct and the statutory prohibition on misleading or deceptive conduct. Throughout the course we consider the foundational rules and doctrines of contract law and the effect on contract law of these other areas of law.
Contract law is an important foundation for other compulsory and elective courses taken later in the degree including Property and Commercial Law.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
At the conclusion of this course, if students have successfully completed all the course requirements, it is expected that they should be able to:• define, distinguish and apply the basic concepts and terminology of the law of contract;
• define and distinguish amongst the various processes involved in contract formation; contract construction; and remedies for breach of contract;
• construct a proposition of contract law established by case law;
• identify the relevant legal issues that arise on a given set of facts in the area of contract law;
• distinguish the facts in decided cases from those in a given set of facts;
• recognise and appraise the interaction between contract formation and construction;
• formulate oral and written arguments in response to a given set of facts;
• select and apply a range of approaches to written communication, and apply the critical thinking required to bring about creative solutions to complex legal problems in the area of contract law;
• Use, interpret and apply a wide range of primary materials in both on-line and traditional media from international and national sources;
• Use legal citation conventions appropriately in the course of legal writing;
Indicative Assessment
It is anticipated there will be three assessment components for this course:• three case notes, each of 500 words, due in Week 4, Week 8 and Week 11 each worth 5% (a total of 15% for this component) ;
• an 1800 word Take home Assignment due in Week 6 worth 25% of the final mark; and
• a final examination during the formal examination period worth 60% of the final mark.
None of the assessment is redeemable. Failure to submit compulsory assessment will result in a student receiving an NCN Grade (a fail grade due to non-completion) for the entire course. Also, if the examiner is of the view that a genuine attempt at either the case notes or the Take home Assignment has not been made the student will receive an NCN grade.
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 3
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2016 | $3252 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2016 | $4638 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Autumn Session
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5702 | 28 Mar 2016 | 08 Apr 2016 | 08 Apr 2016 | 27 May 2016 | In Person | N/A |
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9033 | 18 Jul 2016 | 29 Jul 2016 | 31 Aug 2016 | 28 Oct 2016 | In Person | N/A |
