What is a contract? How can you make one binding? What can you do to get out of a contract? What special rules apply to international contracts? These questions and other important issues of legally enforceable promises are covered in Business Law: Contracts. Former attorney and Professor Frank B. Cross lays a comprehensive foundation in the practical and intricate body of law that governs contracts. By the conclusion of his course, you'll realize why contractual agreements are one of the principal mechanisms for ordering our society.
Business Law: Contracts
Dive into a comprehensive foundation in the practical and intricate body of law that governs contracts.
Rated 5 out of
5
by
placid19 from
Good layout
I bought this some few weeks ago, and I have found the lectures excellent.
Date published: 2022-09-23
Rated 4 out of
5
by
bob26 from
Basics of contracts well presented
I had a rough general idea about contracts, but this course gave me more specific and detailed information.
Date published: 2022-03-05
Rated 5 out of
5
by
J Karl from
Great instructor
Really enjoyed the instructor. Content was well presented and entertaining.
Date published: 2018-10-21
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Cheryl101 from
Outdated material, but covers quite the basics
I don’t know how much contract law has changed over the past 20 years (I think I caught one law that has changed for sure), but quite a bit of the content is somewhat dated. I also believe if you have watched shows like the “People’s Court”, you have heard much of what is covered in this course.
The professor is very easy to follow on the audio, and there really isn’t any need to follow up with the guide book. He covers quite a bit of contract law, at least at the high level, and provides many examples. He can be entertaining at times, even if the jokes are often time sensitive. His reference to how “clever” lawyers can twist things around can be grating on the nerves, though, as it reminds me how often the judicial system is more about winning arguments than doing what is right.
Date published: 2018-09-25
Rated 5 out of
5
by
EngineerinVA from
Essential for Doing Business
This course is old (about a quarter of a century old – it refers to possible passage of the CLINTON health care proposal) but still an essential for any manager in a commercial business or any public servant who has any interaction with contractors (excepting lawyers and contract specialists for whom this course is elementary review). NOTE: The lectures in this course are 45 minutes long instead of the common 30 minutes. Also, there are only 8 lectures in this course instead of the more common 24. Finally, this course is designed to be taken in conjunction with the parallel course Business Law: Negligence and Torts.
This course addresses the fundamentals of what should be known by anyone executing a contract. Topics include what really constitutes a contract, how does one establish a valid and binding contract, what constitutes acceptable performance, what remedies are available if performance is not acceptable, etc. Oddly, the course pretty much omits discussion of the different types of contracts (e. g., firm fixed price, time-and-materials, cost) and how the contract type affects execution.
Dr. Cross is a very good lecturer. His lectures are always well organized. He addresses topics in an intelligible and enjoyable manner. His illustrations are insightful.
I took the audio version. I still have the CD but now it is available only by audio download. (For some reason, it is not available by streaming.)
Date published: 2018-08-07
Rated 5 out of
5
by
BizPhyZ from
Every Business Person Should Take This Course
I am so glad I stumbled across this course. It is extremely helpful to anyone in business. Of course, it's not an advanced law school course. You won't even need to speak Latin. You will gain some very valuable tips on contracts and the law.
Will a verbal contract stand up in court? Under the right circumstances. Like? Take the course and find out.
What you will learn are timeless core principles of business contract law. You will also learn about remedy when contracts are broken.
So often business people come to me with questions like "since my supplier did this, and we have a contract, can't I sue for a million bucks?" Well, I must ask, "were you harmed because your vendor underperformed?" Find out how business contracts work and why going for big wins in court is a lousy strategy. You are far better off if you prevent dispute than to bet on a big win in court. Any lawyer can tell you that anything can happen in court. Having a solid contract is your best assurance of protection.
I really don't understand some of the very negative reviews. This course is informative and well presented. You won't need a book to follow. And you will want to refresh yourself from time to time. I enjoyed the course and have listened to it twice. I highly recommend it. What are your thoughts?
Date published: 2017-05-10
Rated 1 out of
5
by
bardahl from
Lack of any printed material and the need to have to download the file every time to review made the course very difficult take.
Date published: 2017-01-01
Rated 3 out of
5
by
MarleysGhost from
Would be Great if the Topic Interests You
audio download version
This is a slightly unfair review. I bought the course on a big sale, even though the topic held little interest to me. On the positive side Professor Cross, is knowledgeable, is able to convey his knowledge to a lay person such as myself and is pretty funny. He has lots of case studies, some made up that enliven the course.
On the downside, even after listening to and enjoying the course, I still have very little interest in the topic.
Provisionally recommended for those who have an interest.
Date published: 2016-12-04
Overview
About
Professor Frank B. Cross is Professor in the Department of Information, Risk, and Operations Management at The University of Texas at Austin and a former attorney with the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis in Washington, D.C. He earned his B.A. from the University of Kansas and his J.D. from Harvard Law School. At Texas, Professor Cross has taught undergraduate classes, MBA classes, and executive-education courses in aspects of the legal environment in business. He has been honored as the nation's outstanding professor by the Academy of Legal Studies in Business. He was recognized as a top teacher by the Business Week guide to MBA programs. Professor Cross has authored many publications, including more than 30 articles in journals of law, science, policy, and management. He has published four textbooks for business law classes, as well as several other academic books. Professor Cross serves on the editorial boards of four journals, including the American Business Journal.
01: Foundations of Contract
Contract is defined, and the elements and types of contracts are examined.
48 min
02: Offer and Acceptance
One party makes an offer and the other accepts, refuses, or makes a counter-offer, but there are many possible slips in between. Which offers are binding? How must acceptance be communicated?
48 min
03: Consideration, Capacity, and Form
We look at three more elements of a binding contract, what each party must give up for a contract to be made, whether and when those of a "diminished capacity" can make contracts, and when a contract must be in writing.
47 min
04: Geniuneness and Discharge
When does a mistake by either party or fraud by one of them invalidate a contract? When can a party successfully claim that an agreement was reached under duress?
47 min
05: Performances and Discharge
If you've ever built a house, you have surely wondered what the law requires when a valid contract is in place and one party does not perform to its obligations. What conditions will excuse performance?
46 min
06: Remedies
If a contract has been breached, how do the courts decide how much you are owed?
47 min
07: Third-Party Rights
When can rights under a contract be assigned to someone else? When can a contract that benefits you be enforced by you?
47 min
08: International Contracts
Simple translation is only the first problem and there are hundreds of variations on rules among countries. We focus on issues raised by international agreements, letters of credit, and other commercial practices.
47 min
