Contract Law

PURPOSE
The Contract Law credential documents the essential competencies for paralegals, legal assistants, and other professionals who create, negotiate, and handle various types of contracts. 

AUDIENCE
This credential is appropriate for legal professionals, such as paralegals and legal assistants, as well as other professionals who must understand, negotiate, and handle breaches of contracts. These professionals may include purchasing agents, buyers, business managers, human resource managers, real estate professionals, and other professionals.

JOB/CAREER REQUIREMENTS
Paralegals and legal assistants must understand the legal components and issues related to contract development, contract compliance, breach of contract, and related fraudulent behaviors in order to assist attorneys in creating contracts and handling contract disputes. Additionally, a variety of business professionals must understand the legal issues related to contracts as they work with attorneys to create and review contracts, conduct business so that they are in compliance with contracts, and prevent and understand when there is a breach of contract terms

CONTRACT LAW WORKPLACE TASKS: 

• Paralegals and legal assistants conduct research on relevant laws, regulations, and legal articles related to contract creation and breach of contract complaints  
• Paralegals and legal assistants must gather and arrange contract-related evidence and other legal documents for attorney review and case preparation in breach of contract or fraud related cases
• Paralegals and legal assistants must write reports and draft correspondence and legal documents, including contracts and mortgages, to assist attorneys
• Paralegals and legal assistants help lawyers during contract-related trials by handling exhibits, taking notes, and reviewing trial transcripts  
• Paralegals and legal assistants file exhibits, briefs, appeals, and other legal documents with the court or opposing counsel in contract related issues  
• Paralegals and legal assistants call clients, witnesses, lawyers, and outside vendors to schedule interviews, meetings, and depositions in contract-related legal complaints  
• Human resource specialists must understand employment contracts and negotiate them on behalf of their organization including labor contracts and collective bargaining contracts
• Purchasing professionals and buyers must understand and negotiate contracts on behalf of their organization and handle issues related to fulfilling contract terms  
• Real estate professionals must understand contracts related to the buying, selling, and leasing of real property  
• General business managers must understand contracts related to a variety of sales and lease contracts, negotiable and nonnegotiable instruments, agency contracts, labor contracts, and collective bargaining negotiations

EXAM STRUCTURE OVERVIEW
Number of Questions in Exam: 135
Total Time: 120 minutes
Overall Passing Score: 70%
(All sections require an individual passing score of 70%)