Contract Law for Paralegals: Traditional and e-Contracts

For courses in contract law for paralegals.
A hands-on guide to contract development
Contract Law for Paralegals introduces future paralegals to all facets of contract preparation, including ethical, practical, and professional issues. Updated for current case law, the text combines a strong foundation in essential principles with actionable insight into researching, creating, and interpreting contracts. Along the way, students practice drafting contracts for equipment, real estate, and business sales, while completing critical thinking assignments involving attorney briefings and legal cases. The 3rd edition includes new and revised contract examples, contract law cases, and exercises that build skills, provide drafting practice, and generate samples for a paralegal portfolio.

John J. Schlageter, III, is the director of the paralegal studies program and a senior lecturer at the University of Toledo. This award-winning paralegal program holds prestigious American Bar Association approval and was named a “Program of Excellence” by the Ohio Board of Regents. In addition to teaching business organizations for the last 13 years, throughout his 20-year teaching career, Professor Schlageter has taught many courses, including Business Law, Business Professionalism, Law Practice Management, Civil Procedure, Litigation, Contracts, Introduction to Law and the Internship class.

Professor Schlageter is a recipient of The University of Toledo’s Outstanding Teacher Award for his commitment to student success and significant contributions to the mission of the University of Toledo. Professor Schlageter has also completed Mediation Training by the International Academy of Dispute Resolution and has met all other requirements to become an authorized mediator of the Academy. He has also taught Mediation Topics and Techniques. In addition, Professor Schlageter teaches Advocacy: Mock Trial and has coached the University of Toledo Mock Trial Team in performances at both regional and national competitions. In all of his courses, Professor Schlageter incorporates the use of computers and legal software and enjoys integrating skills pertaining to the electronic courthouse and automated courtroom and presentation graphics.

Professor Schlageter is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati (BA) and the University of Toledo, College of Law. After earning his juris doctor (JD) degree, he was admitted to the Ohio and Michigan bars, as well as the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, and the United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan. He is a member of the Toledo Bar Association, the Michigan State Bar Association, and the Michigan Trial Lawyers’ Association. Professor Schlageter maintains a law practice in Toledo. He is experienced in the areas of general business, litigation, employment, franchise, estate planning, personal injury and family law.

Professor Schlageter has repeatedly served as a guest speaker and has presented at various seminars on subjects including electronic discovery, professionalism and the role of the paralegal. He coauthored another textbook for the paralegal market with Kathleen Mercer Reed and Henry R. Cheeseman, Business Organizations for Paralegals, published by Pearson.

Professor Schlageter resides in Sylvania, Ohio, with his wife, Amanda, and their children, Emma, Grace and Jack.

Henry R. Cheeseman is clinical professor of business law, director of the Legal Studies Program, and co-director of the Minor in Business Law Program at the Marshall School of Business of the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles. Professor Cheeseman earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Marquette University, both a master’s in business administration (MBA) and a master’s in business taxation (MBT) from USC, a juris doctor (JD) degree from the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law, a Master of Business Administration with emphasis on law and economics from the University of Chicago, and a master’s in law (LLM) degree in financial institutions law from Boston University.

Professor Cheeseman has earned the “Golden Apple” Teaching Award on many occasions by having been voted by the students as the best professor at USC’s Marshall School of Business. He was named a fellow of the Center for Excellence in Teaching USC by the dean of the Marshall School of Business. The USC’s Torch and Tassel Chapter of the Mortar Board has named Professor Cheeseman Faculty of the Month of USC.

Professor Cheeseman coauthored another textbook for the paralegal market with Kathleen Mercer Reed and John J. Schlageter, III, Business Organizations for Paralegals, published by Pearson. He also writes leading business law and legal environment textbooks that are published by Pearson. These include Business Law: Legal Environment, Online Commerce, Business Ethics, and International Issues; Contemporary Business and Online Commerce Law; The Legal Environment of Business and Online Commerce; Essentials of Contemporary Business Law; and Introduction to Law: Its Dynamic Nature.

Professor Cheeseman is an avid traveler and amateur photographer.