The study of law is often daunting to business students. Many business law texts add to this problem by presenting the material in an overly-technical style that is confusing for students and does not clearly explain why the legal principles presented are relevant to business professionals. Practical Business Law focuses on presenting business-law information in a way that is academically rigorous and accurate yet easy to understand. Rather than just telling students what the law says, this textbook focuses on how the law is actually used in the real world. Legal concepts are illustrated through numerous news stories, cases, and other examples, to make the study of law vivid and interesting to students while also showing them how the law is practically applied to regular business activities.
Drew Thornley is an Associate Professor of Legal Studies at Stephen F. Austin State University. A licensed attorney and business owner, he earned his B.A. in Economics from The University of Alabama, his J.D. from Harvard Law School, and is currently pursuing an Executive MBA from Quantic School of Business and Technology.
Justin Blount is an Associate Professor of Business Law at Stephen F. Austin State University. He has a BBA in Finance from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, a JD from Baylor Law School, and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. He is licensed to practice law in Oklahoma and Texas and has professional experience practicing law in the financial services industry.
Stephen Shrewsbury is an Assistant Professor of Business Law at Stephen F. Austin State University. He has a BS in Aviation Management from Metropolitan State University, an MS in Management from Florida State University, a JD from the University of Utah College of Law, and an LL.M in International and Operations Law from the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center, in Charlottesville, VA. He is a member of the Utah Bar and practiced worldwide for 24 years as a Judge Advocate with the U.S. Air Force.
Chapter 1: Introduction to U.S. Law
Chapter 2: Introduction to Courts
Chapter 3: Legal Analysis and the IRAC Method
Chapter 4: Dispute Resolution
Chapter 5: Torts – Intentional Torts
Chapter 6: Torts – Negligence
Chapter 7: Strict Liability
Chapter 8: Introduction to Contracts
Chapter 9: The Agreement—Offer and Acceptance
Chapter 10: Consideration—The Bargained-For Exchange of Value
Chapter 11: Contracts—Capacity
Chapter 12: Contracts—Legality
Chapter 13: The Statute of Frauds
Chapter 14: Voluntary Consent and Contract Formation Issues
Chapter 15: Performance and Discharge
Chapter 16: Contract Interpretation, Negotiation, and Drafting
Chapter 17: Breach and Damages
Chapter 18: Sales and the UCC (Part 1)
Chapter 19: Title, Risk of Loss, and Shipping Terms
Chapter 20: Warranties and Product Liability
Chapter 21: Agency Relationships and Duties
Chapter 22: Agency Liability to Third Parties and Termination
Chapter 23: Employment Law
Chapter 24: Business Organizations
Chapter 25: Intellectual Property