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If we agree to something in dealing with the other party, the law of contracts is involved. For example, suppose we want to have a new machine built and installed by one of the firms which builds special equipment, the law of contracts forms an unseen backdrop for our attempts to acquire the machine. It is unlikely that we would have occasion to use these legal principles in a court action; but it might happen, and the best way to prevent the occurrence is to observe the following principles when the contract is formed and carried out.Agreement A contract is based upon an agreement--an offer and an acceptance To form the basis of a contract the offer and acceptance must be made with a serious intent to enter into a contractContracts must be entered into voluntarily and intentionally to be valid, This is, neither party is allowed to force the other into agreement; to do so is duress. Neither may one party persuade the other by false statements, for such is the basis of fraud. And it is just as truly fraud if the truth is concealed from one person by other. Of course, we are not all equally susceptible to being defrauded. You and I as engineers would be less likely to be frauded on an engineering contract than would a shoe vendor, for instance. Closely akin to fraud is an agreement which takes advantage of other's mistake. This does not mean a mistake as to value (for example, paying $995 for a refrigerator which you later find could have been purchased for $600). You are stuck with your bad bargain in such a transaction. And it does not mean a mistake in the interpretation of the contract terms — the parties are held to the legal meaning, and if the terms were not understood, they should have been changed. The type of mistake in which the law tends to protect the loser is more like this: Suppose we receive three bids on a machine that was estimated to cost $100,000. Two companies submit proposals at $110,000 and $105,000 and the Gray Machinery Company bids $60,000. Quite apparently someone at the Gray Company goofed; or maybe they have a way of doing the job which is greatly superior to that of their competitors. Either way, it seems reasonable that we should investigate before agreeing. In fact, if we merely accept the proposal, we may find ourselves without legal backing. In court cases on this question there seems to be a substantial tendency to relieve the unfortunate hider, for this question is far from settled law. Of course, there is a contrary argument – Gray should be more careful with offers to enter into contracts.Competency The parties to a contract must be competent to contract. If one of the parties is insane or a minor or is a corporation not chartered to do this kind of work, that party may be able to lawfully avoid performance of the contract. This seems somewhat unlikely in an engineering contract, but then improbable happenings are the stuff of which many law cases are made. Consideration Each contract must involve consideration – that is, what you get for what you give. The law usually does not concern itself with equating the value of the consideration exchanged. It is satisfied if the bargain was made freely and certain other conditions were met. That which is given as consideration must meet four requirements however: 1. It must have value -- that is, it cannot be completely devoid of value to the person receiving it. 2. It must be lawful, courts rarely uphold bargain to violate the law. 3. It must be possible. An agreement to do the impossible is more fantasy than contract. 4. It must be present or future. Past consideration is similar to a sunk cost. It cannot be used to support a present contract.Form The required form of contracts depends upon their nature – that is, certain kinds of contracts must be written to be enforceable. The categories of contracts required to be in writing are set forth in the particular state's statue of frauds. Briefly, contracts of this nature with which we are most likely to be involved are: (1) surety contracts – in the nature of "If he doesn't pay, I will", (2) contracts involving real estate, (3) contracts which cannot be performed in one year -- for example, an agreement to work for another for two years, and (4) certain types of sales contracts. This last type requires a little more explanation. It refers to sales contracts involving a price above five hundred dollars. To be enforceable, such contracts must be in writing, the buyer must take part or all of the goods involved, or the buyer must make part or entire payment. In other words, there are three ways to satisfy the statute of frauds in a sales contract.Mutuality If either person is not bound by the terms of a contract, then neither is the other. Those who write contracts occasionally make the error of writing one in such a way that one party has an opening or a "loophole" while the other seems tightly bound. It is comforting to note that one has a way out if the contract proves unfortunate. However, if the opening is there for one party to escape, the other has a right to use the same opening and there in legal effect no contract.。
Unit One Legal SystemListeningI. c a d a bII. statutes, constitutions, cite, interpreted, civil, cases, liability, created, modified, repealedText A.Building up your vocabularyI. Match the items in the following two columnsA-civil law b-code c-validity d-jurisdiction e-clusterf-decree g-codification h-statute i-parliament j-legislatureII. Fill in the blanks:1. subdivision2. maxim3. federal4. enforcement5. statutes6. precedent7. Legislation8.Stare decisis9. legal ,legal 10. judicial , judicialClozeDocuments lawsuit trial attorneys advisors,Clients juries alternative practice representationTranslation1. 根据美国宪法，联邦政府分为行政、立法和司法三大部门，每个部门都被认为是独立的，并且能够相互制衡。
2. 通常有三类案件可以到达最高法院，即：牵涉到诉讼当事人分属不同的州的案件，牵涉到解释联邦法案的案件和解释美国宪法的案件。
3. 大律师事务所的律师平均收入最高；他们常常代理那些最有钱且最有社会地位的当事人；而且同高层次的法官和政府官员有着密切的联系。
个人执业者和小律师事务所的律师收入最低，代理那些既没钱又没社会地位的当事人，而且主要同最低级别的法院和行政机构打交道。
法律英语学习《合同法》系列合同编号：__________第一章：合同的定义与成立1.1合同的定义合同是指当事人之间设立、变更、终止民事权利和民事义务关系的协议。
合同应当遵循平等自愿、诚实信用原则。
1.2合同的成立当事人就合同内容达成一致意见，合同即成立。
合同成立的时间、地点对合同的履行和解释具有重要意义。
1.3合同的形式合同可以采用书面形式、口头形式和其他形式。
法律、行政法规规定采用特定形式的，从其规定。
1.4合同的效力依法成立的合同，对当事人具有法律约束力。
当事人应当履行合同约定的义务，不得擅自变更或者解除合同。
2.1合同的履行当事人应当按照约定履行合同义务。
履行合同义务应当符合约定的质量、数量、期限、地点和方式。
2.2合同的担保当事人可以约定担保。
担保包括保证、抵押、质押、留置和定金等形式。
担保的具体内容由当事人约定。
2.3合同的变更和转让当事人协商一致，可以变更合同。
法律、行政法规规定变更合同应当办理批准、登记等手续的，从其规定。
当事人可以转让合同权利和义务，但应当通知对方，并经受让人同意。
2.4合同的终止合同履行；抵消；提存；免除；混同。
当事人可以约定合同终止的条件，但不得违反法律、行政法规的强制性规定。
3.1违约行为当事人违反合同义务，应当承担违约责任。
违约行为包括不履行、不适当履行和迟延履行。
3.2违约责任的承担当事人承担违约责任，可以采取继续履行、采取补救措施或者赔偿损失等方式。
当事人可以约定违约金，但不得超过合同标的额的百分之三十。
3.3不可抗力因不可抗力不能履行合同的，根据不可抗力的影响，部分或者全部免除责任。
但法律另有规定的除外。
3.4违约责任的免除当事人一方因不可抗力不能履行合同的，应当及时通知对方，并在合理期限内提供证明。
对方在收到通知后，可以根据情况部分或者全部免除责任。
第四章：合同的解释与争议解决4.1合同的解释合同解释应当遵循诚实信用原则，结合合同的性质、目的和交易习惯。
《法律英语》（沙丽金版）2011年第二版课文参考译文翻译整理人：新浪微博@我是空白白《法律英语》（沙丽金版）2011年第二版参考译文目录前言（必看） (2)Lesson 1 law（法律） (3)Lesson 2 Legal System（法律体系） (4)Lesson 3 Legal Education（法律教育） (6)Lesson 4 Court System（法院体系） (7)Lesson 5 Construction（宪法） (9)Lesson 6 Administrative Law（行政法） (10)Lesson 7 Criminal Law（刑法） (12)Lesson 8 Criminal Procedure（刑事诉讼程序） (13)Lesson 9 Civil Procedure（民事诉讼程序） (15)Lesson 10 Torts（侵权行为） (16)Lesson 11 Contract（合同） (18)Lesson 12 Property Law（物权法） (19)Lesson 13 Law of Corporation（公司法） (20)Lesson 14 Intellectual Property（知识产权） (22)Lesson 15 International Law（国际法） (23)Lesson 16 Evidence（证据） (24)后记 (26)前言（必看）1、此翻译并非权威翻译，而是技术含量不高的译文。
其中肯定有很多不恰当甚至错误的地方，所以仅供参考，欢迎各位同学指正。
（新浪微博@我是空白白）2、制作本译文动力源于兴趣，目的在于互相交流学习。
3、如果你只是想以此译文来应付老师上课的抽问，那么你大可不必下载或复制此文档，因为这样你对不起你自己。
4、本译文=老师的长难句注解（即划线部分。
我无意间在网上找到了部分老师传到网上的注解文档。
O(∩_∩)O ）+1位往届同学的翻译+1位同届同学的翻译+课堂笔记+本人拙译（虽然本人英语不怎么好，但我会尽最大努力与大家分享所学到的知识）。
Unit 1 Legal StudiesNotesw is regarded as a set of fixed principles…ignorance of which excuses no one, not even theless knowledgeable or less affluent members of society.法律被认为是一整套固有的规则…不了解这套规则的人并不能因此而免除责任，即使他是这个社会中对此知之甚少，或并不那么富足的成员。
w begins only when a coercive apparatus comes into existence to maintain control throughenforcement of social norms.只有在一种强制性的机构通过实施社会规范来维持控制时，法律才开始形成。
3.The control group need not be agents of a political entity.控制集团不一定要是政治实体的代表。
w as social engineering. Under this concept law is regarded as a means of social controlwhich seeks to balance various competing conflicting interests and values within a society.法律是社会的调节器。
根据这个概念，法律作为社会控制的一种手段，力图将一个社会中各种纷争不同的权益和价值加以平衡。
5.to maintain the status quo in certain aspects of society.维持社会某些方面的现状6.to facilitate orderly change有利于进行有序的变革7.to facilitate planning and the realization of reasonable expectations有利于计划和实现合理的预期目标8.Courts will not turn to case decision for law if a statute is directly in point..如果某一成文法条直接适用，法院不会到判例中去寻找法律依据。
法律英语阅读与翻译教程在经济活动中，合同是最为常见的文件之一。
在国际贸易中，以英文撰写的合同被普遍使用。
在合同的起草和翻译过程中，译者既需要具有驾驭中文法律文字的能力，而且要有驾驭英文法律文字的能力。
合同翻译涉及的内容众多，本书分两课对合同翻译作有重点的介绍。
本课从宏观上介绍合同翻译的基本特点以及合同的基本结构；下一课详细介绍具体条款的撰写和翻译。
法律英语的语言强调准确。
合同涉及当事人的权利和义务，稍有不慎可能导致巨大的经济损失，因此，合同中的用词和句子表达都极其考究。
例如：1．关于情态动词的使用学过英语的人对于may，shall，must，may not（或shall not）等几个情态动词应该是非常熟悉的，但在合同中用这些词时要极其谨慎。
这几个词如选用不当，可能会引起纠纷。
在约定争议解决条款时，可以规定：The parties hereto shall, first of all, settle any dispute arising from or in connection with the contract by friendly negotiations.（双方首先应通过友好协商解决因合同而引起的或与合同有关的争议。
）Should such negotiations fail, such dispute may be referred to the Court having jurisdiction on such dispute for settlement in the absence of any arbitration clause in the1disputed contract or in default of agreement reached after such dispute occurs. （如协商未果，合同中又无仲裁条款约定或争议发生后未就仲裁达成协议的，可将争议提交有管辖权的法院解决。
第7 课主课文译文WTO 争端解决机制，超国家政府权力的模式世贸组织争端解决机制对国际环保条约的遵约制度起什么样的借鉴作用呢？这是分析学家和决策者合理阐释全球管理体系时所要考虑的一个重要问题。
近年来，在分析国际问题方面运用了比较法律基本原理。
虽然迄今为止并没有取得多大的成果，但这一方法论极有可能发现每个体系中的最佳模式，以供其他系统借鉴。
WTO 争端体系的概述世界贸易组织本身并没有遵约制度；但却有一个争端解决系统。
当一个WTO 成员国政府就某一争端提出投诉而且该投诉政府认为利益正受到另一个成员政府行为的伤害时，争端解决机构才了解到事件。
根据《关于争端解决规则与程序的谅解》，这应该是因“争端”而引起的“案件”。
因此，仅一次未遵约或与WTO 条约解释不符的指控从技术上来说不属于WTO 争端体系范围。
《关于争端解决规则与程序的谅解》中几个重要的含义值得注意。
第一，贸易投诉由政府正式提出，而不是由WTO 秘书处或私人个体。
（确实有些政府如美国政府定期应某一私有行业的要求在WTO 提起诉讼，但WTO 并不予以认定审理。
）尽管WTO 有一个详尽的贸易政策审议机制，可能会中止与WTO 不相符合的政府政策，但这一机制与WTO 争端体系毫无关系。
WTO 有一个以国家为中心的争端解决机制，这并不稀奇；它仍然是一个典型的国际协定，包含有国际劳工组织、第11 章中的北美自由贸易协定和人权法庭等非凡的概念。
第二，政府必须明确表明提起诉讼的利害，但对这一永久性要求的解释是不确定的，而且这一要求可能是不可审议的。
投诉政府方不一定非要摆出贸易伤害方面的证据。
第三点，也许是最重要的一点，是争议结果并不纠正不履约行为。
“谅解”中注明争端解决机制的目的是积极解决争端。
接着《谅解》中又指出最好是获得一个与有关WTO 协议相一致的互为接受的解决方案，这当然预示着一个争议的解决可能是不符合WTO 规则的。
香蕉案就是一个未按WTO 规则解决的例子。
Unit 7 Contract Law
Contracts are promises that the law will enforce. The law provides remedies if a promise is breached or recognizes the performance of a promise as a duty. Contracts arise when a duty does or may come into existence, because of a promise made by one of the parties. To be legally binding as a contract , a promise must be exchanged for adequate consideration. Adequate consideration is a benefit or detriment which a party receives which reasonably and fairly induces them to make the promise \ contract. For example , promises that are purely gifts are not considered enforceable because the personal satisfaction the grantor of the promise may receive from the act of giving is normally not considered adequate consideration . Certain promises that are not considered contracts may ,in limited circumstances, be enforced if one party has relied to his detriment on the assurances of the other party.
Contracts are mainly governed by state statutory and common ( judge --made) law and private law. Private law principally includes the terms of the agreement between the parties who are exchanging promises . This private law may override many of the rules otherwise established by state law.
Statutory law may require some contracts be put in writing and executed with particular formalities. Otherwise , the parties may enters into a binding agreement without signing a formal written document . Most of the principles of the common law of contracts are outline in the Restatement of the Law School, Contracts , published by the American Law Institute. The Uniform Commercial Code, whose original articles have been adopted in nearly every state, represents a body of statutory law that governs important categories of contracts . The main articles that deal with the law of contracts are Article 1 (General Provisions ) and Article 2 (Sales ) . Sections of Article 9 ( Secured Transactions ) govern contracts assigning the rights to payment in security interest agreement . Contracts related to particular activities or business sectors may be highly regulated by state and \or federal law.
In 1988 , the United States joined the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods which now governs contracts within its scope.。
