SQE1 Contract Law – Rules, Exceptions & Key Distinctions Cheat Sheet

A comprehensive 15-page SQE1 Contract Law revision guide designed to help you understand, organise and quickly recall the rules most likely to be tested in multiple-choice questions.

The resource is structured to follow the relevant SRA SQE1 Assessment Specification and Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK) applicable.

The cheat sheet covers the contract law lifecycle from formation through to remedies and termination. Each topic is presented in structured, colour-coded tables separating the general rule, exceptions, important limits, MCQ trigger words, legal effects and relevant timelines.

Topics covered include:

• Offer, acceptance, invitations to treat and the postal rule
• Certainty and intention to create legal relations
• Consideration, contractual variations and promissory estoppel
• Privity of contract, third-party rights and agency
• Capacity
• Incorporation and classification of contractual terms
• Implied terms under the SGA 1979, SGSA 1982 and CRA 2015
• Exemption clauses, UCTA 1977 and consumer protection
• Contractual damages, remoteness and mitigation
• Liquidated damages and penalty clauses
• Specific performance, injunctions and restitution
• Termination, repudiatory breach and frustration
• Misrepresentation and rescission
• Economic duress and undue influence
• Mistake, illegality and restraint of trade

The guide places particular emphasis on the distinctions that commonly decide SQE1 questions. It highlights exceptions, legal consequences and closely related rules that can easily be confused under exam pressure.

The resource is designed for use when consolidating Contract Law, preparing for mocks or completing final-stage revision before the SQE1 examination.

Please note: This is an independently prepared revision resource and is not affiliated with, approved by or endorsed by the SRA, Kaplan, any university, education provider or SQE training provider. It is intended as a supplementary study aid and should be used alongside the official SQE assessment specification and your main study materials.