What is the difference between “shall” and “will” in a contract? Of course, as always the answer in any specific case will always depend on the context and the intention of the parties. However, we should try to avoid the potential for misunderstandings and uncertainties.

A document that crossed over my desk recently related to a civil claim in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The “show cause summons” for a party to attend a hearing was dominated by a large warning stamped across the text in red. There clearly have been difficulties maintaining standards of dress and decorum in Virginian courts.

When is a strike really a strike? Is it an act of God? In the absence of a general “fault principle” in common law contracts we need to think about liability limitation for the results of strikes and similar events.

Fun for Latin lovers: everything from a statement of truth to the legal idea that you cannot really sell stolen goods.

Legal English, understandably, spends a lot of time dealing with concepts of time and the legal consequences. These are critical in contract matters.

A “cell” phone, the internet and an email account offer limitless possibilities for escaping from an unwanted position.