by Jeff Sovern
A professor who is new to teaching consumer law has asked about skills exercises (also called active learning exercises) professors could require of students. I suggested having a student write a demand letter that didn’t violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (or that did), writing a privacy policy, or perhaps one of the many disclosures called for by laws covered in the course. But probably many readers of this blog can come up with better suggestions. If you have one, please write it in the comments. Thanks!
How about asking consumers to write down or say aloud in class what they think is in their credit card agreement (or some other adhesion contract to which they’ve agreed, e.g., student loans) without actually consulting the agreement. Then they should actually peruse the agreement and indicate where the actual agreement differed, and where they were confused about what the agreement means.
They should also analyze their perceptions of the usefulness (or lack thereof) of the disclosures required by the Truth in Lending Act or other applicable laws.
Students should summarize a credit card or rental car agreement. Students should summarize the Itunes, Instagram or Facebook user agreements.
Shrink Wrap.