Ace the Contracts & Sales Bar Challenge 2026 – Seal the Deal with Style!

The "mirror image rule" in contract law states that acceptance of an offer must exactly match the terms of that offer. This principle originates from the idea that for a contract to be formed, there must be a clear agreement between the parties on all essential terms. When an acceptance deviates from the terms of the offer in any way, it is considered a counteroffer rather than an acceptance. Therefore, the acceptance must reflect the offer precisely—hence the term "mirror image." This rule serves to ensure that all parties are in agreement and that the terms are unambiguous, thus minimizing the potential for disputes.

Other options, while related to contract law concepts, do not define the mirror image rule accurately. For example, the requirement that all contracts must be written reflects statutory requirements for certain types of contracts but does not pertain to the mirror image rule. Similarly, while counteroffers do indeed involve changes to original terms, that concept is a different aspect of negotiation and acceptance altogether, which does not align with the strict matching required by the mirror image rule. Lastly, the notion that offers must be verbal only is incorrect and does not align with the understanding of how offers and acceptances can occur in various formats, including written and non-verbal communications