Problems and Materials on Secured Transactions (8th Ed.)

Secured transactions law—governed primarily by Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code—is one of the most conceptually challenging areas of law school. Students often struggle to connect the statutory language to real-world lending and bankruptcy scenarios. The gap between reading the UCC and applying it to a problem set can feel insurmountable without the right guide.

Problems and Materials on Secured Transactions, Eighth Edition by Douglas J. Whaley and Stephen M. McJohn bridges that gap. It replaces abstract Code parsing with a hands-on, problem-based method that mirrors bar exam and practice questions. This is not a dense hornbook; it is a deliberate, step-by-step workbook designed to build competence in security interests from creation through priority and default.

What Is Problems and Materials on Secured Transactions (8th Ed.)? A Complete Overview

This concise casebook-and-problems hybrid provides a clear and accessible introduction to secured transactions under UCC Article 9. Each chapter presents the black letter law in plain English, followed by carefully crafted problems that test and reinforce understanding. The Eighth Edition (2010) retains the authors' trademark clarity while incorporating updates to reflect changes in commercial practice.

• Clear statutory explanations tied directly to UCC Article 9 sections
• Practical problems simulating real creditor-debtor disputes
• Coverage of scope, attachment, perfection, priority, and default
• Integrated bankruptcy discussions on secured claims
• Bar-exam-focused topics for efficient study

Who Is This Book For?

This book is designed primarily for law students enrolled in a secured transactions course. It also serves as an invaluable review tool for bar exam candidates looking to master the Article 9 questions. Practitioners returning to the basics—or needing a quick refresh on perfection and priority rules—will find the problem-based approach far more efficient than a treatise.

Ideal readers include:

• Law students in secured transactions or commercial law courses
• Bar examinees in any UBE or state-specific jurisdiction
• Junior associates handling commercial lending or bankruptcy matters
• LL.M. candidates needing a concise UCC Article 9 primer
• Self-studying legal professionals seeking a structured review

Inside: What You Will Master

Master the core concepts that every secured transactions exam tests. This book systematically builds your knowledge through problems. Here are the seven essential areas you will master:

1. Scope of Article 9—what collateral and transactions are covered (and what is excluded)
2. Attachment—how a security interest becomes enforceable between debtor and secured party
3. Perfection—the methods (filing, possession, control, automatic) and when each applies
4. Priority rules—the intricate ordering of competing claims to the same collateral
5. Default and enforcement—the secured party's rights and debtor protections after default
6. Bankruptcy intersection—how the automatic stay, avoidance powers, and plan confirmation affect secured claims
7. Multi-state transactions—determining the proper jurisdiction for perfection and priority

Why This Book Stands Out

Unlike dense hornbooks or out-of-date supplements, Whaley and McJohn's text is built from the ground up for active learning. The problem set is not an afterthought—it is the core of the pedagogy. Every concept is immediately tested, forcing you to apply the law rather than passively read it.

Compared to the standard casebook approach, this book eliminates extraneous cases and focuses on the statutory reasoning that appears on exams and in practice. Competitors like the Gilmore treatise or the Epstein casebook require supplementary problems; this book combines both in one volume.

The Eighth Edition updates reflect the evolution of UCC Article 9 case law and statutory clarifications, ensuring you are learning current law. For students who prefer a self-contained, no-fluff resource, this is the optimal choice.

About the Author

Douglas J. Whaley is Professor Emeritus at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, where he taught commercial law for decades. He is a nationally recognized authority on secured transactions and author of multiple leading casebooks. Stephen M. McJohn is a professor at Suffolk University Law School, bringing expertise in commercial law and intellectual property. Together, their combined experience exceeds sixty years.

Aspen Publishers (now part of Wolters Kluwer) is a premier legal education publisher, known for creating practice-oriented textbooks trusted in law schools nationwide. The Eighth Edition carries Aspen's hallmark editorial rigor and commitment to clarity.

This duo of author authority and publisher reputation makes this book a trusted resource for law students seeking to master secured transactions.

Final Assessment

Absolutely. For law students facing the complexity of UCC Article 9, this book provides the most efficient path to understanding. The problem-based format reduces study time while increasing retention. Each chapter builds logically, and the answer key (available separately) allows self-assessment.

We find that students who use this book consistently outperform those who rely solely on case briefing and class notes. The focus on bar exam–style problems is particularly valuable for 2L and 3L students preparing for the UBE.

While the 2010 edition predates some recent UCC amendments, the core principles remain largely unchanged, and the pedagogical approach is timeless. For price-conscious students, the ebook edition offers the same content at a lower cost than many casebook bundles.

Start Reading Problems and Materials on Secured Transactions (8th Ed.) Today

You are studying secured transactions because you want to ace the exam and practice commercial law with confidence. This Eighth Edition delivers the clarity and problem-solving practice you need—all in a compact, manageable volume.

Don't wait until exam week. Get your digital copy now and start working through the problems immediately. With instant download, you can begin mastering attachment, perfection, and priority in minutes.

Order today and gain the advantage of two renowned commercial law professors who have refined their approach over decades of teaching. Add Problems and Materials on Secured Transactions, 8th Edition, to your cart now.