Contract Law for Non-Lawyers

Contract Law for Non-Lawyers is an intensely practical guide through the essentials of contract law, exploring such details as when a contract will be required, when you have a contract (and don’t necessarily know it), what types of contract exist and the effect of statutes on your contractual arrangements.

This popular training course also scrutinises what happens when things go wrong, including how you can get out of a contract, options for assessing damages and remedies for breach and looking at the contractual implications of working in an e-commerce environment. You will grasp the crucial ingredients required for a good contract, and gain tips for understanding contractual material.

Key Learning Outcomes

Learn the essential ingredients to a contract
The offer, acceptance and certainty
Create contracts that can be enforced
Lessons on how to create good contracts – form, content
Reviewing your contract from a risk management perspective
Tips for reading contracts
Estoppel – the double-edged sword
Statutory impact on contract law
When contracts can be set aside
Reviewing remedies for breach or repudiation
Assessing damages – what are your risks?

Who Should Attend

Those involved with drafting or editing contracts, and those wanting more knowledge around how contracts may impact themselves and their organisations.

Past Attendee Testimonials

Excellent course, met expectations, informative, good content and entertaining.

Dave Daly, Purchasing Manager, Ballance Agri-Nutrients Ltd

I found Terry to be personable, interesting, engaging & easy to understand with great examples.

Louise Morten, Contract Analyst, Department of Corrections

The Fundamentals of Contract Law

· What is a contract and when do you have one?
· The essential ingredients of a legally binding contract
· Offer, acceptance and consideration
· Certainty and intention to create legal relations
· Understanding different types of contracts
· When a contract may exist without a formal written agreement

Creating Effective Contracts

· Key components of a good contract
· Form, content and contractual terms
· Express and implied terms
· Conditions, warranties and intermediate terms
· Tips for drafting clear and enforceable contracts
· Common contractual pitfalls and how to avoid them

Reading and Reviewing Contracts

· A practical approach to reading contractual documents
· Identifying key rights, obligations and risks
· Understanding standard terms and conditions
· Reviewing contracts from a risk management perspective
· Identifying ambiguous or problematic clauses
· Practical tips for negotiating contractual terms

The Impact of Statutes on Contracts

· How legislation affects contractual arrangements
· Consumer protection and statutory obligations
· When statutory rights override contractual terms
· Unfair contract terms and other legislative restrictions
· Understanding the limits of freedom of contract

Estoppel and When Contracts Can Be Set Aside

· What is estoppel and when can it arise?
· The risks of relying on representations and promises
· How estoppel can affect contractual rights
· When a contract may be void, voidable or unenforceable
· Misrepresentation, mistake and undue influence

When Contracts Go Wrong

· Breach of contract and repudiation
· Understanding your options when a contract is breached
· When can you terminate or cancel a contract?
· The difference between termination, cancellation and rescission
· Practical considerations before ending a contract

Remedies and Assessing Damages

· What remedies are available for breach of contract?
· Assessing and calculating contractual damages
· Direct and consequential losses
· Mitigation of loss
· Limits on contractual remedies
· Understanding your organisation’s potential exposure

Contracts in the Digital and E-Commerce Environment

· Forming contracts electronically
· Electronic communications, acceptance and signatures
· Online terms and conditions
· Contracting through websites and digital platforms
· Key risks when working in an e-commerce environment
· Practical tips for managing digital contracts

A popular leading specialist in legal training, Terry Reid combines teaching with legal consultancy work across Asia and the Pacific. Terry has over 20 years as a barrister and solicitor and teaching experience at a tertiary level, having begun to lecture law after time in legal practice. Terry was educated at the Universities of Auckland and University of Melbourne and now mixes teaching, a law practice and legal consultancy across Asia and the Pacific.

Terry regularly provides courses for professional organisations and private sector clients, advising on topics such as contract law, strategic governance and regulatory reform in financial markets. He regularly provides advice to organisations such as the Asian Development Bank, World Bank and Governments’ on business law reform. design of reform programs as well as drafting legislative instruments.

As well as working in Australia and New Zealand he has worked extensively in South East Asia and the Pacific. He is currently the team leader on two major business law reform projects in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. This advisory work includes the provision of advice to Governments on business law policy, design of reform programs as well as drafting legislative instruments. A large part of this work involves the training of government officers and private sector participants on law reform issues.

Terry regularly presents to a wide range of audiences on business law topics. He has particular interests in contract law, corporations’ law and general business law including trade practices. He is a regular presenter at international conferences and has published widely in his areas of expertise.