What is contract law?

Contract law is the area of the law in all civil jurisdictions that oversees all parts of creating, ending or breaking contracts between two or more parties. The term ""party"" can refer to a person, a company, an organization, or association. When two or more parties make a legal agreement, it states a particular set of obligations for one or both parties to do or not do. These contracts, usually for a legally binding offer, are overseen by contract law. Judges are well-versed in contract law for legal guidance in cases involving all legal personal, business, and organizational contract agreements. How contract law is interpreted in a jurisdiction depends on the present laws in any city or state where a particular contract was offered, accepted, or breached.

What is it important to learn about contract law?

When you take up the study of contract law, it's important to learn about the legal guidelines that dictate common contracts. Among the typical themes found in such learning environments would include what a contract represents, any issues involving contracts, what is the legal significance of contracts, and some of the common pitfalls found in dubious contracts. Additional learning about contract law can expose you to ways that legal relations are put into play, how legality and morality coexist, and legal distinctions between items such as gifts and bargains.

How does contract law affect my career?

If you are in business, knowing the facts about contract law can be beneficial to you in your career. As you rise up in the corporate organizational chart, your responsibilities will grow, and you may be tasked with overseeing negotiations in particular areas with other parties. Knowing how to handle negotiations with a background in contract law will be a valuable skill for anyone working in a nonprofit, corporation, or small-to-medium-sized business.

How can taking online courses help me learn contract law?

There’s much to learn about contract law, and when you take online courses, you will start to get a deeper appreciation of legal concepts around contracts. You will learn how contracts are formed, how they can be broken, and what legal pitfalls to watch for in contract law. Apart from the legal knowledge you'll gain, you will also learn how building better relationships with business partners may lead to better contracts. These are the types of examples of contract law that you will find in a supportive online learning environment with top-quality legal experts to help you in your learning.

Are there free contract law courses or certifications available on Coursera?

Yes, Coursera offers a variety of free courses across many topics, including contract law. While you can access most course materials for free by auditing the courses, this does not include graded assignments or a completion certificate. For those looking to obtain a certificate to showcase their learning or enhance their professional profile, Coursera provides the option to purchase the course. Additionally, Coursera offers free trials or financial aid to learners who qualify, making certifications more accessible to everyone.

Top Contract Law Courses - Learn Contract Law Online

Explore the Contract Law Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
University of Maryland, College Park
Legal Contracts and Agreements for Entrepreneurs
Skills you'll gain: Commercial Laws, Risk Management, Business Risk Management, Entrepreneurial Finance, Vendor Contracts, Legal Risk, Contract Negotiation, Entrepreneurship, Contract Management, Contract Review, Legal Strategy, New Business Development, Civil Law, Lawsuits, Intellectual Property, Sales Presentation, Finance, Fundraising
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
120 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Contratación y mercado digital. Aspectos legales y otras cuestiones de interés
Skills you'll gain: Blockchain, Legal Risk, Payment Systems, Legal Research, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, E-Commerce, Internet Of Things, Digital Assets, Vendor Contracts, Electronic Media, FinTech, Contract Review, Regulatory Requirements, Emerging Technologies
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
230 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Lund University
Artificial Intelligence: Ethics & Societal Challenges
Skills you'll gain: Data Ethics, Artificial Intelligence, Social Justice, Algorithms, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Information Privacy, Political Sciences, Emerging Technologies, Governance, Law, Regulation, and Compliance
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
268 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Rice University
Parallel Programming in Java
Skills you'll gain: Java Programming, Java, Distributed Computing, Programming Principles, Application Frameworks, Algorithms, Performance Tuning, Functional Design, Scalability, Computer Science
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.2K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Geneva
Ecosystem Services: a Method for Sustainable Development
Skills you'll gain: Geographic Information Systems, Environment, Natural Resource Management, Spatial Analysis, Environmental Science, Environmental Policy, Socioeconomics, Sustainability Reporting, Economics, Governance, Stakeholder Engagement, Ethical Standards And Conduct
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
716 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Duke University
Copyright for Educators & Librarians
Skills you'll gain: Intellectual Property, Educational Materials, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Education and Training, Legal Research
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
598 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of London
Refugees in the 21st Century
Skills you'll gain: Immigration Law, International Relations, World History, Social Justice, Crisis Intervention, Cultural Sensitivity, Cultural Diversity, Conflict Management, Demography, Policy Analysis, Social Sciences, Political Sciences, Student Engagement
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
561 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Protecting Business Innovation
Skills you'll gain: Intellectual Property, E-Commerce, Global Marketing, Brand Management, Innovation, Strategic Partnership, Strategic Thinking, Price Negotiation, New Business Development, Mergers & Acquisitions, Business Process, Digital Assets, Business Strategy, Commercial Laws, Legal Strategy, Commercialization, Case Law, Legal Proceedings, New Product Development, Lawsuits
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
873 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University at Buffalo
Decentralized Applications (Dapps)
Skills you'll gain: Blockchain, Test Driven Development (TDD), Application Development, Integrated Development Environments, Software Architecture, Web Applications, Application Programming Interface (API), Software Development Tools, Software Testing, User Interface (UI), Command-Line Interface
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
1.2K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
EIT Digital
Privacy and Standardisation
Skills you'll gain: Technical Standard, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Personally Identifiable Information, Information Privacy, Case Law, Medical Privacy, Court Systems, Telecommunications, Legal Writing, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Legal Research, Data Ethics, European History, International Relations, Data Security, Interoperability, Cybersecurity, Emerging Technologies, World History, Civil Law
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
376 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
The World Bank Group
Les Partenariats Public-Privé (PPP): Comment offrir de meilleures infrastructures pour les services publics
Skills you'll gain: Contract Management, Procurement, Vendor Contracts, Project Finance, Stakeholder Engagement, Contract Negotiation, Risk Management, Governance, Strategic Partnership, Project Risk Management, Feasibility Studies, Project Implementation
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
537 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Michigan
Generative AI Essentials: Overview and Impact
Skills you'll gain: ChatGPT, Generative AI, Large Language Modeling, Natural Language Processing, Artificial Intelligence, Data Ethics, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Technical Communication, Social Sciences, Economics, Intellectual Property
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
215 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks