Contract Review and Drafting - Essentials (+ Guide) from Udemy

This is the course that I wish I had access to when I first graduated from university and became a legal professional tasked with the review and drafting of contracts.

To the uninitiated, contract review and drafting can be an overwhelming and stressful experience. This is because contracts are usually wordy, complex and full of legal jargon.

If you are new or inexperienced when it comes to contract review and drafting, it can be difficult to know where or how to start - and so easy to get lost and confused - when you’re handed a contract to read and assess. Looming deadlines and commercial pressures do not make things any easier.

I recall these painful challenges from first-hand experience during my early days as a lawyer. Throughout my experiences as a legal counsel, business executive and adjunct lecturer, I have also seen my peers, colleagues and students experience the same.

This course was created and designed to help ease these challenges and to empower those who need to review and draft contracts but who lack the experience, knowledge and skills to do so confidently and effectively.

In this course, you will learn about five (5) key elements (or building blocks) of contracts which are the need-to-know essentials for contract review and drafting, namely:

Obligations
Conditions precedent
Powers
Representations
Warranties

This course will equip you with practical knowledge and appreciation of these key elements through a structured series of bite-sized videos and guided practice questions. After completing this course, you will have a toolkit of methods and frameworks to help enhance your review and drafting of contracts.

It is my sincere hope that this course will help you to review and draft contracts with far less stress and much more confidence, and provide you with a solid foundation for building your contracting expertise.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Become familiar with five (5) essential elements of contracts.
Know how to effectively and efficiently read and review contracts.
Understand clearly what contract provisions mean.

Meaningfully assess, comment on and discuss contract provisions.
Draft and amend contract provisions containing the essential elements of contracts.

Become familiar with five (5) essential elements of contracts.
Know how to effectively and efficiently read and review contracts.
Understand clearly what contract provisions mean.
Meaningfully assess, comment on and discuss contract provisions.
Draft and amend contract provisions containing the essential elements of contracts.

Syllabus

Introduction and Welcome

Part 1

This section will provide you with an overview of the course.

Part 2

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides a practical toolkit of methods and frameworks to enhance the review and drafting of contracts, which is useful for legal professionals

Offers guided practice questions, which allows students to apply their knowledge and test their understanding of the material

Explores obligations, conditions precedent, powers, representations, and warranties, which are essential elements in contract law and legal practice

Breaks down complex contract provisions into manageable segments, which helps students to understand and analyze contracts more effectively

Equips learners with the ability to assess, comment on, and discuss contract provisions, which are critical skills for legal professionals

Requires learners to understand what contract provisions mean, which may require learners to consult external resources and references

Reviews summary

Contract review and drafting essentials

According to learners, this course provides a positive and practical introduction to contract review and drafting. It's particularly well-suited for beginners who feel overwhelmed by complex legal language. Students appreciate the clear structure, bite-sized lessons, and guided practice questions that help build confidence. While focused on five key elements (Obligations, Conditions precedent, Powers, Representations, Warranties), it offers a solid foundation and a useful toolkit for those new to the field. It may be too basic for experienced professionals, but excels at easing beginners into the subject.

Focuses on core essentials.

"The course covers the five key elements mentioned, which is exactly what it promises."

"This is a focused introduction on specific contract provisions, not an exhaustive guide to all contract law."

"Good for getting a handle on these particular concepts, but not a comprehensive course."

Best for those entirely new.

"This course is perfect if you are starting from scratch with contract review."

"If you have some prior experience, you might find parts of this course a bit too basic."

"It's clearly geared towards providing a solid entry point for newcomers."

Easy to follow and digest.

"The videos were bite-sized which made it easy to fit learning into my busy schedule."

"I loved the structured way the course broke down each element."

"The instructor's explanations were very clear and easy to grasp."

Provides applicable methods.

"I immediately felt more confident applying these concepts at work after completing the course."

"The frameworks and methods taught are incredibly useful in practice."

"Doing the practice questions helped me understand how to actually use what I learned."

Solid basics for beginners.

"This course really helped me get started with contract review and drafting."

"Before taking this course, I felt completely lost with contracts. Now I have a starting point."

"The way the core building blocks were explained finally made sense to me."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Contract Review and Drafting - Essentials (+ Guide) with these activities:

Review Contract Law Fundamentals

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Reinforce your understanding of fundamental contract law principles to provide a solid foundation for understanding the nuances of contract review and drafting.

Browse courses on Contract Law

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Review key concepts like offer, acceptance, and consideration.
Study the elements required for a valid contract.
Complete practice questions on contract law principles.

Read 'Contract Law for Dummies'

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Gain a broader understanding of contract law principles to better grasp the specific elements covered in the course.

View Glannon Guide to Sales: Learning Sales Through... on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Contract Law for Dummies'.
Read the chapters relevant to the course syllabus.
Take notes on key concepts and definitions.

Analyze Sample Contract Clauses

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Sharpen your ability to identify and understand the five key elements of contracts by analyzing real-world examples.

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Find sample contract clauses online or in legal textbooks.
Identify obligations, conditions precedent, powers, representations, and warranties.
Explain the meaning and implications of each element.

Four other activities

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Create a Contract Element Cheat Sheet

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Solidify your understanding of the five key elements by creating a concise reference guide for quick recall.

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Define each of the five key elements in your own words.
Provide examples of each element in a contract clause.
Organize the information into a visually appealing cheat sheet.

Draft a Simple Contract

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Apply your knowledge of the five key elements by drafting a simple contract for a hypothetical scenario.

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Choose a simple transaction, such as a service agreement.
Draft clauses that include obligations, conditions precedent, powers, representations, and warranties.
Review and revise the contract for clarity and completeness.

Read 'The Law of Contracts' by Farnsworth

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Deepen your understanding of contract law principles and explore more complex legal concepts.

View Cases and Materials on Contracts (University... on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Farnsworth on Contracts'.
Focus on sections relevant to the course and your areas of interest.
Take detailed notes and summarize key arguments.

Tutor Other Students

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Reinforce your understanding of contract review and drafting by explaining concepts to others and answering their questions.

Show steps

Offer to tutor classmates or other students learning about contracts.
Prepare explanations and examples of the five key elements.
Answer questions and provide feedback on their work.

Career center

Learners who complete Contract Review and Drafting - Essentials (+ Guide) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Contract Specialist

A Contract Specialist focuses primarily on the drafting, review, and negotiation of contracts. Their main objective is to ensure that contracts are clear, legally sound, and aligned with the organization's interests. By providing a solid foundation in the essential elements of contracts, this course helps Contract Specialists strengthen their ability to handle complex contract provisions. This course significantly enhances their expertise in obligations, conditions precedent, powers, representations, and warranties, enabling them to draft and review contracts with greater confidence and precision. This course is an asset to anyone in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Contract Specialist

Legal Counsel

Legal Counsel provides legal advice to companies, including drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts. This role typically requires an advanced degree. A strong understanding of contract law is essential. The course covering key contract elements such as obligations, conditions precedent, powers, representations, and warranties helps Legal Counsel enhance their expertise in this area. This course is useful for lawyers seeking to refine their contract drafting and review skills, ensuring they can provide sound legal advice and protect the interests of their clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Legal Counsel

Contracts Manager

Contracts Managers are responsible for the entire lifecycle of contracts, from negotiation to execution and renewal. They work closely with legal teams and business stakeholders to ensure contracts align with company goals and legal requirements. This course helps provide Contracts Managers a detailed understanding of the key elements of contracts, such as obligations, conditions precedent, powers, representations, and warranties. This course is useful in strengthening their ability to effectively review, draft, and negotiate contracts, leading to more favorable agreements and reduced risk for the organization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Contracts Manager

Contract Administrator

A Contract Administrator manages and oversees contracts, ensuring compliance with company policies and legal requirements. This role involves reviewing contract terms, negotiating agreements, and monitoring contract performance. This course helps those in the Contract Administrator role by providing them with a solid understanding of the key elements of contracts, such as obligations, conditions precedent, powers, representations, and warranties. This course is helpful as it allows Contract Administrators to enhance their skills in reviewing, drafting, and understanding complex contract provisions, ultimately leading to more effective contract management and reduced risk.

See salaries and explore the career path for Contract Administrator

Lease Administrator

Lease Administrators manage and oversee lease agreements for properties, ensuring compliance with terms and conditions. This involves reviewing lease documents, tracking key dates, and resolving lease-related issues. This course helps Lease Administrators gain a comprehensive understanding of the contract elements, particularly obligations, conditions precedent, powers, representations, and warranties, which are crucial in lease agreements. Those in this role can enhance their lease management skills, ensuring all lease terms are accurately interpreted and enforced.

See salaries and explore the career path for Lease Administrator

Paralegal

Paralegals assist attorneys in various legal tasks, including drafting legal documents and conducting legal research, which involves a good understanding of contracts. Paralegals may encounter contracts regularly, assisting in their preparation, review, and analysis. This course on contract essentials helps Paralegals gain knowledge of the fundamental components of contracts, including obligations, conditions precedent, and warranties. This course is a great help to Paralegals enhancing their ability to draft and amend contract provisions, and contributing to more efficient legal processes and better client service.

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Legal Assistant

Legal Assistants provide support to lawyers by preparing legal documents, conducting research, and managing case files. A significant portion of their work may involve reviewing and organizing contracts. For those in this role, this course provides a practical understanding of the vital components of contracts, including obligations, conditions precedent, powers, representations, and warranties. Understanding these elements, enables Legal Assistants to efficiently assess and summarize contract terms, and draft basic provisions. Legal Assistants should take this course because it helps build a strong foundation in contract law and empowers them to contribute more effectively to the legal team.

See salaries and explore the career path for Legal Assistant

Procurement Specialist

Procurement Specialists oversee the acquisition of goods and services for an organization. This involves negotiating contracts with suppliers, ensuring favorable terms, and managing vendor relationships. The course's focus on key contract elements, such as obligations and warranties, directly supports the Procurement Specialist's role in negotiating and drafting agreements. This course helps build a strong foundation in contract law, enabling Procurement Specialists to secure more advantageous terms and mitigate potential risks. Taking this specific course enables a deeper understanding of the intricacies of contract provisions, improving their negotiation effectiveness.

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Compliance Officer

Compliance Officers ensure that a company adheres to legal standards and internal policies, which often includes reviewing contracts for compliance. They identify potential risks and implement procedures to mitigate them. This course offers Compliance Officers valuable insight into the essential elements of contracts, such as obligations and warranties. This course can help Compliance Officers in their contract compliance reviews, helping ensure that all contractual obligations are clearly defined and legally sound. Understanding how to draft and interpret contract provisions is useful in this role.

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Business Development Manager

Business Development Managers focus on growing a company's revenue and market share. This often involves negotiating and finalizing contracts with clients and partners. This course on contract review and drafting helps Business Development Managers improve their ability to understand and negotiate contract terms, particularly regarding obligations, conditions precedent, and warranties. This course is helpful for those seeking to enhance their negotiation skills and secure favorable deals that align with the company's strategic objectives.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Development Manager

Project Manager

Project Managers oversee projects from initiation to completion, which often involves managing contracts with vendors, subcontractors, and other stakeholders. A key aspect of project management includes understanding contract terms and ensuring all parties meet their obligations. This course focusing on the essential elements of contracts helps Project Managers gain valuable insights into obligations, conditions precedent, and warranties, directly enhancing their ability to manage contracts effectively. This course is helpful because it allows project deliverables to be achieved within scope and budget.

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Real Estate Agent

Real Estate Agents assist clients in buying, selling, or leasing properties. This requires a strong understanding of real estate contracts and legal requirements. This course may be useful in helping Real Estate Agents become more proficient in reviewing and drafting contract provisions related to obligations and conditions precedent, which are frequently encountered in real estate transactions. By deepening their understanding of key contract elements, Real Estate Agents can better advise their clients and ensure transactions are legally sound.

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Claims Adjuster

Claims Adjusters investigate insurance claims and determine the appropriate settlement. This requires a thorough understanding of insurance policies, which are essentially contracts between the insurer and the insured. This course may be useful for Claims Adjusters by providing them with insights into the essential elements of contracts. The course helps Claims Adjusters by enhancing their understanding of obligations, conditions precedent, and warranties within insurance policies, leading to more accurate and fair claim settlements.

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Human Resources Generalist

A Human Resources Generalist manages various HR functions, including employee relations, benefits administration, and compliance with labor laws. They may also be involved in drafting employment contracts and agreements. Since HR Generalists may be involved in drafting employee contracts, this course may be beneficial for understanding obligations and warranties. An understanding of the essential elements of contracts makes this person better able to draft and review employee agreements, ensuring compliance with legal requirements.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts analyze business processes and requirements, often contributing to the development of contracts and service level agreements. They may also review contracts to ensure they meet business needs and comply with company policies. This course may be useful for Business Analysts to effectively understand contract elements and draft contract provisions, with a particular focus on obligations and warranties, which can help ensure that contracts are aligned with business requirements. Business Analysts may find this helpful, but its use is limited.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Contract Review and Drafting - Essentials (+ Guide).

Cases and Materials on Contracts, 9th - CasebookPlus

Save

Farnsworth on Contracts comprehensive treatise on contract law, widely regarded as a leading authority in the field. While it may be more detailed than necessary for beginners, it serves as an excellent resource for those seeking a deeper understanding of contract principles and their application. is particularly useful for clarifying complex legal concepts and exploring the nuances of contract interpretation. It is commonly used by law students and legal professionals.

Cases and Materials on Contracts (University...

Hardcover

$$$$

Glannon Guide to Sales

Save

Provides a clear and accessible overview of contract law principles. It is particularly helpful for those new to the field, offering explanations of key concepts and terminology in plain language. While not a substitute for in-depth legal study, it serves as a valuable supplementary resource for understanding the fundamentals of contract law. It can be used as a reference to clarify concepts introduced in the course.

Glannon Guide to Sales: Learning Sales Through...

Kindle Edition

$$$

Contract Review and Drafting - Essentials (+ Guide)

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Contract review and drafting essentials

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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