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.

Can I take free contract law courses on Coursera?

Yes. You can start learning contract law on Coursera for free in two ways: Preview the first module of many contract law courses at no cost. This includes video lessons, readings, graded assignments, and Coursera Coach (where available). Start a 7-day free trial for Specializations or Coursera Plus. This gives you full access to all course content across eligible programs within the timeframe of your trial. If you want to keep learning, earn a certificate in contract law, or unlock full course access after the preview or trial, you can upgrade or apply for financial aid.

Top Contract Law Courses - Learn Contract Law Online

Explore the Contract Law Course Catalog

Status: Preview
Yale University
American Contract Law I
Skills you'll gain: Case Law, Legal Writing, Commercial Laws, Legal Research, Contract Review, Civil Law, Contract Compliance
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Preview
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Corporate & Commercial Law I: Contracts & Employment Law
Skills you'll gain: Certified Public Accountant, Labor Law, Commercial Laws, Regulation and Legal Compliance, Bankruptcies, Organizational Structure, Business, Legal Writing, Contract Management, Sales
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.3K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Coursera Instructor Network
AI in Law: Research, Risk, and Legal Drafting
Skills you'll gain: Legal Strategy, Legal Risk, Data Ethics, Legal Research, Compliance Management, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Document Management, Generative AI, Litigation Support, Mediation, Case Law, Contract Review, ChatGPT, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Contract Management, Governance Risk Management and Compliance, Contract Compliance, Legal Writing, Artificial Intelligence, Risk Management
4.1
Rating, 4.1 out of 5 stars
32 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Preview
Yale University
A Law Student's Toolkit
Skills you'll gain: Legal Strategy, Legal Research, Legal Writing, Case Law, Civil Procedures, Policy Analysis, Learning Strategies, Economics
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.6K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Preview
University of Pennsylvania
Employment Contracts
Skills you'll gain: Labor Law, Contract Review, Arbitration, Labor Compliance, Contract Negotiation, Contract Compliance, Intellectual Property, Compensation Management, Case Law
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
53 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Preview
Lund University
AI & Law
Skills you'll gain: Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Artificial Intelligence, Intellectual Property, Legal Proceedings, Labor Law, Legal Research, Innovation, Criminal Investigation and Forensics, Public Administration, Healthcare Industry Knowledge, Predictive Modeling
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
712 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

What brings you to Coursera today?

Start my career

Change my career

Grow in my current role

Explore topics outside of work

Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Intellectual Property Law
Skills you'll gain: Intellectual Property, Brand Awareness, Legal Strategy, Brand Management, Asset Protection, Regulation and Legal Compliance, Packaging and Labeling, Asset Management, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Marketing, Innovation, Case Law, Strategic Thinking, Business Strategy, Business Valuation, Creativity, Legal Risk, Lawsuits, Strategic Planning, Planning
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.5K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Preview
Yale University
American Contract Law II
Skills you'll gain: Legal Research, Case Law, Legal Proceedings, Commercial Laws, Legal Risk, Contract Review, Civil Law, Contract Compliance, Mitigation
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
261 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Lund University
European Business Law
Skills you'll gain: Intellectual Property, Legal Writing, Labor Law, Arbitration, Environmental Laws, Case Law, Legal Research, Tax Laws, Regulation and Legal Compliance, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Commercial Laws, Legal Strategy, Business, International Relations, Compliance Management, Business Strategy, European History, Competitive Analysis, Regulatory Compliance, Business Economics
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.8K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Vanderbilt University
Prompt Engineering for Law
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, ChatGPT, Generative AI, Productivity, AI Personalization, Law Practice Management Software, Legal Strategy, Artificial Intelligence, Personalized Service, Large Language Modeling, Legal Writing, Legal Research, Data Ethics, Expense Management, Creative Thinking, Ingenuity, Productivity Software, Brainstorming, Travel Arrangements, Innovation
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
7K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Queen Mary University of London
Cloud Computing Law
Skills you'll gain: General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Cloud Services, Legal Risk, Cloud Computing, Tax, Tax Laws, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Intellectual Property, Cloud Security, Personally Identifiable Information, Tax Compliance, Data Security, Information Privacy, Regulation and Legal Compliance, Contract Negotiation, Vendor Contracts, Contract Review, Data Governance, Data Access, Cybersecurity
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
166 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Copyright Law
Skills you'll gain: Intellectual Property, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Creativity, Legal Strategy, Lawsuits, Musical Composition, Legal Research, Commercial Laws
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
377 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks