Understanding Contract Law

Area of Interest: Government Leadership | Business and Project Management

Course Summary

Public and private sector organisations engaged in commercial dealings need to have regard to many different facets of the law and be conscious of how the law impacts on their efficient operations and positive relationships with other entities, including suppliers of goods and services. The risk of protracted and expensive disputes, or even litigation, for organisations that do not give adequate consideration to contract law is real and requires effective management.

This course is designed to provide an understanding of the legal framework and principles of law surrounding the formation and enforceability of contracts. The course examines the essential areas of contract law (formation, interpretation of terms, lack of true consent, termination, breach and remedies), as well as other related topics such as business entities, tenders and the legal management of disputes.

Duration: 2 Days

Delivery Mode: On-campus at 37 Constitution Avenue, Reid

Course Content

DAY ONE

Morning:

1. Introduction to contract law within the Australian legal system (including the sources of law and how to locate them).

2. Understanding the nature of business entities as parties to a contract.

3. How do you know if a contract has been made?

Afternoon:

4. Practical exercise – determining whether a contract exists.

5. Tender processes and the duty of good faith.

6. What have the parties agreed to and what does it all mean?

DAY TWO

Morning:

1. Practical exercise – determining whether a contract exists.

2. When is a contract unenforceable?

Afternoon:

3. Ending or breaching a contract and what are the potential remedies?

4. Dealing with contractual disputes – the legal options and things to consider.

5. Discussion forum – what makes a ‘good’ and ‘bad’ contract and what are the consequences of getting it wrong?

Who should attend

• Anyone requiring an understanding of the legal rules surrounding contracts, including:
• Business Managers
• Business Owners
• Capability Management staff
• Project Managers
• Company Directors
• Risk Managers
• Procurement staff
• Any person involved with the negotiation, management and enforcement of contracts

No prior legal knowledge is required to undertake this course and it is assumed participants do not have a formal legal background. The course is taught in a way that explains the law in a manner most readily grasped by non-lawyers.

What will you receive

• Comprehensive set of course notes
• UNSW Canberra certificate of attendance
• Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea

Prerequisite: There is no prerequisite for this course

In-House Delivery: Understanding Contract Law and other legal courses taught by Dr Natalie Cujes are available to be presented in-house in Canberra. Contact the Professional Education Course Unit for more information. Recommended for groups of 10 or more.

Instructor

DR NATALIE CUJES SFHEA PhD (Law)

Natalie is a barrister and solicitor, a legal academic with the School of Business at UNSW Canberra (at the Australian Defence Force Academy), a published author and an Adjunct Associate Professor of Law (University of Canberra). She has extensive experience in teaching contract law, business law and legal risk management, including to military and civilian members of the Department of Defence, at the undergraduate and masters degree levels. As a senior legal practitioner with her own legal practice, Natalie specialises in advising on commercial law matters and federal court litigation.

For a decade, Natalie served as a Registrar of the Federal Court of Australian and of the then Federal Magistrates Court of Australia. She has published numerous books and other publications on the efficient, expedient and cost-effective conduct of federal civil litigation, as well as having contributed to the contract law chapter of a legal encyclopaedia. She holds appointments to several committees of the Law Council of Australia.

Natalie has been awarded an Excellence in Teaching (Student Satisfaction Recognition) Award (2009) by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Canberra. She is an Emeritus Fellow of the UNSW Scientia Education Academy and was appointed a Fellow (2018-2022) in recognition of outstanding contributions to education at UNSW. In 2021, Natalie achieved the status of Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (Advance HE) of the UK.