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.

Best Contract Law Courses & Certificates [2025]

Find the best Contract Law course for your goals

Status: Preview
Yale University
American Contract Law I
Skills you'll gain: Case Law, Commercial Laws, Legal Research, Contract Review, Case Studies
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 Technology, Legal Strategy, Legal Risk, Responsible AI, Data Ethics, Legal Research, Compliance Management, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Document Management, Generative AI, Litigation Support, Mediation, Anthropic Claude, Case Law, Litigation and Civil Justice, Contract Review, ChatGPT, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Artificial Intelligence, Risk Management
4.1
Rating, 4.1 out of 5 stars
39 reviews
Beginner · 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, Lawsuits, Arbitration, Contract Compliance, Case Studies, Mitigation
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
263 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Preview
Yale University
A Law Student's Toolkit
Skills you'll gain: Legal Strategy, Legal Proceedings, Legal Research, Legal Writing, Policy Analysis, Case Studies, 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, Contract Negotiation, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Contract Compliance, Workers Compensation, Legal Risk, Compensation Management, Case Law
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
54 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

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Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Intellectual Property Law
Skills you'll gain: Intellectual Property, Brand Awareness, Legal Strategy, Brand Management, Asset Protection, Case Law, Regulation and Legal Compliance, Packaging and Labeling, Case Studies, Asset Management, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Marketing, Innovation, Strategic Thinking, Business Strategy, Business Valuation, Creativity, Legal Risk, Strategic Planning, Planning
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.6K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Preview
Lund University
AI & Law
Skills you'll gain: Legal Technology, Responsible AI, Labor Law, Legal Risk, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, Criminal Investigation and Forensics, Health Care Procedure and Regulation, Public Administration, Financial Market
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
719 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
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, Labor Relations, Tax, Tax Laws, Regulation and Legal Compliance, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Commercial Laws, Business, International Relations, Compliance Management, Business Strategy, European History, Regulatory Compliance, Business Economics
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.8K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Preview
University of Michigan
Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills
Skills you'll gain: Negotiation, Contract Negotiation, Conflict Management, Mediation, Sales Strategy, Arbitration, Communication, Influencing, Planning, Decision Making, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Cultural Diversity
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
20K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Regulatory Compliance
Skills you'll gain: Compliance Training, Compliance Management, Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act (HIPAA) Compliance, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Medical Privacy, Regulation and Legal Compliance, Legal Risk, Information Privacy, Governance Risk Management and Compliance, Personally Identifiable Information, Compliance Reporting, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Regulatory Compliance, Regulatory Requirements, Compliance Auditing, Internal Communications, Procedure Development, Business Ethics, Risk Management, Business Strategy
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
2.7K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 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