Language of Contracts

Course Objectives

This course covers contract drafting, contract terminology, and common law contract concepts.


  • What's the difference between a "warranty" and a "representation"? A "promise" and a "condition"?
  • Why do contract clauses often use the triplet: "indemnify, defend and hold harmless"?
  • How do you best make a liquidated damages clause enforceable?
  • To what extent is "good faith" and element of English or American contract law?

These are just some of the issued covered.


The course concentrates mainly on the drafting but assumes no prior knowledge of Anglo-American contract law and focuses on techniques that will help intermediate to advanced-level English speakers master the challenges of drafting or reviewing contracts in English.


You will learn some English and American contract law and the associated terms and concepts. The course will teach you the language used and the legal nuances that impact the drafting of agreements. You will also learn drafting best practices to ensure that, even if you have not previously taken contract drafting courses or don't have extensive drafting experience, you can can take on this challenge in your legal practice.


Language of Contracts is aimed at practicing professionals who need a deeper knowledge of Anglo-American contract law and some practical experience dealing with contract terminology and drafting, without the heavy homework demands and complex doctrinal studies involved in law school academics. Most, but not all, assignments will be done in class or on the class learning management system (Moodle).

Tentative Schedule of Classes

Actual class content may be adjusted as the course goes on

Requirements for a Certificate

This course is 36 clock hours over 12 weeks, with one meeting per week. To earn a certificate for this course, you should attend 3/4 of the class hours and complete at least 3/4 of the class assignments. Students can miss up to three out of the twelve classes and still get a certificate. Students missing a 4th class may still get a certificate if they complete all the class assignments.


On-line exercises are expected to take one to two hours per week. While many assignments will be graded and corrected for the student's own knowledge, there are no grades awarded in this course. Everyone who fulfills the requirements will get a certificate.


Those who don't fulfill the course attendance requirements may request a letter evidencing the approximate number of class hours they attended.


Students who attend all classes and complete all assignments well will get an honors certificate.

Confused about the differences between Legal English and Language of Contracts?

Language of Contracts is a perfect course for those of our students who have already taken Legal English or are generally familiar with English language legal terminology, but who are not enrolled in Pericles LL.M. and do not have the time or language fluency to study in Pericles' more intensive, LL.M. level, course series of Contract Law followed by Contract Drafting. It will involve written assignments and homework, but these will be much less intense than those required in the LL.M. level courses.

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