California Contract Law Education and Training

Get the right training to protect your business with California state contract law

By Emmet McMahan
California contract law is an exchange of promises that is enforceable by law. California contract law education and training includes a broad range of issues, such as the sale of property, the terms of employment or the settlement of a dispute.

CA contract law allows both written and oral contracts. A written contract may be required when making a large purchase such as a car or house, while a smaller purchase like a book may be considered an oral contract. A contract typically requires the following three elements in order to be enforceable:
  1. Mutual consent. California business contract law requires that the parties agree on what the contract covers.
  2. Mutual consideration. The parties must exchange something of value. A contract may not be enforceable if a party is already obligated to provide the consideration or if the consideration is essentially worthless.
  3. Offer and acceptance. The contract contains an offer from one party that is accepted by the other party. A counter-offer is not an acceptance and is typically considered to be a rejection of the offer.

 

Attend a law school that specializes in California contracts law

There are a variety of universities in California that provide a concentration in commercial law or business law, which typically includes coursework on California contract law.
Try: University of California Hastings College of the Law requires its students to take contract law in the first year and also offers many other courses in contract law. The University of San Francisco School of Law requires a full year of contract law for its J.D. degree.

Obtain Continuing Legal Education (CLE) for a contract attorney in California

California requires attorneys to stay current on changes in the law through CLE courses. There are a variety of education and training programs in California that provide CLE credit in contract law.
Try: Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) offers a course on contractors which provides CLE credit in California. The State Bar of California offers a variety of CLE courses on California contract law.

Learn through professional training opportunities on contract law in California

Conferences, seminars and workshops are excellent methods for California contract lawyers to improve their knowledge of the law. This training is typically provided by professional associations, law firms or dedicated providers of legal training.
Try: The San Bernardino County Bar Association offers online seminars on contract law in California. The Consumer Attorneys of California keeps a calendar of seminars throughout the year which includes many seminars on contract law.

 

  • A California contract law attorney should join professional organizations that are dedicated to the practice of contract law in CA. These associations provide a number of resources essential for the practicing California contract lawyer, including contact information for important courts, assistance with meeting CLE requirements and links to the recent contract law rulings.