Massachusetts Contract Law Education and Training

Get the right training to protect your business with contract laws in Massachusetts

By Emmet McMahan
Massachusetts contract law is an exchange of promises that is enforceable by law. Massachusetts 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.

Massachusetts law contracts state 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. Massachusetts contract laws 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 training Massachusetts contract law attorneys

There are a variety of universities in Massachusetts that provide a concentration in commercial law or business law, which typically includes coursework on Massachusetts contract law.
Try: Boston College Law School includes a thorough education in contract law as part of its J.D. program. Harvard Law School offers business law as a program of study, which includes coursework in contract law.

Obtain Continuing Legal Education (CLE) for a Massachusetts contract law attorney

Massachusetts requires attorneys to stay current on changes in the law through CLE courses. There are a variety of education and training programs in Massachusetts that provide CLE credit in contract law.
Try: Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education provides a complete calendar of upcoming CLE courses on business law in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Bar Association has courses in business contract law that offer CLE credit in Massachusetts.

Learn through professional training opportunities on Massachusetts contract law practices

Conferences, seminars and workshops are excellent methods for Massachusetts contract lawyers to improve their knowledge of the law. This training is typically provided by professional associations, Massachusetts contract law firms or dedicated providers of legal training.
Try: The Boston Bar Association hosts a variety of events on contract law in Massachusetts such as wage and hour litigation. Boyd and Boyd holds periodic seminars on the contract laws regarding estate planning in Massachusetts.

 

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