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Pennsylvania Contract Law Education and Training

Get the right training to protect your business with contract law in Pennsylvania

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

Contract law in PA 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. PA 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 contract laws in PA

There are a variety of universities in Pennsylvania that provide a concentration in commercial law or business law, which typically includes coursework on Pennsylvania contract law.
Try: The Penn State Dickinson School of Law teaches contract law as a required course of its first year curriculum. Temple University Beasley School of Law includes contracts law as one of its graduation requirements.

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

Pennsylvania requires attorneys to stay current on changes in the law through CLE courses. There are a variety of education and training programs in Pennsylvania that provide CLE credit in contract law.
Try: PBI.org offers Construction Law Primer for CLE credit in Pennsylvania, which includes a study of contract formation. ESI International provides a variety of CLE courses in Pennsylvania on contract law.

Learn through professional training opportunities on PA contracts law

Conferences, seminars and workshops are excellent methods for Pennsylvania 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: FindaSeminar.com offers a seminar in Pittsburgh that includes training in breach of contract for lawyers dealing with insurance claims. Lorman Education Services offers seminars in Pennsylvania focusing on construction contracts.

 

  • A Pennsylvania contract law attorney should join professional organizations that are dedicated to the practice of contract law in PA. 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.

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