Washington Contract Law Education and Training

Get the right training to protect your business with Washington law contracts

Washington contract law is an exchange of promises that is enforceable by law. Washington 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 the state of Washington 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. Contract laws in Washington require 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 Washington contract laws

There are a variety of universities in Washington that provide a concentration in commercial law or business law, which typically includes coursework on Washington contract law.
Try: The University of Washington School of Law requires contract law as part of its first year J.D. program. The Seattle University School of Law offers a full-time and part-time program which requires courses in contract law.

Obtain Continuing Legal Education (CLE) for Washington contract law attorneys

Washington requires attorneys to stay current on changes in the law through CLE courses. There are a variety of education and training programs in Washington that provide CLE credit in contract law.
Try: The Washington State Bar Association provides a complete schedule of upcoming CLE seminars in Washington, including seminars on contract law. The National Law Foundation is a provider of CLE courses on contract law in Washington.

Learn through professional training opportunities on contract law in Washington

Conferences, seminars and workshops are excellent methods for Washington contract lawyers to improve their knowledge of the law. This training is typically provided by professional associations, Washington contract law firms or dedicated providers of legal training.
Try: The Seminar Group hosts a variety of legal education seminars in Washington, including topics on contract law. Davis Wright Tremaine conducts seminars on contract law, such as "Beyond Layoffs: Controlling Payroll Costs in Creative and Legal Ways".

 

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