Full course description
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Date: 23 October, 2026
Modality: In-person
Duration: 9am – 4pm
Price: $1,259.00 (Incl. GST) If you are eligible for the UoA Staff or Auckland Council Training Member discount, please email shortcourses@auckland.ac.nz
Contracts continue to underpin commercial dealings, but as transactions become more complex, so too do the legal risks associated with contract formation, interpretation, and performance.
Advanced Contract Law for Non-Lawyers is a one-day course designed to build on the foundational knowledge developed in the Contract Law for Non-Lawyers course. This advanced course focuses on more complex issues relating to contract formation, the identification and interpretation of contractual terms, standard and high-risk clauses, and managing situations where contracts do not proceed as intended.
As with the foundational course, this course is designed to be non-threatening and highly interactive. Using business-focused case studies grounded in New Zealand law, participants will engage with realistic scenarios commonly encountered in commercial, procurement, and operational contexts.
Short course structure and topics covered:
The course is designed to provide an engaging learning experience through a blend of instruction, discussion, and practical case studies. Across four sessions, participants will explore advanced issues relating to contract formation, the identification and interpretation of contractual terms, the management of standard and problematic clauses, and the practical consequences when contracts go wrong.
Session 1: Contract Formation Issues
- Essential terms and contractual certainty
- Informal communications and enforceability (MOUs, RFPs, Heads of Agreement, etc)
- Tendering and procurement processes
Session 2: Finding and Interpreting the Terms of a Contract
- The role and effect of written terms
- Incorporation of terms into contracts
- Implied terms
- Interpreting contractual language
Session 3: Managing Risk Through Contract Terms
- Standard and boilerplate clauses
- Liability, indemnity, exclusion, and limitation clauses
- Identifying and managing high-risk terms
Session 4: When Contracts Go Wrong
- Variations, extensions, and frustration
- Privity of contract issues
- Delay, defective performance, and non-delivery
Short course benefits and learning outcomes:
Participants will:
- Develop a deeper understanding of complex contract formation issues.
- Gain confidence in interpreting contractual terms and obligations.
- Learn to identify and manage contractual risk more effectively.
- Understand practical options when contracts do not proceed as planned.
Your organisation will:
- Reduce exposure to contractual risk through improved staff capability.
- Improve consistency in contract review and management.
- Strengthen commercial decision-making and procurement practices.
- Minimise disputes arising from informal or poorly managed contracts.
Who should attend? Any entry requirements?
- Managers, professionals, and business owners involved in negotiating or managing contracts.
- Individuals who have completed Contract Law for Non-Lawyers or have equivalent experience.
- Professionals in procurement, finance, contract management, HR, or operational roles dealing with more complex contractual arrangements.
Payment for short courses is normally by credit card. If you need to pay by invoice or require assistance, please email shortcourses@auckland.ac.nz. Please note the University does not issue individual invoices for amounts less than $500 New Zealand dollars.
By enrolling in a Short Course at the University of Auckland you agree to the Short Course Terms and Conditions