Contract Law for Non-Lawyers: Practical insights for everyday business
Dr Mark McConnell
Professional Teaching Fellow in Commercial Law
As the facilitator of Contract Law for Non-Lawyers at the University of Auckland Business School, I’ve worked with participants across a wide range of industries—people who manage, negotiate or approve contracts every day, often without any formal legal training. It’s a common challenge: contracts are everywhere in business, yet many people feel uncertain about the rules and risks that come with them.
This course is designed to cut through the complexity and provide clarity. No legal background required—just a curiosity to understand how contracts really work and a desire to get things right from the start.
Level 1: A Practical Foundation
Contract Law for Non-Lawyers – Level 1 is a one-day introduction to the fundamentals of contract law. We explore what makes a contract enforceable, how pre-contractual statements can carry legal consequences and how to manage agreements to reduce risk and ensure alignment. The focus is practical, real-world and immediately applicable.
Participant evaluations reflect the impact. One wrote, “I found this course very interesting and beneficial as an introduction course to contract law.” Another shared, “For me, being from a non-lawyer background, it was great to learn the basics. I now have this foundational knowledge which I can build on.”
Others valued the relevance to their work: “Practical everyday lessons,” “basic terminology and action for real-life scenarios,” and “generally, all aspects of the content had value; new or as a refresher.”
The delivery also resonated. One person described it as a “fabulous course – learnt a lot, great presenter,” while another noted, “The lecturer made sure that the course is fun and easy to understand.”
Key takeaways included the surprising enforceability of verbal agreements, the nuances of contract cancellation and how misrepresentation—intentional or not—can make a contract voidable. These are insights that often shift how people approach business conversations and decision making.
At the same time, the feedback made it clear: many participants were eager for more. Several asked for deeper dives into industry-specific contracts, case law and technical legal concepts that go beyond the basics.
Dr Mark McConnell
Level 2: Advanced Topics for Real-World Complexity
In response to that demand, Contract Law for Non-Lawyers – Level 2 is launching later this year. Tailored for those who have completed Level 1 or who already have a solid grasp of the fundamentals, this advanced one-day course explores more complex and high-stakes contracting scenarios, including:
- Letters of intent – when they do (and don’t) create binding obligations
- Tendering – legal risks in bidding and award processes
- Indemnity clauses – understanding and allocating liability
- Implied terms – obligations that may exist even if not written down
- Contract interpretation – how meaning is derived in legal disputes
- Variations – how and when contracts can be legally modified
- Frustration – what happens when a contract becomes impossible to perform
These two courses are designed to support professionals wherever they are on their contract law journey—whether they’re just starting out or ready to take their understanding to the next level. With each step, the aim is the same: greater clarity, stronger communication and more confident decision making in the contractual space.
About the facilitator
Dr Mark McConnell has been a Professional Teaching Fellow in Commercial Law at the University of Auckland Business School since 2017, teaching across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, with a particular focus on property and contract law. Mark previously worked as a construction contracts consultant and brings a strong applied perspective to legal education for non-lawyers. He is known for making complex legal issues accessible and relevant for professionals.
