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Plain Language Contract and Legal Drafting for Non Lawyers

Managers, procurement officers and administrators across African organisations routinely draft or amend agreements, letters of appointment and terms without legal training. Vague or copied wording creates disputes and unenforceable obligations. This course helps non lawyers write clear, plain language contractual documents that capture intent accurately and reduce the risk of costly misunderstandings.

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Register for this course

What you will be able to do

  • Identify the essential elements every basic agreement should contain.
  • Draft clauses in plain language that a court and a counterpart can both follow.
  • Spot ambiguous, contradictory or risky wording in existing templates.
  • Set out obligations, timelines and remedies clearly and unambiguously.
  • Know when a document must be escalated to qualified legal advisers.
  • Review and tighten a draft agreement before signature.

Course outline

  1. 01How Contracts Work in Everyday Business
  2. 02Essential Elements of a Valid Agreement
  3. 03Writing Clear Clauses and Definitions
  4. 04Setting Out Obligations, Terms and Remedies
  5. 05Spotting Ambiguity and Risky Language
  6. 06Plain Language Versus Legalese
  7. 07Knowing When to Involve a Lawyer
  8. 08Reviewing a Draft Before Signature

Who should attend

This course is aimed at managers, procurement and contracts staff, administrators and business owners who draft or review agreements without a legal qualification.

Dates, venues and fees

DatesVenueDaysFeeCalendarRegister
29 to 30 Oct 2026Johannesburg2R10,000Register
2 to 3 Nov 2026Cape Town2R10,000Register
3 to 4 Nov 2026Durban2R10,000Register
4 to 5 Nov 2026Pretoria2R10,000Register
5 to 6 Nov 2026Windhoek2US$1,100Register
9 to 10 Nov 2026Gaborone2US$1,100Register
10 to 11 Nov 2026Maseru2US$1,100Register
11 to 12 Nov 2026Mbabane2US$1,100Register
12 to 13 Nov 2026Lusaka2US$1,100Register
16 to 17 Nov 2026Harare2US$1,100Register
17 to 18 Nov 2026Lilongwe2US$1,100Register
18 to 19 Nov 2026Blantyre2US$1,100Register
19 to 20 Nov 2026Mozambique2US$1,100Register
23 to 24 Nov 2026Nairobi2US$1,100Register
24 to 25 Nov 2026Dar es Salaam2US$1,100Register
25 to 26 Nov 2026Kigali2US$1,100Register
26 to 27 Nov 2026Kampala2US$1,100Register
30 Nov to 1 Dec 2026Accra2US$1,100Register
1 to 2 Dec 2026Lagos2US$1,100Register
2 to 3 Dec 2026Cairo2US$1,100Register
3 to 4 Dec 2026Mauritius2US$1,100Register
7 to 8 Dec 2026Dubai2US$1,100Register
8 to 9 Dec 2026Online2US$900Register

Fees are per delegate. South African venues are priced in rand; other locations and online in US dollars. Fees exclude 15% VAT where applicable. Group bookings of three or more delegates from the same organisation qualify for a reduced rate; contact us for a quotation.

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