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.

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

01How Contracts Work in Everyday Business
02Essential Elements of a Valid Agreement
03Writing Clear Clauses and Definitions
04Setting Out Obligations, Terms and Remedies
05Spotting Ambiguity and Risky Language
06Plain Language Versus Legalese
07Knowing When to Involve a Lawyer
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

Dates	Venue	Days	Fee
24 to 25 Aug 2026	Online	2	US$900
31 Aug to 1 Sep 2026	Mozambique	2	US$1,100
7 to 8 Sep 2026	Cairo	2	US$1,100
14 to 15 Sep 2026	Accra	2	US$1,100
21 to 22 Sep 2026	Lusaka	2	US$1,100
28 to 29 Sep 2026	Kigali	2	US$1,100
5 to 6 Oct 2026	Nairobi	2	US$1,100
12 to 13 Oct 2026	Durban	2	R10,000
19 to 20 Oct 2026	Johannesburg	2	R10,000
2 to 3 Nov 2026	Mauritius	2	US$1,100
9 to 10 Nov 2026	Dubai	2	US$1,100
16 to 17 Nov 2026	Lagos	2	US$1,100
23 to 24 Nov 2026	Harare	2	US$1,100
30 Nov to 1 Dec 2026	Kampala	2	US$1,100
7 to 8 Dec 2026	Dar es Salaam	2	US$1,100
14 to 15 Dec 2026	Pretoria	2	R10,000
21 to 22 Dec 2026	Cape Town	2	R10,000

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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Training a whole team?

We can run Plain Language Contract and Legal Drafting for Non Lawyers privately for your team, on your dates and built around your own systems. Group delivery is usually more cost effective from about six delegates.

Run this in-house