An Intensive 5-day Training Course
Writing Effective Legal Documents and
Commercial Contracts
A Practical Workshop
Course Introduction
In the legal and commercial world, the effectiveness of written communication significantly impacts the success of business transactions, regulatory compliance, and risk management. Poorly drafted legal documents—whether they be contracts, memos, or legal correspondence—can lead to confusion, costly disputes, and reputational damage. Conversely, clear, concise, and well-structured legal writing strengthens commercial relationships, improves contract performance, and protects corporate interests.
This Writing Effective Legal Documents and Commercial Contracts training course equips in-house legal teams, external advisers, and commercial contract professionals with the skills to produce high-quality legal documents that are both practical and persuasive. Whether advising internal stakeholders, negotiating agreements, or drafting commercial contracts, participants will learn to write with clarity, purpose, and confidence using appropriate legal English and proven drafting techniques.
This Writing Effective Legal Documents and Commercial Contracts training course will cover:
- How to produce clear and effective legal writing
- Structuring legal memos, advice, and correspondence professionally
- Drafting contracts using precise and risk-aware legal language
- Adapting writing style and tone based on the target audience
- Avoiding common pitfalls and legal ambiguities in commercial documents
- Utilizing templates, model clauses, and checklists for efficiency and consistency
- Identifying and mitigating contract risks through strategic drafting
- Best practices for reviewing and redrafting third-party contract documents
Objectives
By the end of this Writing Effective Legal Documents and Commercial Contracts training course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the communication needs of internal clients and external stakeholders
- Draft legal documents using correct structure, grammar, and legal language
- Write legal advice and correspondence that is practical and outcome-oriented
- Improve the clarity and commercial value of written legal content
- Structure and format standard commercial contracts logically and clearly
- Identify and insert essential contract terms and conditions across sectors
- Evaluate contract risks and suggest revised clauses to protect legal interests
- Leverage templates and model forms to improve drafting efficiency
- Review and amend counterparties’ draft contracts with confidence
- Negotiate alternative terms to safeguard organizational objectives
Training Methodology
The facilitator will deploy a full range of lively and interactive training methods, including exercises, case studies, drafting sessions and group discussions.
Each topic will be underpinned by a presentation that highlights key issues to focus on. The learning experience will be supported by a reference manual containing templates and examples of best practice. Participants will draft documents, make presentations and receive personal feedback on their work.
Model legal documents will be reviewed and analysed. Alternative approaches will be considered. Real examples will be discussed.
Who Should Attend?
This Oxford Management Centre Writing Effective Legal Documents and Commercial Contracts training course is suitable to a wide range of professionals but will especially benefit:
- Corporate and Commercial In-House or External Lawyers / Advisers, especially those involved in:
- Providing legal advice to corporate functions, including to top management or the board about the meaning of terms and conditions in contracts and other documents
- Drafting instructions to or seeking advice from outside counsel or other legal experts
- Preparing, drafting and negotiating terms and conditions in supplier contracts, joint venture agreements, production licences, drilling permits and other legal commercial documents
- Commercial Contracts Professionals who assist the procurement teams in purchasing activities
- Members of the procurement team who manage supplier contracts and have to apply the terms of commercial agreements
- Any other staff member who assists or is involved in preparing legal documentation
Course Outline
Day One
Principles of Effective Legal Writing
- Introduction, objectives, and scope of the workshop
- What is effective legal writing?
- Techniques to write clearly
- Structuring your legal analysis
- Choosing appropriate legal language while avoiding ‘legalese’
- Effective editing of a legal document
- Applying the principles to letters, emails and general correspondence
- Drafting exercises
Day Two
Best Practices in Drafting a Legal Memorandum
- Choosing an appropriate heading
- Describing the background and purpose of the memorandum
- Framing the legal issues
- Providing the short answer
- Statement of the facts
- Analysis of the issues and how the law applies
- Conclusions and recommendations in the memorandum
- Drafting Exercises
Day Three
Principles of Contract Drafting
- Why contract drafting skills are important
- Complying with contract law essentials
- Using appropriate contract language
- Contract methodologies, including
- Bespoke written agreements
- Using general and special terms and conditions
- Using Purchase Orders with standard terms and conditions
- Framework agreements
- Deeds
- Letters of intent, Heads of terms and MoUs
- Working with model contracts and templates
- Drafting exercises
Day Four
Preparing the Contract Draft
- Reflecting the purpose of the transaction
- Analysing and mapping out the contractual transaction process
- Structuring the contract draft
- Contents of the front and back of the contract
- Title
- Parties
- Recitals
- Dates
- Definitions
- Signatures
- Attachments, Exhibits and Schedules
- Using Boilerplate clauses, such as
- Governing law clause
- Dispute resolution process
- Contract variation mechanism
- Confidentiality obligations
- Assignment and sub-contracting
- Force Majeure
- Notices and communication clause
- Drafting exercises
Day Five
Managing the Negotiated Draft Agreement
- Working with the other parties to the contract
- Analysing their contract clauses for hidden risks
- Negotiating the liability clauses
- Who bears the risk?
- Exclusion and limitation of liability
- Indemnity and insurance clauses
- Bonds and Guarantees
- Liquidated damages clauses and penalties
- Using clauses that impose obligations or grant powers or permissions, such as
- Inspection
- Default
- Termination
- Using the concept of “reasonableness”
- Payment and other financial terms
- Drafting exercises
Certificate
On successful completion of this training course, Oxford Management Centre Certificate with eligible Continuing Professional Education credits (CPE) from National Registry of CPE Sponsor will be awarded to the delegates
Accreditation
In association with
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes, we provide assistance in securing both hotel reservations & entry visa on all our international training venues, for delegates attending our training courses. For further information / assistance, please contact our Customer Service at:
- Telephone: +971 50 985 0174
- E-mail: info@oxford-management.com
Yes, Oxford Management Centre is accredited by the following professional bodies;
National Association of State Board of Accountancy (NASBA)
The Oxford Management Centre is registered with NASBA as a sponsor of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. NASBA have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit.
Yes, discounts are available. For further information please call +971 50 985 0174 or email, info@oxford-management.com
Note: Discounts are not applicable with any other special offer that may be available.
All course bookings made through Oxford Management Centre are non-refundable. By registering for a course, you acknowledge and accept that fees are payable in full and are not subject to refund under any circumstances, including but not limited to participant dissatisfaction, changes in personal or professional circumstances, or partial attendance.
Oxford Management Centre reserves the right to make reasonable adjustments to course content, trainers, or schedules where necessary, without entitling delegates to a refund. Full details of each course – including objectives, target audience, and content – are clearly outlined prior to enrolment, and it is the responsibility of the delegate to ensure suitability before booking.
There are 2 easy ways to register:
- Online: Select the training course you want to register for, Click the “Book Your Place” button on the course page, complete the form and click submit.
- E-mail: Send your details to info@oxford-management.com
We request that all cancellations be made at least one week before the class start date. You may reschedule this class without any penalty. If not, a $250 fee will be charged for cancellations received less than one week before a class begins and for no-shows. Cancellation penalties and any fees incurred by Oxford Management Centre will be deducted from refunds.
For more information request, email info@oxford-management.com or call +971 50 985 0174.
The classroom training fees include course presentation, relevant materials, physical & digital documentation, lunch and refreshments served during entire training. Accommodation and transportation are not included in the training course fees.
While, online training fees cover the course presentation and digital documentation and relevant materials.
The Oxford Management Centre Certificate of Completion with corresponding CPE credits shall be awarded to delegates who has successfully completed the training course.
Payment must be received before the training course commences. You can make payment by bank draft, cash, credit card or wire transfer.
Note: If the payment is not received, Oxford Management Centre has the right to refuse admission.
Upon receipt of your registration form, we will send you the following by e-mail:
- Registration Confirmation
- Invoice/Receipt (where appropriate)
If you register online you will receive an e-mail within 24 hours confirming your registration.
