51 MORE Things Every Lawyer Should Know About Drafting Contracts
Date: Apr 17, 2026 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: Online
Member Price: $159.00
Non-Member Price: $199.00
Section Price: $0.00
Areas of Law: For All Attorneys
Earn up to 3.3 credits! (More Information)
Keynote
Moderator
Presenters
- Lenné Eidson Espenschied
- Next Level Contracts, Atlantais a national speaker from Atlanta, Georgia, who has trained thousands of lawyers in the U.S. and Canada in the art of contract drafting through continuing legal education seminars for bar associations, law firms and corporate legal departments. Her passion is helping new lawyers acquire the skills they need to be successful in transactional practice.
Ms. Espenschied practiced law in Atlanta, Georgia for 25 years, and focused on technology and intellectual property matters. She began her legal practice with the firm now known as Eversheds Sutherland and eventually worked as senior counsel in the legal department of Bank of America. Prior to attending law school she was a Certified Public Accountant at Ernst & Young, where she audited Fortune 500 companies and assisted in preparing financial statements and reports for shareholders.
Ms. Espenschied is the author of two books published by the American Bar Association: Contract Drafting: Powerful Prose in Transactional Practice (ABA Fundamentals, 3rd Ed., 2019) and The Grammar and Writing Handbook for Lawyers (ABA Fundamentals, 2011). She was a Professor at Charlotte School of Law and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Georgia School of Law, and taught commercial law, contracts and contract drafting. She is also a contributing faculty member at Thomson/Reuter’s West Legal Ed Center.
Ms. Espenschied received her B.B.A., with high honors, from the University of Georgia and her J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Georgia School of Law, where she served on the Editorial Board of Georgia Law Review and was a member of Order of the Coif. She also won a prestigious award as a teaching assistant in the UGA Terry College of Business.
(8/23)
One of our favorite New Jersey State Bar Association CLE speakers is back with a dynamic sequel to last year’s popular contract drafting program, 50 Things EVERY Lawyer Should Know about Drafting Contracts, for all lawyers who write contracts, agreements, and leases: 51 MORE Things EVERY Lawyer Should Know about Drafting Contracts.
In this practical, high energy, fast-paced program, you will learn to avoid embarrassing mistakes from the beginning to the end of a contract, from how industry customs and prior dealings among the parties affect contracts, to special pitfalls affecting related contracts, to why “for the avoidance of doubt” is tantamount to admitting defeat! Learn the difference between “executed” and “signed,” and when to use each word, and which contractual provisions are most likely to be litigated. Learn why “consideration” is not “compensation”; whether the rule of the last antecedent overrides the series qualifier canon, and how to avoid ambiguity with long strings of words. Invest three hours with Ms. Espenschied in this program to elevate the overall quality of your work, avoid common pitfalls, and draft more confidently for all the remaining years of your practice!
Here are some highlights of what we’ll cover:
- What constitutes “adequate preparation” to draft a contract;
- How industry customs affect contractual terms;
- Why “notwithstanding” should be withstood;
- How to prevent common ambiguities caused by series qualifiers;
- Why you should never use “for the avoidance of doubt”; and
- Much, much more.
About the Presenter
Lenné Eidson Espenschied has earned her status as one of the two most popular contract drafting speakers in the country by continually striving for excellence and providing innovative, practical, skills-based training for transactional lawyers. She practiced law in Atlanta, Georgia for more than 20 years, focusing on corporate and transactional representation of technology-based businesses. Ms. Espenschied is a contributing faculty member for West Legal Ed Center. She is the author of two books published by the American Bar Association: Contract Drafting: Powerful Prose in Transactional Practice (ABA Fundamentals, 3rd Ed. 2019) and The Grammar and Writing Handbook for Lawyers (ABA Fundamentals, 2011). After graduating from the University of Georgia School of Law magna cum laude, Ms. Espenschied began her legal practice at a large national law firm; she also served as Senior Counsel in the legal department of Bank of America before eventually opening her own law office. As a law professor, Ms. Espenschied taught commercial law, contracts, and contract drafting. Her passion is helping lawyers acquire the skills they need to be more successful in transactional practice.
Important Information About Our Events, Meetings, and More:
To secure your spot and receive important updates about our events, meetings, and other gatherings, such as schedule changes, remember to register in advance.
Digital Materials & Environmental Commitment: As part of our commitment to environmental sustainability, unless otherwise noted, all seminar materials are provided as digital downloads. You can access these materials through:
- The “My Links” section at the top of our website for in-person or online events
- Or, for online programs, the event access link included in your joining instructions
Cancellation and Refund Policy:
If you need to cancel your registration and are not transferring to another program or date, please submit a written request to us at least three business days before the event, meeting, or gathering. You will receive a refund minus a $20.00 cancellation fee. No refunds or registration changes will be issued within three business days of the event, meeting, or gathering.
Professional Conduct:
All attendees and participants are expected to conduct themselves professionally and treat others with respect at NJSBA events, meetings, and gatherings. This includes courteous communication, respecting perspectives, and creating a welcoming environment for all. Failure to adhere to this policy may result in removal from the event.
Stay Informed:
Registered participants will be notified of any schedule changes. For updates regarding inclement weather, please check your email or visit NJSBA.com.
Media Consent:
By participating in our events, meetings, or other gatherings, you agree to be photographed and/or recorded. Additionally, all media content captured during these gatherings will become the property of NJSBA. This content, including your image and name, may be used in our future promotional materials without additional consent or compensation.
Scholarship & Financial Assistance Policy:
Read our Scholarship & Financial Assistance Policy and submit an Application here: https://njsba.com/njicle/cle-programs/scholarship/