What are the best legal courses on Coursera?

Popular options include An Introduction to American Law from the University of Pennsylvania , Corporate & Commercial Law from the University of Illinois , and American Contract Law from Yale University . These courses cover topics such as constitutional law, business contracts, legal systems, and international regulation.

Can I take free legal courses on Coursera?

Yes. You can start learning legal topics on Coursera for free in two ways: Preview the first module of many legal courses at no cost. This includes video lessons, readings, graded assignments, and Coursera Coach (where available). Start a 7-day free trial for Specializations or Coursera Plus. This gives you full access to all course content across eligible programs within the timeframe of your trial. If you want to keep learning, earn a certificate in legal topics, or unlock full course access after the preview or trial, you can upgrade or apply for financial aid.

What will I learn in a legal course on Coursera?

You’ll learn about legal reasoning, the structure of legal systems, contracts , corporate law, intellectual property , and rights under various legal frameworks. Some courses also explore legal writing, negotiation , and compliance in business or public policy settings.

Do I need a background in law or government to take a legal course?

Not at all. Many introductory courses are designed for general learners and professionals from other fields. If you’re looking for more advanced or specialized legal content, there are also options for learners with prior experience.

Can legal courses on Coursera support my career or further education?

Yes. Whether you're preparing for law school, working in a regulatory or compliance role, or simply interested in understanding legal systems, Coursera courses can help you build foundational knowledge and earn credentials that demonstrate your skills and interests.

Top Legal Courses - Learn Legal Online

Find the Best Legal Course for Your Goals

Yale University
A Law Student's Toolkit
Skills you'll gain: Legal Strategy, Legal Research, Legal Writing, Case Law, Civil Procedures, Policy Analysis, Learning Strategies, Economics
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.5K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Pennsylvania
An Introduction to American Law
Skills you'll gain: Civil Procedures, Civil Law, Personal Injury Law, Commercial Laws, Lawsuits, Court Systems, Legal Proceedings, Plaintiff, Legal Research, Case Law, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Criminal Investigation and Forensics, Legal Pleadings, Governance
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
5.2K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Lund University
AI & Law
Skills you'll gain: Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Artificial Intelligence, Intellectual Property, Legal Proceedings, Labor Law, Legal Research, Innovation, Criminal Investigation and Forensics, Public Administration, Healthcare Industry Knowledge, Predictive Modeling
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
680 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Corporate & Commercial Law I: Contracts & Employment Law
Skills you'll gain: Certified Public Accountant, Labor Law, Commercial Laws, Regulation and Legal Compliance, Bankruptcies, Organizational Structure, Business, Legal Writing, Contract Management, Sales
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.3K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Privacy Law and Data Protection
Skills you'll gain: General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Information Privacy, Personally Identifiable Information, Regulatory Compliance, Data Security, Health Care Procedure and Regulation, Data Management, Incident Response, Governance, Risk Management
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
794 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
University of Maryland, College Park
Sports Marketing and Today's College Athlete
Skills you'll gain: Contract Review, Intellectual Property, Marketing, Brand Awareness, Social Media Content, Branding, Brand Management, Brand Marketing, Business Marketing, Marketing Strategies, Market Opportunities, Legal Research
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

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Status: New
Coursera Instructor Network
GenAI for Legal Risk Mitigation: Proactive Case Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Risk Management Framework, Legal Risk, Risk Control, Risk Mitigation, Generative AI, Compliance Management, Governance Risk Management and Compliance, Regulatory Compliance, Automation, Legal Strategy, Data Ethics, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Artificial Intelligence, Analytics, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Governance, Data Analysis
Advanced · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Yale University
American Contract Law I
Skills you'll gain: Case Law, Legal Writing, Commercial Laws, Legal Research, Contract Review, Civil Law, Contract Compliance
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Universidad de Palermo
Inteligencia Artificial Aplicada al Derecho
Skills you'll gain: Legal Writing, Legal Strategy, Prompt Engineering, Legal Research, ChatGPT, Legal Risk, Data Ethics, Generative AI, Personally Identifiable Information, Artificial Intelligence, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Verification And Validation
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Coursera Instructor Network
Master Compliance with MS 365 Copilot: EU Law
Skills you'll gain: Compliance Management, Microsoft Copilot, Regulation and Legal Compliance, Legal Risk, Compliance Reporting, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Microsoft 365, Audit Working Papers, Process Design, Workflow Management, Business Workflow Analysis, Prompt Engineering
Advanced · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of London
Introduction to English Common Law
Skills you'll gain: Court Systems, Case Law, Legal Research, Legal Proceedings, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Civil Law, Social Studies, Political Sciences, European History, Governance
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
2K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Macquarie University
Data Security & Information Privacy
Skills you'll gain: Information Privacy, Personally Identifiable Information, Data Security, Cybersecurity, Threat Modeling, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Data Integrity, Data Governance, Data Ethics, Cyber Risk, Vulnerability Assessments, Vulnerability, Security Management, Security Software, Data Encryption Standard, Risk Management, Security Strategy, Compliance Management, Data Access, NIST 800-53
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months