Money, Contracts and Legal Risk

Money problems often become legal problems because people agree, pay, lend, provide services or start work without clear terms or evidence. This workshop explains how young adults, freelancers and small business owners can recognise legal and financial risk earlier.

Attendees will leave with a simple checklist they can use when signing, paying, invoicing, accepting work or trying to resolve a problem before it escalates.

This is a free 90-minute interactive online workshop using short talks, live polls and practical 'spot the risk' scenarios. Participants will work through everyday examples involving unpaid invoices, unclear service terms, informal business arrangements, online purchases and payment disputes. The session will focus on what to put in writing, what evidence to keep, what to check before paying or agreeing, and when to seek help early.

We will use realistic scenarios involving unpaid invoices, service contracts, verbal promises, subscriptions, deposits and client relationships. For people starting a small professional-services business, the same principles apply from day one: agree scope, price and payment terms clearly, keep records and know when a dispute needs proper advice.

The event is practical public legal education, not individual legal advice. The session will finish with a practical legal-risk checklist and live Q&A.

Adam Hussain - PhD researcher in legal services regulation at Royal Holloway, University of London

• Adults aged 18+
• Members of the public, particularly young adults, freelancers, self-employed people, aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage small business owners.

People who sign contracts, invoice clients, buy or sell services, work freelance, run a small business or are thinking about starting one and want to understand how to reduce avoidable legal and financial risk.

This talk is free, held online only. Register to attend using the 'book now' link on this page.

For specific questions about this event:

• Email: Adam.Hussain.2024@live.rhul.ac.uk
• Telephone: +44 1784 911858

• Monday 19th October 2026
• 18:00 - 19:30

Monday 19 October 2026 at 12:00 (UK time)