Before getting involved in any employment, commissioning, selling or other work in any country, including the UK, it is highly advisable you ask for a contract stating your rights and what you can expect to get from your employer.

If the agreement you are entering into is complex, you are also strongly advised to seek professional legal assistance in the country you will be working in.

Contracts are simply written agreements, signed by the parties making the agreement, so that all parties have a copy of what is being agreed, when it will be done by, when it will be finished, and what money is involved. Verbal contracts are as binding as written contracts, but have the disadvatage of being legally unprovable as to their existence. Before taking part in any opportunity, it is highly advisable to get some form of contract or letter from the party you will be working with. Without a contract, you risk not getting paid, losing your artworks, being unable to prove what you have sold or given away or even losing money of your own.

Contracts, where these are legal documents instead of simple letters of agreement, must follow the laws of the country in which they are to be valid. Contracts should mention whether or not they are international, and if so in what countries, and if so which legal system they will be covered by. For example, you might be working for a UK company in France, but the contract of employment is covered by UK law - meaning you are entitled to the rights of employees who live and work in the UK, even though you are working in France. Although this will have a minimal impact on such issues as copyright, employment laws vary hugely from country to country, as do laws on property, minimum wage and droit de suite. Where in doubt, you should get the contract checked by a legal specialist or lawyer who also understands the French legal system.

• contracts
• legal
• law
• working internationally