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Principles of Construction Law (LAWS70314)
Graduate coursework level 7Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville) and Off Campus
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Overview
Availability(Quotas apply) | February - On Campus July - Off Campus July - On Campus |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This subject is designed for construction law students without prior legal training (Construction Law is for students who have a law degree). It provides an overview of the broad spread of the construction law curriculum, from the statutory and common law landscape through legal aspects of project procurement and contracting to dispute avoidance and resolution options. This subject also provides detailed treatment of legal issues specific to construction law such as variations, quality, time and payment. The seminar format is supplemented by exercises to develop students’ skills in contract preparation and writing legal hypotheticals, and includes sessions on construction law research tools and techniques.
Principal topics include:
- Overview of the regulatory regime for construction contracting
- Causes of action in construction disputes
- Contracting methodologies
- Contract administration: standard forms of contract, tendering, contract preparation and minimising legal exposure
- Role and liability of superintendents
- Issues relating to sub-contracts
- Variations
- Quality of work
- Latent conditions
- Time, programming and liquidated damages
- Contractual mechanisms for payment and security of payment legislation
- Security for performance
- Insurance
- Dispute avoidance procedures and alternative dispute resolution
- Construction litigation and arbitration (domestic and international).
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject will:
- Have an advanced and integrated understanding, in an inter-disciplinary context, of the role and function of law in relation to construction projects
- Have enhanced their expert and specialised cognitive and technical skills required to practise as a professional engaged with legal aspects of the construction industry
- Be familiar with, be able to critically reflect on, and be confident in working across, the interaction between the technical, commercial and legal aspects of construction procurement
- Be able to demonstrate the analytical and communication skills required to independently investigate, examine and synthesise existing and emerging legal issues relating to construction projects.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
Students who have completed any of the below subjects are not permitted to take LAWS70314 Principles of Construction Law:
BLAW40001 Construction Law
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS70176 | Construction Law | March (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
LAWS70469 | Construction Law | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
LAWS50084 | Construction Law | July (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Recommended background knowledge
This subject is recommended as an initial construction law subject for students who do not have a law degree.
Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are offered in the discipline of law at an advanced graduate level. While every effort will be made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, concessions will not be made in the general level of instruction or assessment. Most subjects assume the knowledge usually acquired in a degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent). Applicants should note that admission to some subjects in the Melbourne Law Masters will be dependent upon the individual applicant’s educational background and professional experience.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
Take-home examination (5,000 - 6,000 words) (100%)
- Semester 1
- Melbourne: 31 March - 3 April
- Semester 2
- Perth: 25 - 28 August
- Melbourne: 8 - 11 September
A minimum of 75% attendance is a hurdle requirement.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- February - On Campus
Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 150 hours Pre teaching start date 18 January 2017 Teaching period 15 February 2017 to 21 February 2017 Last self-enrol date 31 December 2016 Census date 15 February 2017 Last date to withdraw without fail 10 March 2017 Assessment period ends 3 April 2017 - July - Off Campus
Mode of delivery Off Campus Contact hours Total time commitment 150 hours Pre teaching start date 7 June 2017 Teaching period 5 July 2017 to 11 July 2017 Last self-enrol date 31 March 2017 Census date 5 July 2017 Last date to withdraw without fail 28 July 2017 Assessment period ends 28 August 2017 - July - On Campus
Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 150 hours Teaching period 31 July 2017 to 4 August 2017 Last self-enrol date 31 March 2017 Census date 11 August 2017 Last date to withdraw without fail 25 August 2017 Assessment period ends 11 September 2017
Time commitment details
136-150 hours The pre-teaching period commences four weeks before the subject commencement date. From this time, students are expected to access and review the Reading Guide that will be available from the LMS subject page and the subject materials provided by the subject coordinator, which will be available from Melbourne Law School. Refer to the Reading Guide for confirmation of which resources need to be read and what other preparation is required before the teaching period commences.
Additional delivery details
This subject has a quota of 30 students. Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters website for further information about the management of subject quotas and waitlists.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Specialist printed materials will be made available free of charge from the Melbourne Law School prior to the pre-teaching period.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
- Links to additional information
law.unimelb.edu.au
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
If required, please contact law-admissions@unimelb.edu.au for subject coordinator approval.
Last updated: 3 November 2022