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Construction Law (LAWS70469)
Graduate coursework level 7Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
May
Lecturers
Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 6190
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability | May |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject builds on the general legal principles and methodologies covered in earlier subjects. It is tailored to the need for construction professionals enrolled in the Master of Construction Management, to have an advanced and integrated understanding of the role of law and its application to the industry.
Topics to be covered include: causes of action; contracting methodologies and selection (including traditional and alternative forms of contract); the regulatory framework (including security of payment legislation); legal aspects of time, cost and quality; subcontracting; insurance and performance security; and dispute resolution and avoidance.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete the subject will be able to demonstrate an advanced understanding of the following specialised areas, practical skills and analytical modes:
- The evolving interplay between common law and legislative regulation in the construction industry, and the appropriateness of current and proposed reforms in the area;
- Legal research and analysis, including the ability to apply legal modes of reasoning to commonly-encountered causes of dispute in the construction industry;
- Recommendation of appropriate contract delivery methodologies (including hybrid models) and dispute avoidance and resolution modes;
- How standard forms contracts in common use in the industry deal with key issues such as time, payment and quality; and
- The impact of interdisciplinary perspectives on construction practice.
Generic skills
On successful completion of the subject, students will have developed the following skills to the advanced level appropriate to interdisciplinary professionals working in the construction industry:
- The capacity for close reading and analysis of a range of sources relevant to construction law;
- The capacity to engage in critical thinking and to bring to bear a range of conceptual analyses upon a given subject matter;
- The capacity for independent thought and reflection on issues and principles relevant to construction law;
- The capacity to articulate knowledge and understanding of complex ideas relating to construction law in written form;
- The ability to engage in interdisciplinary work;
- The further enhancement of academic writing that engages with various modes of expression including descriptive, analytical and critical forms; and
- The ability to confront unfamiliar or challenging issues and to consider appropriate ethical responses.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
- Admitted in MC-CONMG2Y Master of Construction Management; OR
- Admitted in MC-CM Master of Construction Management (200 point option only); OR
- Admitted in MC-ENGYSYS Master of Energy Systems; OR
- Admitted in MC-ENVS Master of Environment; OR
- Written permission from the Subject Coordinator; OR
- Successful completion of either of the below subjects:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
BLAW10001 | Principles of Business Law |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
ABPL90290 | Fundamentals of Built Environment Law | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Plus successful completion of at least 3 of the following subjects:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ABPL90293 | Commercial Construction | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90086 | Environmental Systems | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90335 | Contract Management | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90312 | Cost Management | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90313 | Management of Construction | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90324 | Materials and Structures | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90292 | Construction of Buildings | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
Students who have completed any of the below subjects are not permitted to take LAWS70469 Construction Law:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS70314 | Principles of Construction Law |
July (On Campus - Parkville)
March (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
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
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Online test
| The online test will be held on one day during the week preceding the face-to-face sessions. The test will be available on the LMS from 9am - 9pm (last log in at 8pm). | 10% |
Take-home exam
| Friday 10 July (midday) – Monday 13 July (5pm) 2020 | 90% |
Additional details
The due date of the above assessment will be available to students via the LMS.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- May
Principal coordinator Wayne Jocic Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Online test (available via LMS on one day TBA during the week of May 25 - 29); face-to-face sessions (daily; June 1 - 5) Total time commitment 144 hours Pre teaching start date 4 May 2020 Pre teaching requirements Students will be required to access readings via the LMS to prepare for the first assessment task which will be held on one day during the week before the face-to-face sessions. Teaching period 25 May 2020 to 5 June 2020 Last self-enrol date 8 May 2020 Census date 1 June 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 19 June 2020 Assessment period ends 13 July 2020 May contact information
Lecturers
Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 6190
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Ian Bailey, Construction Law in Australia (4th ed, Thomson Reuters, 2018)(forthcoming).
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Energy Systems Informal specialisation Building Informal specialisation Cost Management Specialisation (formal) Project Management Informal specialisation Project Management Informal specialisation Project Management Informal specialisation Building Informal specialisation Building Systems and Trade Specialties Informal specialisation Policy Informal specialisation Cost Management Informal specialisation Policy Informal specialisation Project Management Major Tailored Specialisation Informal specialisation Building Systems and Trade Specialties Informal specialisation Building Informal specialisation Corporate Management Informal specialisation Corporate Management Informal specialisation Cost Management - Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022