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Construction Law (LAWS70176)
Graduate coursework level 7Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
To learn more, visit COVID-19 course and subject delivery.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
March
Lecturers
Associate Professor Peter Williams AM (Coordinator)
Phillip Greenham
Trevor Thomas
Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 6190
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Overview
| Availability(Quotas apply) | March |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
To provide valuable advice to clients in the construction industry, lawyers need an integrated understanding of the legal and technical aspects of this specialised area of practice. This subject is designed to build such an understanding and to expose students to a wide range of construction law-related topics in an interdisciplinary mode. Students will learn about the key legal principles that are specific to construction law (from project inception through to dispute avoidance and resolution) and their interaction with the technical underpinnings of construction practice. In addition to classroom discussion, students have the opportunity to see principles put into practice through construction site visits and detailed case studies.
The subject lecturers bring to the classroom a combined, multi-disciplinary experience of decades in advising clients in the construction industry
A range of topics is covered in an interdisciplinary mode, integrating a detailed case study and site visit. Such topics may include:
- Setting up the project: delivery methods, standard forms, subcontracting, costing, risk mitigation (including insurance and performance security)
- Key technical principles: construction technology, engineering services and structures, geotechnical engineering (including the legal treatment of latent conditions), sustainability and building information modelling
- During the project: contract administration, time and programming, payment, variations, major plant deployment, cost control, dispute avoidance and resolution.
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 practice as a lawyer in the construction industry
- Be familiar with, be able to critically reflect on, and be confident in working across, the interaction points between the technical, commercial and legal aspects of construction procurement
- Be able to demonstrate the research and communication skills required to independently investigate, examine and analyse existing and emerging legal issues relating to construction projects.
Last updated: 12 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission into a relevant Melbourne Law Masters program
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS50084 | Construction Law | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70314 | Principles of Construction Law |
August (Off Campus)
August (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
February (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| LAWS70469 | Construction Law | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Recommended background knowledge
This subject is recommended as an initial construction law subject for students who 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: 12 November 2022
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Option 1: Take-home examination
| 6 - 9 May 2022 | 100% |
Option 2: Research paper on a topic approved by the subject coordinator
| 18 May 2022 | 100% |
| Hurdle requirement: A minimum of 75% attendance. Note: the attendance hurdle does not apply when the subject is delivered online, however attendance at all live online sessions is expected. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
Note: Students must choose assessment from the options listed above. If an option contains parts, all parts must be completed if that option is chosen.
Last updated: 12 November 2022
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- March
Principal coordinator Peter Williams Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24-34 hours Total time commitment 150 hours Pre teaching start date 2 February 2022 Pre teaching requirements Please refer to the Reading Guide on the LMS subject page for confirmation of which resources need to be read and what other preparation is required before the teaching period commences. Teaching period 2 March 2022 to 8 March 2022 Last self-enrol date 7 February 2022 Census date 3 March 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 8 April 2022 Assessment period ends 18 May 2022 March contact information
Lecturers
Associate Professor Peter Williams AM (Coordinator)
Phillip Greenham
Trevor ThomasEmail: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 6190
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Additional delivery details
This subject has a quota of 30 students.
Enrolment is on a 'first in' basis. Waitlists are maintained for subjects that are fully subscribed.
Students should note priority of waitlisted places in subjects will be given as follows:
- To currently enrolled Graduate Diploma and Masters students with a satisfactory record in their degree
- To other students enrolling on a single subject basis, eg Community Access Program (CAP) students, cross-institutional study and cross-faculty study.
Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters website for further information about the management of subject quotas and waitlists.
Melbourne Law School may reserve places in a subject for incoming international cohorts or where a subject is core to a specialisation with limited alternate options.
Last updated: 12 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Specialist materials will be made available via the LMS in the pre-teaching period.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies Course Graduate Diploma in Construction Law Course Master of Commercial Law Course Master of Laws Course Master of Construction Law Major Tailored Specialisation - Links to additional information
- 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-masters@unimelb.edu.au for subject coordinator approval.
- 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: 12 November 2022