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Construction Law (LAWS70469)
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
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 |
---|---|
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: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Students must meet one of the following prerequisite options:
Option 1
Admission into or selection of one of the following:
- MC-CONMG2Y Master of Construction Management
- 200pt Program course entry point in the MC-CM Master of Construction Management
- MC-ENGYSYS Master of Energy Systems
- MC-ENV Master of Environment
Option 2
One of
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
BLAW10001 | Principles of Business Law |
Semester 1 (Online)
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
ABPL90290 | Fundamentals of Built Environment Law | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
AND
Three of
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ABPL90293 | Commercial Construction | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90086 | Environmental Systems | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90335 | Contract Management | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90312 | Cost Management | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90313 | Management of Construction | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90324 | Materials and Structures | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ABPL90292 | Construction of Buildings | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Option 3
Written permission from the Subject Coordinator.
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS70314 | Principles of Construction Law |
August (Off Campus)
August (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
February (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
BLAW40001
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: 31 January 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Online test (MCQ)
| The online test will be held in the week following the non-teaching break. | 10% |
Take-home exam
| 17 - 20 June 2022 | 90% |
Additional details
The due date of the above assessment will be available to students via the LMS.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Coordinator Rebecca Dickson Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 144 hours Teaching period 28 February 2022 to 29 May 2022 Last self-enrol date 11 March 2022 Census date 31 March 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 6 May 2022 Assessment period ends 24 June 2022
Last updated: 31 January 2024
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 Specialisation (formal) Project Management Informal specialisation Project Management Informal specialisation Cost Management Major Tailored Specialisation Informal specialisation Policy Informal specialisation Policy Informal specialisation Building Informal specialisation Building Informal specialisation Building Systems and Trade Specialties Informal specialisation Building Systems and Trade Specialties Informal specialisation Cost Management Informal specialisation Corporate Management Informal specialisation Cost Management Informal specialisation Corporate Management Informal specialisation Project Management Informal specialisation Project 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: 31 January 2024