Construction Law (LAWS70469)
Graduate coursework level 7Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
Semester 1
Teaching staff:
Sam Woff (Subject Coordinator)
For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office
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: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Students must meet one of the following prerequisite options:
Option 1
Admission into or selection of one of the following:
- 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
- MC-ARCHCM Master of Architecture/Master of Construction Management
- MC-CMPROP Master of Construction Management/Master of Property
Option 2
One of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| BLAW10001 | Principles of Business Law |
Semester 1 (Online)
Semester 2 (Online)
|
12.5 |
| ABPL90290 | Fundamentals of Built Environment Law | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ABPL90335 | Contract Management | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
AND
Three of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABPL90293 | Steel and Composite Construction Systems | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ABPL90086 | Environmental Systems | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ABPL90312 | Cost Management | Semester 1 (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 |
| ABPL90435 | Concrete Construction Systems | Semester 2 (On Campus - 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 |
July (On Campus - Parkville)
April (On Campus - Parkville)
February (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
BLAW40001
Recommended background knowledge
Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are taught at an advanced graduate level and requires a thorough background in common law. While efforts are made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, teaching and assessment activities are designed to give an advanced and integrated understanding of the discipline of law for legal practitioners, learners and researchers.
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: 4 March 2025
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
| 20-23 June 2025 | 90% |
Additional details
The due date of the above assessment will be available to students via the LMS.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Samuel Woff Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 34 Total time commitment 144 hours 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 3 March 2025 to 1 June 2025 Last self-enrol date 14 March 2025 Census date 31 March 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 9 May 2025 Assessment period ends 27 June 2025 Semester 1 contact information
Teaching staff:
Sam Woff (Subject Coordinator)
For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Additional delivery details
Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters enrolment webpage for further information about re-enrolment, 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: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Graduate Diploma in Environment Course Graduate Certificate in Environment Course Master of Energy Systems Specialisation (formal) Project Management - Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 4 March 2025