730-493 Principles of Construction Law

Obligations; Remedies, Contracts; Torts or in each case their equivalent.

This subject provides a grounding in the specialist legal and commercial knowledge required in order to practice as a construction lawyer in Australia and overseas. This involves, primarily, the application to specific construction circumstances of principles of contract and negligence (including the detailed construction law treatment of defective work, failures to complete on time and variations to workscope).

A knowledge of how other areas of law and commerce impact upon the work of a construction lawyer will also be gained, including in respect of: contract drafting, the role and nature of standard forms, bases for commercial negotiation, project procurement, trade practices, insurance, litigation and alternative dispute resolution.

A site visit to a construction project is included in order to gain an understanding of how the principles of construction law are applied in practice.

Research assignment 2500 words 30% (due mid semester) and a final open book examination 2-hours 70%.

Printed materials will be issued by the Faculty of Law.