MSc Construction Law  MSc Construction Law University of Wolverhampton ../webroot/files/Institutions/cover_photo/1567674303University-of-Wolverhampton-1.jpg

Why study Construction Law? The construction industry is notorious for very high incidence of conflict. The UK legal profession reputedly earns hundreds of millions of pounds per year from construction litigation and other resolution processes. Ultimately, it is the whole of society which absorbs this unnecessary cost through the prices of goods and services. These prices affect not only the purchasers of goods and services produced or supplied from the related infrastructure, but also the ability of the country to compete in a global market. A key aim of this course is to make a contribution towards improving this situation. The philosophy of the course is that the need for people with knowledge and skills in dispute avoidance and dispute resolution is now greater than ever before and will continue to increase with the developing technical, organisational and financial complexity of today?s projects. At the domestic level we have new forms of contract, new procurement systems and innovatory financial arrangements, whilst at the international level there is a constant requirement to understand and comply with EC law affecting construction, eg. procurement directives and international trade agreements. The sheer breadth and width of the subject makes postgraduate study the only feasible way of providing the in-depth and systemic understanding of the fundamental issues required to cope with such a constantly changing field. The subjects taught on the course include Law of Contract, Tort Law, Standard Forms of Construction Contracts, International Construction Law, Dispute Avoidance, Dispute Resolution and Advanced Project Planning and Control. For students without qualifications in a construction discipline, there is a module (Construction Technology & Management for Non-Cognates) specially designed to develop general understanding of the key concepts and principles underlying design and construction. The type of student for which the course has been designed is likely to come from a wide range of professional callings, e.g. civil engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, building surveyors, building services engineers and solicitors. It will reflect the diversity of working experience within the industry including in local government, contractors, law practices, construction consultants and project management firms. The philosophy behind the course recognises the benefits of this mix of academic and experiential perspectives. The course is accredited by Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. What are the aims of the course and what skills can I gain? The main objectives of the course are: (i) to provide the student with a thorough understanding of the legal framework within which construction organisations and projects are managed (ii) to develop a critical understanding of the nature of risks in construction, general strategies for allocating them, and systems for managing their occurrence (iii) to give the student experience in the interpretation of construction contracts and an intimate awareness of current controversies surrounding commonly-used standard forms of construction contracts (iv) to promote multi-disciplinary understanding among the various participants in the construction process (v) to provide an in-depth knowledge of dispute resolution techniques (vi) to develop the skills, insights and attitudes required for dispute avoidance and efficient and effective dispute resolution (vii) to provide the student with the skills to review and critically examine the implication of construction case law and thus empower the student to keep abreast of the constantly changing nature of construction law (viii) to develop an understanding of research techniques and an ability to undertake a thorough investigation of relevant aspects of construction law and contract administration. Lets hear from someone who has been on the course Name: Mr. David Williams BSc., LLB, MRICS Why did you choose here? ?I chose this course