UnitLevel 3Undergraduate

LAW4244 Construction law (dispute resolution)

Faculty of Law

LAW4244 Construction law (dispute resolution) is a level 3, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Law, offered in 2024 in Semester 1 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.

Credit points
6
Offered in 2024
Semester 1
Clayton
Assessment
Exam 55%
and 1 other task
Workload
144 hours
per semester

This is the 2024 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.

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Requisites

Before LAW4244

No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.

After LAW4244

No unit lists LAW4244 as a prerequisite in the 2024 handbook.

Enrolment rules

You must have completed at least 60 credit points of law study

Overview

This unit focuses on the avoidance, management and resolution of construction disputes. It critically analyses the causes of conflicts and disputes, and the role that the construction contract plays. Students explore various dispute avoidance processes (DAPs) that can prevent conflicts from escalating into disputes, and examine various 'real time' dispute resolution methods that can be used during the course of a construction project to manage and resolve disputes. Students also explore the processes that are available for resolving disputes that remain outstanding after a project has been completed, including ADR, arbitration and litigation. Students will engage in comparative analysis of construction dispute resolution processes used in other jurisdictions. Students will analyse traditional and alternative ways of resolving construction disputes and learn to research and write on construction dispute resolution issues.

Offerings in 2024

Teaching periodCampusMode
First semesterClaytonOn campus

Assessment

  • Written AssignmentAssignment
    45%
  • Take home exam
    55%

Learning outcomes

When you finish this unit, you should be able to:

  1. 1

    articulate and explain the causes of construction disputes and the factors contributing to the escalation of construction conflicts into construction disputes;

  2. 2

    identify and distinguish between different types of dispute avoidance processes (DAPs) used on construction projects around the world and evaluate the pros and cons of each;

  3. 3

    explain the ways in which parties can engage in 'real time' resolution of construction disputes during the course of a project, and the legal ramifications of such processes;

  4. 4

    compare and contrast different ADR options available (mediation, expert determination, senior executive appraisal and early neutral evaluation) and identify the factors that influence the suitability of each for particular construction disputes;

  5. 5

    critically evaluate the use of arbitration for the resolution of construction disputes at both a domestic and international level and the regulatory regimes governing arbitrations of construction disputes;

  6. 6

    assess the judicial systems in place in Australia and other countries for the determination of construction litigation and the need for reform; and

  7. 7

    undertake scholarly research and write clearly, concisely and logically on the avoidance, management and resolution of construction disputes.

Workload and teaching

  • Seminars36 hours
  • Teaching approachActive learning

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. The unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Learning resources

Required resources

See the Moodle unit page for prescribed and recommended resources. Prescribed texts are usually available for purchase through the University Bookstore and are sometimes available for short-term loan or as eBooks through the library.

Contacts

Chief Examiners
Professor Paula Gerber

Common questions

What are the prerequisites for LAW4244?

LAW4244 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.

When is LAW4244 offered?

In 2024, LAW4244 runs in Semester 1 at Clayton.

How much work is LAW4244?

The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.

Does LAW4244 have an exam?

Yes. The exam is worth 55% of the final mark, alongside 1 other task.

More details

Credit points
6
Level
3
Study level
Undergraduate
Faculty
Faculty of Law
Type
Coursework
EFTSL
0.125
Student contribution
SCA Band 4
Study abroad
Available