PROFESSIONAL DIPLOMA IN CONSTRUCTION LAW
Prices Starting At €795
Classroom
Study in a classroom environment one evening a week.
Price from €995
(Instalment Price: €1095)
Live Online
Live online training with real-time instructor-student interaction.
Price from €895
(Instalment Price: €995)
On Demand
A flexible online approach developed to allow you to learn at your own pace.
Price from €795
(Instalment Price: N/A)
The Professional Diploma in Construction Law course is designed for construction, engineering and legal professionals.
The course provides a detailed overview of the Irish construction law landscape.
In this rapidly developing area of law, this diploma analyses the core regulatory provisions of the construction site from the perspective of employers, contractors, sub-contractors, and architects.
Week 1 Overview of Construction law and introduction to the Irish legal system
• Court structures
• Precedent
• The construction process from initial conception of the project to demolition
• Key construction stakeholders
Week 2 Overview of the law of contract and tort
• Duty of care
• Liability for defective products
• Causation and remoteness
• Essential elements of a contract
• Agreement
• Conditions and warranties
• Vitiating factors to a contract
• Remedies
Week 3 The construction contract and the key stakeholders
• How construction contracts differ from other forms of contracts
• RIAI contracts
• FIDIC contracts
• PWC contracts
• Contractual amendments
• Key trends in construction contracts
• Construction administration
Week 4 Introduction to construction procurement
• Introduction to procurement contracts
• Tendering process
• Features of a tender
• Traditional build only contract
• Design and build contract
• Construction management contract
• Management contracting
• Public procurement directives
Week 5 Risk allocation
• Roles and responsibilities
• Practical certificate of completion
• Construction administration
• Delay
• External factors
Week 6 Health and safety on the construction site
• Overview of health and safety regulations
• Risk allocation
• Recording of health and safety obligations
• Hazards and risks
Week 7 Construction insurance
• Interaction between construction, insurance and the law
• Responsibility and liability in construction
• Indemnities
• Insurance clauses
• Professional indemnity insurance
• Alternative methods of insuring
Week 8 Alternative dispute resolution
• Advantages of non-litigious forums of resolution
• Arbitration
• Arbitration Act, 2010
• Mediation
• Mediation Act, 2017
• Conciliation
Week 9 The Construction Contracts Act
• Payment disputes
• Delay disputes
• Suspension of works under the Construction Contract Act
• The role of alternative dispute resolution in the construction process
• Construction adjudication
Week 10 Construction litigation
• Difficulties associated with construction litigation
• Civil procedure introduction
• Parties to litigation
• Who to sue?
• Law of evidence
• Comparative analysis
A pass grade on the written assignment will be required for awarding of the Diploma in Construction Law. A fail grade will result in a Certificate of Attendance for the course but without the Diploma being awarded.
The Diploma in Construction Law is assessed by way of written examination (70%) and continuous assessment (30%).
Lecturers
Conor Duff
LLB, BL,(NUI),LL.M.(Dubl.),B.L.,Dip. Construction
Conor Duff B.L., Dean of Law at City Colleges, lectures in the areas of Contract and EU law for FE-1 students, a selection of City Colleges’ Professional programmes and our BA (Hons) in Business Studies programme.
Conor is a seasoned lecturer and has a proven track record of academic delivery across other colleges and Universities, including the Law Society of Ireland.
He is a graduate of Maynooth University (LL.B.) (Hons.), Trinity College Dublin (LL.M.), the Honorable Society of King’s Inns (B.L.) and the Law Society of Ireland (Dip. Construction Law). He graduated from Maynooth University and Trinity College with
first-class honours degrees with distinction for his LL.M. Dissertation. He is a member of the EBA, CBA and Members’ Committee of the Irish Society for European Law.
Conor has published widely in various national legal journals including the Commercial Law Practitioner and the ICLJ. Conor was a co-editor of the leading EU Treaties text which is permitted for use in FE-1 and QLTT examinations. In addition to his legal practice, Conor volunteers.
Alexandra Cowzer-Byrne
LLB, BL ,Dip. Construction
Alexandra graduated with a first-class law degree in 2018 from Maynooth University. She was called to the Bar in 2019. She has recently achieved a distinction in the Law Society Diploma in Construction Law. Since commencing at the Bar she has been developing her practice in the areas of medical negligence and construction law. She is a member of the Construction Bar Association Executive Commitee, where she regularly provides CPD courses. Alexandra has extensive lecturing experience, she has lectured on our undergraduate business degrees and our Diploma in Construction Law. She is also a lecturer in the Institute of Public Administration in employment law.”
Course Award
A City College’s Professional Diploma Course is a focused, practical programme designed and delivered by an industry practitioner, that consolidates, upskills or reskills learners in a professional area. They are stand-alone qualifications that indicate that you have been trained in a particular area or specific subject matter.
City College Diplomas are suitable for career minded learners wishing to advance their professional skills and prospects. They are widely accepted by employers and many students are sponsored to study here by their organisation.
Corporate Training
In addition to our scheduled Professional Diploma courses, City Colleges can provide bespoke training over 3 – 4 days, please contact Kevin.Coyne@citygroup.ie for further details.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the legal foundations surrounding a construction contract
- Understand the diverse range of stakeholders to a construction contract
- Appreciate the impact and interaction of the law of tort and contract law in the construction process
- Demonstrate an understanding of statutory obligations surrounding the area of construction law inclusive of any health and safety legislation
- Be aware of and be able to advise on the appropriateness of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms specifically designed for construction disputes.
- Assess the implications of developments in relevant case law and legislation
- Evaluate and analyse how construction contracts are discharged, performed or breached
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