LLM Construction Law and Practice

Program Overview

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Postgraduate LLM Construction Law and Practice

Overview

The LLM Construction Law and Practice is a postgraduate degree that provides students with the necessary legal knowledge and commercial awareness to perform their current role more effectively or make a career move into the construction law field.

Course Details

Attendance

• Distance Learning

Course Duration

• Two years

Next Enrolment

• September 2025

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Introduction

The LLM Construction Law and Practice degree is designed to help students examine the responsibilities of employers, contractors, and construction professionals, together with the problems raised by the complexities of construction, design liability, and insurance.

You Will:

• Learn how to conduct and communicate legal analysis with confidence and accuracy in relation to any aspect of mainstream professional construction practice
• Learn how to examine construction practice from a legal perspective, to include detailed consideration of construction contracts, tortious and multi-party liability, insurance, dispute resolution, procurement, and the environment
• Be able to assist individuals in taking effective roles in specialist construction law departments or firms
• Learn how to promote high quality research in areas of law relating to construction, including a high level of legal analysis

Course Accreditations

• Accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

Course Delivery

• The course is delivered using a range of industry-aligned modules. The 180-credit LLM award comprises four taught modules plus a dissertation. The 120-credit PgDip comprises four taught modules. The 60-credit PgCert award comprises two specified taught modules
• During your studies, you will complete one 30-credit taught module in each trimester for the first sixteen months. In the final two trimesters, you will complete your dissertation worth 60 credits, which is also delivered online and includes tutor engagement and support

Learning Experience

• Your teaching and learning is delivered using our Collaborate Ultra virtual learning environment, supported by real-time and on-demand interactive sessions. All modules are delivered over a 15-week period, and are assessed entirely by coursework. Module assessment is driven by real-world problems aligned to your workplace or role.

Course Team

• The Construction Law and Practice postgraduate course is delivered by an academic team with exceptional research experience and professional connections. The team is part of a global built environment community with prominence in shaping construction industry best practice.

Modules

Fundamentals of Construction Law

• This module will cover:
  • Common law underpinning construction contracts
  • Source, rationale, and nature of key terms (Scope, cost, quality, time, variation)
  • Contract formation
  • Implication of terms
  • Mistake, frustration, breach, causation, and loss

Construction Contracts – Operation and Administration

• This module will cover:
  • Operation and administration of Standard Form Contracts (SFCs)
  • Comparison between SFCs
  • Consideration of key terms in SFCs
  • Role of the Contract Administrator
  • Impact of the industry-specific legislation on construction contracts

Liability and Complexity in Construction Law

• This module will cover:
  • Legal complexities and commercial risks
  • Design liability
  • Limitation
  • Sub-contracting
  • Contribution and contributory negligence
  • Insurance
  • Insolvency

Dispute Resolution – Law and Practice

• This module will cover:
  • Dispute resolution procedures
  • Management of dispute resolution procedures
  • Statutory adjudication in the UK
  • Arbitration
  • Decision drafting

Dissertation

• This module allows you to develop a research proposal with clear aims and objectives related to your study. The dissertation will typically adopt a black letter law approach, although other methodologies can be used if justifiable. You will undertake critical analysis of existing research and engage in various forms of recognised research in order to produce a sustained, sophisticated, and logical argument in the form of a written dissertation. LLM students complete a distinct LLM dissertation module and will typically have access to legal practitioner supervisors active in industry.

Employment and Stats

What About After Uni?

• Our Construction Law and Practice postgraduate degree course is designed to provide you with formal qualifications for and develop a skill set to succeed in a construction law career. Applying the legal knowledge you will gain during your studies, you can use this to either enhance your existing role or use it as a platform to move in a legal remit.

Career Links

• We hold excellent links with the local, national, and international architecture, engineering, and construction industries. These networks provide context for your studies and inform our curriculum development.
• Throughout the course, we invite guest lecturers from industry with expertise in relevant areas of construction law to share their insight and knowledge.

Requirements

Applicant Profile

• This course is recommended for applicants looking to enhance current knowledge and gain specialism in the construction law and practice. Typically, you will have existing academic and/or professional background in the legal or built environment professions.

English Language Requirements

• All of our courses are taught and assessed in English. If English is not your first language, you must meet our minimum English language entry requirements. An IELTS score of 6.0 (no element below 5.5) is proof of this, however, we do accept a range of equivalent qualifications.

International Applications

• Please check international intakes for the latest information and application dates.

Course Accreditation

• The full masters award is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Accreditation enables exemption from some academic entry requirements.

Standard Entry Requirements

Undergraduate Degree

• A second-class undergraduate honours qualifying law degree, or
• A recognised appropriate professional legal qualification

International Student Entry Requirements

• We accept qualifications from all around the world. Find your country to see a full list of entry requirements.

Alternative Entry Requirements

Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)

• We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.
• The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.

Fees

Type of Study | Year | Fees

• Distance learning | 2025/26 | £1,635 per 30 credit module

Additional Costs

• You should consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding, and general subsistence on trips and visits.

International Student Scholarships

• If you are a high-achieving international student, you may be eligible for one of our scholarships. Learn more about our latest international scholarships.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

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The University of Salford's LLM Construction Law and Practice

is a postgraduate program designed to equip legal professionals and aspiring construction law specialists with the necessary knowledge and skills to navigate the complexities of this field. This distance-learning program allows you to study online while maintaining your work commitments.

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Objectives:

• Enhance legal knowledge in the context of construction contracts, liability, and dispute resolution.
• Develop research and analytical skills for effective dissertation completion.
• Gain practical insights and problem-solving abilities applicable to real-world scenarios.

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Program Description:

• This LLM program consists of 4 taught modules (totaling 180 credits) and a 60-credit dissertation.
• The PgDip option comprises the 4 taught modules without the dissertation, earning you 120 credits.
• The PgCert option focuses on 2 specified modules for 60 credits.
• The program can be completed within two years.
• Modules are delivered online via the Collaborate Ultra platform and focus on real-world scenarios relevant to your workplace or job role.
• Assessments are based on coursework and continuous informal tutor feedback.

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Other:

• This program aligns with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) accreditation.
• Guest lecturers from the industry share their expertise throughout the course.

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Outline:

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Course Content:

The LLM Construction Law and Practice program covers the following core areas:

• Liability: Exploring legal complexities and commercial risks in areas such as design liability, sub-contracting, and insurance.
• Dispute Resolution: Examining various methods for resolving construction-related disputes, including adjudication, arbitration, and litigation.
• Research Skills: Developing the ability to conduct research, analyze information, and formulate a comprehensive dissertation on a self-chosen topic within construction law.

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Modules:

• Fundamentals of Construction Law: Covers essential principles of contract law and their application in the construction context.
• Construction Contracts - Operation and Administration: Analyzes standard form construction contracts, including operation, key terms, and the role of the Contract Administrator.
• Liability and Complexity in Construction Law: Examines legal complexities, commercial risks, and various types of liability, including design and insurance-related responsibilities.
• Dispute Resolution - Law and Practice: Explores diverse methods of dispute resolution, including statutory adjudication, arbitration, and decision-making.
• Dissertation (LLM only): Provides an opportunity to conduct in-depth research on a specific topic related to construction law.

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Course Structure:

• Each taught module spans a 15-week period.
• Weekly online tutorials fostering active student participation and interaction with tutors.
• Dedicated online learning environment for convenient study at your own pace.
• Continuous informal assessment by tutors, providing valuable feedback on your progress.

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Assessment:

• All modules within the LLM Construction Law and Practice program are assessed solely through coursework assignments.
• Dissertation submissions undergo rigorous assessment for LLM candidates.
• Your tutors provide supportive and consistent feedback throughout your studies, empowering you to achieve academic success.

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Teaching:

• Online Delivery: This program primarily utilizes online platforms, offering flexibility and convenience for remote learning.
• Experienced Tutors: Benefit from the guidance of tutors who are actively engaged in the field and research, possessing expertise and profound understanding of construction law intricacies.
• Interactive Learning Environment: Engage in online tutorials and virtual discussions to foster valuable knowledge exchange and peer interaction.

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Careers:

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Graduates of the LLM Construction Law and Practice program are equipped to pursue various careers within the construction industry, including:

• Construction Law Specialist: Become an expert in construction law, providing legal counsel to different stakeholders in the construction industry.
• Claims Consultant: Utilize your expertise to assess and manage claims arising from construction projects and contractual issues.
• Dispute Resolution Specialist: Focus on resolving construction-related disputes, employing effective mediation, negotiation, and adjudication techniques.
• Construction Solicitor: Leverage your legal knowledge to represent clients in legal matters concerning construction projects, contracts, and disputes.

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Other:

• The LLM Construction Law and Practice program offers a flexible pathway for professionals to enhance their knowledge and advance their careers in the field.
• As an online program, it accommodates working professionals by allowing them to fit their studies around their busy schedules.
• Graduates are highly regarded in the industry and are well-positioned for success in various construction law roles.