Postgraduate courses in Building Law and Regulations

For those who are looking to take a postgraduate course in the area in building law and regulations, you will mostly need to be working in the area of law. 

We owe a lot to those who ensure building laws and regulations are followed because without them we wouldn’t feel safe and secure to enter every day buildings such as our favourite shops!

When you think about it, they are absolutely essential which is why there are courses available in this area to ensure building laws and regulations are followed and implemented. 

What are building and law regulations?

Building laws and regulations are a set of legal requirements set out in order to promote good practice in the sector. These regulations ensure that the design and construction of buildings are carried out in good practice in the interest of health and safety of those who use these buildings. 

They also ensure the property is structurally sound and are suited to precautions such as being fire safe and of high sanitation standards. 

What does a construction solicitor do?

Those who work in the area of construction law are generally construction solicitors. So to give you an example, we will take a look at this profession. In the solicitor profession, long hours are not uncommon especially during busy periods. Working unsocial hours is not uncommon. Some tasks you will carry out may include:

• Draft and review different contracts involved in projects
• Negotiate certain contracts that are involved in projects
• Represent clients such as builders, property developers, architects, contractors and those working on projects
• Work with others in the different areas such as finance, property and regulatory to ensure no financial difficulty will occur
• Advise and speak with clients on specific issues that may occur in order to try find a resolution
• Be up to date on health and safety, insurance, liability and other relevant areas in order to be able to advise clients 
• Visit construction sites to monitor progress and ensure contracts are followed

Courses

There are a few courses on offer in the area across the UK. Some courses offer the opportunity to study either part time or full time. Universities may have certain restrictions in place due to Covid-19 and may offer courses online. There are courses available in this area across a number of colleges and are very similar. Courses include:

Master of Laws in International Construction Law

Postgraduate courses in this area will allow students to gain the necessary knowledge and skills in order to keep up to date with regulations in an ever changing world of construction. Students will gain the necessary understanding of the specific legalities in the area. They will also have skills to negotiate contracts with those involved in a construction project. The main aim of the course is to allow students to gain a deeper and complex knowledge of law and legal processes in relation to building and construction. 

Construction Law and Arbitration

In this online postgraduate course you will provide practical, thorough and valuable teaching in the fast moving and highly specialist disciplines of construction law, construction adjudication and/or arbitration. You will gain an in depth knowledge of key topics in the field, learning about resolution processes with a traditional litigation. 

Entry requirements 

Entry requirements may differ from course to course or university to university. Therefore, it is important to research your specific course in detail to ensure you meet the entry requirements. As these courses are postgraduate courses, you will need a bachelor’s degree. Some courses may accept a 2.2 degree while others will require a 2.1 in law or a relevant discipline. 

Salary 

Your salary in this area can be influenced by your experience and location. It is believed that the average salary of a construction lawyer in the UK is around £57,600 while the average pay in the same position in London is closer to £78,000. All figures are intended to be used as a guide only and are based on estimates. 

Skill and Requirements

Skills and requirements helpful in this area include:

• A strong knowledge of building law and regulations
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work well with others
• Attention to detail 
• Stamina
• Ability to carry out research into specific issues
• Confidence 
• Ability to speak in front of others
• Organization skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Strong reading and writing skills
• Negotiator 
• A persuasive manner