Contract law for non-lawyers
Much of the work done by engineers involves managing, reading and even drafting contracts. In this course we introduce the principles that regulate contractual relationships, with a focus on construction and engineering contracts.
Description
Most of the work you do will be regulated in some way by Contract Law. Your contract with your client determines your obligations to the client. And, in the course of your work you may be managing or supervising contracts on behalf of a client. You might be assisting with tendering and contract negotiations, managing contracts, advising on contracts. Yet, few engineers have any formal training in contract law. This course introduces key principles of contract law that apply to engineering and construction contracts.
Learning Outcomes
Delegates will gain practical understanding of contract law and how it impacts on their work including:
- How contracts are entered into including tendering and letters of intent.
- Remedies when things go wrong including liquidated damages, cancellation of contracts, remedies if you don’t get paid.
- The role of the Engineer to the Contract.
- The relevance of negligence to contracts.
- The contractual relationships created in the engineering and construction industry.
- How you can limit your liability.
- How we deal with variations, extensions of time and claims for additional money.
Target Audience
This course is designed to meet the needs of engineers at every stage of their career. You will find this useful if you are just starting out and have no experience with contracts; you are mid-career and considering expanding your role to serve as engineer to the contract; you have some experience as engineer to the contract, but don’t have formal training in the legal principles underlying your role.
Course Format
This course is practical, hands on and interactive. Case studies and every day examples are used throughout.
Presenter Information
Dr. Gigi Fenster studied law in South Africa, where she was a founder member of the Construction Industry Development Board, a lecturer on the Association of Arbitrator’s Construction Law course, and a provider of training to the construction industry. For the past sixteen years she has lived in New Zealand, and has worked in government and in the polytechnic sector teaching law. Gigi has taught law for more than twenty years and has written training courses, manuals and seminar notes for the construction and other industries. She provides ongoing consulting services to private firms and government. Gigi has a particular interest in international engineering contracts and the FIDIC contracts in particular. She has provided training on FIDIC in various countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific.