Introduction to Construction Law
Dr. Charner Rodgers is a seasoned construction management educator and project manager. In this course, you will learn the basic principles of construction law, acts, and statutes; a framework for understanding legal processes; and methods available to resolve disputes that can help protect you and your business.
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- Access to course material for 30 days.
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Lesson Plan
36 Video Lessons · 1H 35M
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1. Introduction
Your instructor, project manager and professor Dr. Charner Rodgers, explains how familiarizing yourself with construction law can prevent litigation.
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2. Contract Law
Construction law covers contract law, tort law, and statutory-regulatory law. Dr. Rodgers explains the characteristics of contract law and how a breach of contract can occur.
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3. Tort Law
Tort law is defined as a civil wrong, for which the court provides a remedy. Dr. Rodgers gives an overview of its basic categories: intentional, negligent, and strict liability.
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4. Design Professional Duties
Dr. Rodgers explains the liability duties for a design professional, contractor, and subcontractor, including safety, competence, and negligence.
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5. Strict Liability
Dr. Rodgers defines strict liability: when liability exists without fault, as with demolition damages.
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6. Statutory-Regulatory Law
Learn about statutory-regulatory law, which includes licensing statutes, building codes, environmental law regulations, and workplace safety statutes.
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7. Contract Breakdown
Contracts are critical at nearly every stage of a construction project. Dr. Rodgers shares what makes them legally binding, with examples of liability.
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8. Dispute Avoidance
Disputes can determine the fate of a project. Dr. Rodgers offers advice to prevent them such as performing background checks and researching previous projects.
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9. Right to Terminate
Learn about the two types of termination rights: default and implied. Dr. Rodgers also reviews termination for convenience, which contracts often prohibit.
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10. No Damage for Delay
Dr. Rodgers explains the “no damage for delay” clause and how to adjust change clauses.
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11. Labor Issues
Dr. Rodgers explains open shop and union labor and how contracts address them locally.
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12. Dispute Procedures
An alternative dispute resolution clause may prevent litigation; learn why.
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13. Contract Changes
Contract changes only work when all parties agree to them. In this lesson, you’ll learn about common changes like change orders, compensation adjustments, and cardinal changes.
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14. Differing Site Conditions
Site conditions, like unanticipated groundwater, can adversely impact a project. Dr. Rodgers shares how to address them.
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15. Types of Site Conditions
Learn about the three categories of site conditions and best practices to use for the differing types.
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16. Schedules: Delays and Accelerations
Most contracts reflect scheduling changes. Dr. Rodgers explains owner and contractor liabilities in delays and accelerations and cites the documentation checklists required.
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17. Management Techniques: Limit Risk and Avoid Disputes
Dr. Rodgers shares ways to minimize risk, from running credit checks to studying union laws. She also offers alternatives to termination and ideas for preventing on-site labor issues.
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18. Resolution of Construction Disputes: Alternative Dispute Resolutions
Learn about alternative dispute resolutions (ADR) such as negotiations, settlements, and mediation.
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19. Resolution of Construction Disputes: Traditional Dispute Resolutions
Litigation is the most traditional dispute resolution method. Dr. Rodgers explains its various stages, from pleadings to trial.
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20. Performance Bonds
Dr. Rodgers explains the concept of performance bonds, which ensure completion of projects, per the contract.
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21. Termination for Default
Dr. Rodgers explains grounds for default termination, how termination is disputed, and who is financially and legally liable.
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22. Environmental Concerns
Environmental law protects against hazardous waste, dirty water, and air pollution. Learn various environmental protection acts that promote good practices.
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23. Minimizing Environmental Risk
To minimize environmental risk, Dr. Rodgers recommends performing inspections before construction, investing in environmental insurance coverage, and drafting environmental response plans.
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24. Green Building
Dr. Rodgers explains the nine LEED certifications and their characteristics.
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25. Construction Safety & Workman’s Compensation
Dr. Rodgers shares who is responsible for workplace safety and reviews four basic steps for avoiding accidents.
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26. Labor Management Rules & Regulations
Dr. Rodgers lists several provisions that protect workers, from immigration laws to wage and labor acts.
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27. Federal Contractor Affirmative Action
Learn how the Office of Federal Contractor Compliance monitors discrimination, from desk audits of contractors’ affirmative action plans to on-site compliance checks.
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28. Family Medical Leave Act
Dr. Rodgers reviews the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
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29. Background Investigations
Dr. Rodgers shares various background checks construction workers may face such as credit, employment, and criminal.
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30. Competing for the Contract
Learn what sets you and your business apart when bidding on contracts, from certifications to performance records.
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31. Contractor Bid Mistakes
Find out what happens when a construction bid goes awry, and when bids can be retracted without legal consequences.
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32. Bid Protest & Bid Shopping
Learn the process for filing a bid protest and how most contracts protect against bid shopping, or when prime contractors unlawfully share bid prices to promote competition.
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33. Subcontractors & Promissory Estoppel
Promissory Estoppel ensures the subcontractor complies with their construction bid, from bid price to project terms.
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34. Bid Bonds
Dr. Rodgers explains bid bonds, which ensure winning bidders perform the services outlined in their contract. Learn why certain projects require bid bonds, how to obtain them, and who they involve.
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35. Payment Bonds
Payment bonds ensure subcontractors and material suppliers are paid according to contract. Dr. Rodgers covers payment bond tiers, notes how laws vary by state, and explains who is liable.
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36. Bankruptcy in Construction
Dr. Rodgers surveys several types of bankruptcy, including Chapter 7, in which debtors liquidate assets, and Chapter 11, in which debtors reorganize assets. You’ll learn how to file and discharge bankruptcy and how the process affects your business.
Who it's for: This course is designed for business owners, contractors or working professionals who want to understand the fundamentals of construction law and the legal aspects of a construction project beyond just contracts.
Key Topics
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Types of construction contracts
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Construction lawsuits
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Liabilities & limiting risk
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Alternative dispute resolutions
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Bid bonds & payment bonds
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Protecting construction workers
Dr. Charner Rodgers
University Professor
Your Instructor
Dr. Charner Rodgers received her PhD in Architecture from Georgia Institute of Technology and her Masters of Engineering in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Tennessee State University. She is an Associate Professor at the Tuskegee University in Alabama. A licensed General Contractor in Tennessee, Dr. Rodgers is also Vice Chair of the National Association of Home Builders Student Advisory Board and an associate member of the Design-Build Institute of America. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Rodgers is passionate about construction that has a social impact and strives to be an advocate for women in the industry.
Become Job Ready
This course will increase your knowledge for jobs like:
General Contractor
Construction Manager
Owner
Subcontractor
For more information on these roles, visit our career page.
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Common Questions
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What is MT Copeland?
MT Copeland helps you further your career in the building industry with expert-led online education that will make you a better, smarter tradesperson.
Our training courses give you a foundation in construction fundamentals and trade skills with real-world applications and best practices to help you grow on the job.
What do courses include?
Online courses include professionally produced videos taught by leaders in the trades and supplementary learning material such as quizzes, assessments and downloadable materials to help you acquire new skills. Watch anywhere, always at your own pace. We keep lesson videos short so they’re easy to watch after work or on your lunch break. You can finish a course in one sitting, or space it out over a week or two.
Can you learn with MT Copeland outside of the u.s.?
Yes! You can take MT Copeland courses from anywhere in the world. Our courses are online, so if you have access to the Internet, you can watch our training videos. Courses are taught in English, with English captions and Spanish subtitles available.
Where did the name MT Copeland come from?
MT Copeland was named after a legendary educator who promoted the idea that training in a specific trade paired with a knowledge of general business principles opens up a whole new world of career possibilities. We believe in the same powerful combination of skills and knowledge.
