Engineering Law

Students will be able to: 1. describe and explain the basic concept, sources and aspects of law; 2. describe and explain the major differences between the various categories of law, courts and legal jurisdictions; 3. describe and explain legal principles and their application in professional engineering design and management services and their professional liability implications; and 4. develop reasoned analysis of real-life or hypothetical engineering scenarios using the legal principles undertake critical analysis of reliable information to develop, and practically present technical reports for use in varying judicial/quasi-judicial settings including as an expert witness.

Common Law: its history, definition, nature and division. Legislation, codification interpretation. Equity: definition and its main spheres. Law of contracts for Engineers: Forms of contract and criteria for selecting contractors; offer, acceptance, communication termination of contract. Terms of Contracts; suppliers’ duties – Damages and other Remedies. Termination/cancellation of contract Liquidation and Penalties; exemption clauses, safety and risk. Health and Safety. Duties of employers towards their employees. Duties imposed on employees. Fire precautions act. Design for safety. General principles of criminal law. Law of torts: definition, classification and liabilities. Patents: requirements, application, and infringement. Registered designs: application, requirements, types and infringement. Company law. Labour law and Industrial Law. Business registration.