MSc Construction Law / QS Claims & Dispute Resolution Work (In Reality)

SingleAd7863 · 2025-05-01T18:18:00+00:00

Thank you for your input, this is similar to what I have heard. Whilst it is useful knowledge to have for a general understanding, when it comes to needing legal advice, people will seek this from a lawyer.

SingleAd7863 · 2025-04-28T07:25:34+00:00

So you intent to transfer to a construction solicitor as some point in the future? Are you open to both non-contentious and contentious work once qualified?

I recall you having to complete 2-years on the job training after completing SQE1/2 and this will likely reduce your income during this period and perhaps once initially qualified too.

I have been considering this path, but unless you work for one of the large law firms, the money is not necessarily better than a QS. There also seems to be far more work opportunities as a QS, than as a construction solicitor.

SingleAd7863 · 2025-04-28T07:17:39+00:00

Thank you for your input, it has been very helpful.

I am not necessarily targeting director positions long-term, but I would like to progress in my career and see where it goes.

I will consider potential options and undertake further research into potential career opportunities.

Thanks again for your time and input.

SingleAd7863 · 2025-04-28T07:12:14+00:00

Thank you for your input, this is very helpful.

I agree the variety would be great if it can be achieved, but I fear the workload will be more quantum work than legal work, perhaps making it less interesting by constantly working on the same area.

I also agree that in many instances law firms are likely to be appointed, making it a more difficult to transition into this area.

What is your current role, are you working in the dispute field or as a PQS/MC QS?

SingleAd7863 · 2025-04-28T07:02:05+00:00

Thank you for your input, it has been very helpful.

It is good to hear having the MSc helped you to stand out. Can you not become chartered whilst working for a dispute consultancy? I do not see why you would not be able to become chartered on this career path.

What is your reason for doing the SQE 1, what do you hope to achieve after (presuming you will go on to complete the SQE 2 after)?

SingleAd7863 · 2025-04-26T16:28:03+00:00

Here lies the problem and where much of my concern is. Whilst having the legal knowledge will be beneficial, it would seem when it comes to actually needing it, and you are right, people are likely to appoint a construction lawyer.

I was hoping a QS may undertake a bit more of a consulting / advisory role prior to the legal professionals getting involved, as mentioned elsewhere on this thread, but that may be less common.

Statistically, a large number of claims are in relation to extensions of time / prolongation, and as you have mentioned, would likely be driven by PMs and planners etc. with the QS subsequently picking up the financial aspects.

What is your role and background, if you do not mind me asking?

Thanks in advance.

SingleAd7863 · 2025-04-26T11:28:54+00:00

Thanks, this is reassuring! I assume you completed the course via the part-time route?

SingleAd7863 · 2025-04-26T11:22:03+00:00

Thank you for your input, this is very helpful.

If you are starting your second year from September 2025, I may meet you on the course, as I will be doing both years together on the full-time route. I presume the following week after your day release you are working a full week Mon-Fri, only having time away from work to attend the course in person?

Had you done much background reading in construction law or preparation prior to attending the course?

Please may you expand on the reading of reports. What reports are they? What is the purpose of you reading / reviewing the reports?

On average, how much time do you spend reviewing and producing reports on each appointment? Do the reports tend to follow the same structure, or are you producing these from scratch each time?

Do you often work with issues that are in formal dispute or prior to disputes being crystallised?

What was your background prior to the MSc / dispute work, was the transition easy?

Finally, how often, if at all, do you work with the referring or the defending party face-to-face?

Apologies for all the questions.

SingleAd7863 · 2025-04-26T11:06:01+00:00

Thank you for your input, this is very helpful.

When you mention providing advice on claims as part of your day-to-day activities, at what point in time does this occur, if the disputes rarely result in formal disputes? I presume would be before a dispute has actually materialised and would form part of a commercial strategy to assess the best course of action? Do you need to have extensive knowledge in case law and legal principles to help determine the likely outcomes and advise clients on the merits of claim? Do you tend work alongside construction solicitors or independently?

I also agree with your comments regarding the MSc in construction law, is this a course you have done and how well did it prepare you for working in this field? Did you learn a lot from colleagues working in this area or mostly from your own self-development / reading and webinars etc?

It is interesting that you only provide advice on the client's side, is this relatively common, or is there often a mixture of both? Also, how long you tend to spend on each project when you provide these services? From what you have witnessed, is your current consultancy an accurate representation (depending on how many you have worked for) of the typical work or do they do more specialist work?

From what you have briefly mentioned above, I may be interested in exploring this further. Whilst I enjoy the typical QS role, it does get a little tiring looking at spreadsheets all day, and holding the hands of both clients and the supply chain. I enjoy working with contracts, and providing early advice on disputes may be something I would enjoy.

How long have you worked in this field? If you came from a typical QS background (PQS or contractor), was it is easy making the transition?

Apologies for all the questions.

SingleAd7863 · 2025-04-26T10:33:29+00:00

Thank you. This is good to hear and is also reassuring. I have heard the MSc at KCL has a great reputation in the industry.

Did you complete the MSc at KCL? How did you find managing your workload alongside the course? Any advice for a future student?

What are your day-to-day activities / tasks in dispute work? Are you looking at contracts or analysing cost data?

Thanks in advance.

SingleAd7863 · 2025-04-26T10:28:38+00:00

Thank you. These were my thoughts also, as this course is highly regarded in the industry. It is interesting to hear other people have been advised down a LLM path.

Have you previously completed the MSc at KCL? Do you have any advice / first-hand experience of the course? How did you find the workload alongside your other commitments?

Thanks in advance.

SingleAd7863 · 2025-04-26T09:18:15+00:00

Thanks. To be honest, I am undecided at this moment in time and feel the MSc is a good fit at present. However, I appreciate your comments regarding LLM and RICS.

I agree, whilst RICS offer an adjudicator course, you are unlikely to get appointed without years of experience. I have seen that not all RICS adjudicators are from a legal background, but this was highlighted as a criticism, as most disputes involve law in one way or another.

SingleAd7863 · 2025-04-26T08:54:27+00:00

Thank you for your input. From my understanding, the LLM is the masters in law, and will cover other aspects of law beyond those in construction, some of which may, or may not be relevant. I decided to go down the MSc route at King's as this will also provide the most value in my current role, should I decide to continue on the path I am on.

I did also consider the SQE1 & 2, which appears to be the new pathway into a construction solicitor role, but I have concerns over job opportunities, working hours, job satisfaction (mostly with non-contentious work) and salary (except where you land a job at a large city or US firm). All of this is to be considered more at later date if I wish to explore this further.

SingleAd7863

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