Construction law

[Glamurosa]

Hihi, me again. 

Let's talk about construction law, I searched the forum and not much came up. 

I have an education and work experience in construction estimating and project management, would construction law firms see that as a bonus at all? Or is it just not relevant? What is the typical salary scheme like in construction law? In my previous education I had to take construction law classes to understand the CCDC and CCA documents, and my teacher said he was billing over $500/hr?? I know he doesn't keep all that, but still seems like a high billing rate.

[Jaggers]

I did some construction labour law when I was at the firm. The big companies hire Bay St firms for most of that work. Lots of OLRB hearings.

The bigger unions often hire the big union side firms. Cavaluzzo, Pink Larkin, Paliare, CayleyWray, UPFH, etc. But there are a lot of players in the area, because it tends to be a lot of smaller files.

 

[Rashabon]

Depends on what you mean by construction law as well. There’s a lot of work filing construction liens and what not. Whenever a project goes bankrupt everybody is suing everybody and picking over the remains.

Anyway I think have experience in the industry is always a positive. But at the end of the day the law is the law and industry stuff is industry stuff.

[Jaggers]

Yeah, there are a bunch of niches in the area. You have labour law, procurement (both government and the big GC companies), liens, and a whole bunch of vanilla commercial contract law. Then you also have environmental assessments, expropriations, and stuff like that.

[Glamurosa]

I guess when I think of construction law I think of the stuff that I saw come up during projects i was on like disputes about delays, unknown/hidden conditions that affect the contract price, and things like that that arrise during the construction phase that when parties can't work it out amongst themselves, end up being litigated. 

43 minutes ago, Jaggers said:

I did some construction labour law when I was at the firm. The big companies hire Bay St firms for most of that work. Lots of OLRB hearings.

The bigger unions often hire the big union side firms. Cavaluzzo, Pink Larkin, Paliare, CayleyWray, UPFH, etc. But there are a lot of players in the area, because it tends to be a lot of smaller files.

 

Honestly I didn't even think of construction unions, I have uncles who are union reps for large construction unions in the US. Maybe there is some nepotism in my future 🤔

[Jaggers]

10 minutes ago, Glamurosa said:

Honestly I didn't even think of construction unions, I have uncles who are union reps for large construction unions in the US. Maybe there is some nepotism in my future 🤔

There are definitely careers in union-side construction law, but it's a bit of a meat grinder. You will be in hearings almost every day of the week. Some people love that, but it wouldn't be for me.

12 minutes ago, Glamurosa said:

I guess when I think of construction law I think of the stuff that I saw come up during projects i was on like disputes about delays, unknown/hidden conditions that affect the contract price, and things like that that arrise during the construction phase that when parties can't work it out amongst themselves, end up being litigated. 

That's the stuff I mean by vanilla commercial contract law. Like the dispute between Apple and the 1 Bloor developers.

[Glamurosa]

3 minutes ago, Jaggers said:

There are definitely careers in union-side construction law, but it's a bit of a meat grinder. You will be in hearings almost every day of the week. Some people love that, but it wouldn't be for me.

But imagine how fulfilling it would be to spread socialism in the US 😌

[Jaggers]

Via construction unions? That is one of the most corrupt institutions in the country!

[Glamurosa]

2 minutes ago, Jaggers said:

Via construction unions? That is one of the most corrupt institutions in the country!

Why are you ruining my fun

[Jaggers]

Representing Tony Soprano and his friends could be fun, couldn't it?

[Glamurosa]

Just now, Jaggers said:

Representing Tony Soprano and his friends could be fun, couldn't it?

And lucrative. I'm in.

[Jaggers]

They paid their criminal lawyer well, and he got lots of appearances on the show. I don't think they every showed their labour lawyer. Take from that what you will.

Even when his henchmen beat people up on the construction sites, no sighting of a labour lawyer.

[Glamurosa]

5 minutes ago, Jaggers said:

They paid their criminal lawyer well, and he got lots of appearances on the show. I don't think they every showed their labour lawyer. Take from that what you will.

Even when his henchmen beat people up on the construction sites, no sighting of a labour lawyer.

So what you're saying is that the position is open.

[Blurg]

I do some construction litigation through insurance defence. The technical knowledge could come in handy in coming to grips with the technical issues leading (or not leading) to the loss. It’s helpful but not really necessary as we hire experts who walk us through it and you obviously pick up stuff the more you do it. Money wise, insurance defence is nowhere close to billing out at $500 an hour at most firms. 

[Labienus]

I see your technical knowledge being useful as in-house counsel for an infrastructure construction company (Aecon, SNC Lavalin, Dragados, PCL, Pomerleau, etc.). In such a position you would assist your company in tenders/request for proposals and procurement for big infrastructure projects (Infrastructure Ontario/Metrolinx transit projects).

I am in house counsel for one such company and I work closely with the technical team for all the above. I often see that having a technical background would be beneficial and would help in contract analysis and drafting. I think a construction company would look favorably on a lawyer with technical knowledge.

Edited April 19, 2022 by Labienus

[Sparky]

There are certain firms in Toronto that specialize in construction (Glaholt, Singleton Reynolds) that will see your experience as a plus for summer student hiring at least. I interviewed with some such firms and that was definitely the impression I got. Understanding the CCDC, plus generally knowing how disputes arise and get resolved on construction projects, should be a plus and will at least be something that helps you stand out.

[Glamurosa]

Thanks yall! I really appreciate the input!

8 hours ago, Sparky said:

There are certain firms in Toronto that specialize in construction (Glaholt, Singleton Reynolds) that will see your experience as a plus for summer student hiring at least. I interviewed with some such firms and that was definitely the impression I got. Understanding the CCDC, plus generally knowing how disputes arise and get resolved on construction projects, should be a plus and will at least be something that helps you stand out.

Do you know what range those companies were paying for summer students?

[QueensDenning]

2 minutes ago, Glamurosa said:

Thanks yall! I really appreciate the input!

Do you know what range those companies were paying for summer students?

Singleton was $1900\week