This will be one of the most precarious processes in your architectural career. I am speaking from a UK perspective where, as it stands, to qualify as an Architect, you need to know construction law and the various common forms of contract and procurement. In most cases you'll be advising a client and if they get into hot water with a builder you will have to guide them through the adjudication process. It's a quick, legal dispute resolution process that is statutorily available to all parties in a Construction contract except for homeowners unless its in the contract.

This is something that sets us apart form other designers. We have to deal with so much more and you've really got to know your stuff when it comes to law. Every email, message that you send could come back to bite you so before you click send, imagine you're going through adjudication and ask yourself: will this incriminate me some how?

As students you won't need to worry about this until part 2 or 3 or whe you're working but architecture is far more than just pretty pictures and graphics: you've got to know how not to be sued because even if it's the client going through a dispute with the builder, the client can always turn around and claim your were negligent and then you'll be in direct dispute with them!

Luckily this hasn't happened to me but I am advising my client now through an adjudication process with the builder - hence why I've been so inactive on here for a while!