Southern New Hampshire University

MGT-615: Construction Law and Contracts

A study guide to SNHU's MGT-615, a graduate course on legal aspects of construction, contract administration and risk management.

Updated October 2026 · 5 min read

MGT-615 examines legal aspects of the construction industry, including interpretation of the law, contract administration and risk management.

SNHU's catalog says students use a case study approach to apply legal concepts and principles, interpret the law, and determine the performance and flexibility of contracts.

Additional topics are ethics, dispute resolution, liability, labor laws, insurance and bonds. The course is not training to practice law. It gives construction managers enough understanding of the legal framework to manage contracts and know when to seek counsel.

Course at a Glance

ItemDetails
UniversitySouthern New Hampshire University
Course codeMGT-615
Credits3
LevelGraduate
PrerequisitesNone listed in the catalog
Format and gradingGraduate course at SNHU, case study approach
Typical workLegal case analyses, contract interpretation, risk and dispute resolution papers

What MGT-615 Covers

TopicIn plain language
Interpreting the lawReading statutes, cases and contract language carefully
Contract administrationManaging a contract through the life of a project
Risk managementAllocating and reducing legal and project risks
EthicsProfessional conduct in construction
Dispute resolutionWays of resolving disagreements, from negotiation to formal processes
LiabilityWho is responsible for what when something goes wrong
Labor laws, insurance and bondsEmployment rules and financial protections in construction

Key Concepts Explained

Reading a Contract Closely

Identify the parties, scope, price, time, changes, notices and remedies. Many disputes turn on exact wording, so quote the clause rather than paraphrasing.

Invented illustration: in a fictional dispute, a subcontractor claims extra payment for changed work. The analysis would find the change clause, check whether notice was given as required, and apply the clause to the facts.

Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion

A common structure for case analysis is to state the issue, the rule, how the rule applies to the facts and a conclusion. It keeps law-based writing clear.

Risk Allocation

Contracts, insurance and bonds move risk between parties. Show who carries which risk and what protection exists.

Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them

The catalog does not list assignments, so check your course for the real ones. Courses of this kind typically ask you to do the following.

Assignment typeWhat it testsHow to approach it
Case analysisApplying legal principles to factsUse issue, rule, application and conclusion
Contract reviewInterpreting terms and obligationsQuote key clauses and explain their effect
Risk allocation memoInsurance, bonds and responsibilitiesMap each risk to the party responsible and the protection
Dispute resolution comparisonOptions and trade-offsCompare processes on cost, time and control

Where Students Get Stuck

Paraphrasing Instead of Quoting

When wording matters, quote the clause and cite its location.

Giving Legal Advice

Frame conclusions as management analysis and note when counsel should be consulted.

Mixing Jurisdictions

State which jurisdiction your cases belong to, because rules vary.

Study Tips for MGT-615

A Worked Outline for a Legal Case Analysis

State the issue in one sentence. Give the rule, quoting the clause or principle. Apply it to the facts, noting facts for and against each side. Conclude with the likely result and the practical step a manager should take, including when to consult counsel. Keep each part short and labeled.

Before You Submit

Writing About Law Without Overreaching

Describe what the text says and how a reasonable manager would apply it, and use phrases such as "this suggests" when the outcome depends on facts or on a court. Where the law varies by place, say so. This keeps the analysis accurate and shows the judgment the course is looking for.

A Checklist for Reading a Construction Contract

A checklist keeps contract analysis systematic. These are common areas to look for; the actual clauses and wording in your case control the analysis.

AreaWhat to findWhy it matters
Parties and rolesWho owes what to whomDetermines who can enforce terms
Scope and priceWhat work is covered and how it is paidBasis for change disputes
TimeStart, completion and delay provisionsAffects damages and extensions
ChangesHow changes are ordered and pricedCommon source of disputes
NoticesRequired notices and deadlinesMissed notices can lose rights
Risk, insurance and bondsWho bears which risk and what protection existsAllocates loss
DisputesRequired process for resolving disagreementsShapes strategy

Quote the clause for each area you rely on, and note anything you would refer to counsel.

How We Help with MGT-615

Send the assignment instructions, the rubric and any required readings, plus your draft or figures if you have them. A writer with construction and legal-writing experience can help you structure case analyses and read contracts carefully. You receive model work or editing feedback for study. This is academic support, not legal advice.

GradeEssays is independent and not affiliated with Southern New Hampshire University. Model work is for study and reference, and your submitted work must be your own under the university's academic integrity policy. Orders are written from scratch, plagiarism-checked, and include free revisions within the scope of your original request.

Make Your MGT-615 Case Analysis Precise

Share the case, rubric and your draft. A writer prepares custom analysis or detailed feedback.

Start My MGT-615 Help

Free revisions · Full refund if late · Written from scratch for your order

Frequently Asked Questions

What does MGT-615 cover?

Legal aspects of construction, including interpretation of law, contract administration, risk management, ethics, dispute resolution, liability, labor laws, insurance and bonds.

Is there a prerequisite?

None is listed in the SNHU catalog entry.

How many credits?

3 credits.

Will I learn to practice law?

No. The course prepares construction managers to understand legal requirements, not to act as lawyers.

How do I structure a case analysis?

Use issue, rule, application and conclusion, quoting the relevant text.

Can you write my paper to submit?

No. We provide tutoring, custom analysis and feedback. Submitted work must be your own.