Architect's Legal Handbook. The Law for Architects
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Author(s): A. Speaight and G. Stone
Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann
ISBN: 0750643757
Format: softback
399pp
Price: £27.50
Review Date: 06 December 2000
Review: This book provides a summary of the law that is relevant to the work of architects. Each chapter is written by an expert in a particular field. The chapters cover the general principles of law, the law of building contracts, statutory framework and regulations; and the architect in practice. Thos edition includes the law of all parts of the UK and additional treatments of Scots and Northern Irish law are included. Other new chapters, included as a result of changing laws, are: Adjudication, Party walls and Payment rules. Judges expect architects either to know the law or to advise their clients that legal advice is necessary. In a case in 1994 and architect's interpretation of 'regularly and diligently' was different from the judges'. The court of appeal said he would have been 'fireproof' if he had taken legal advice; but he had not, so he was not, and a heavy judgement against him for professional negligence resulted.