Throughout his career in structural steel, Edward Lacroix has worked on large-scale, complex projects across Canada and the United States. As his responsibilities expanded from structural engineering into project management, project leadership and business development, contracts, procurement strategies and risk allocation became an increasingly important part of his work.
Edward learned about the legal aspects of construction along the way, but wanted a more complete understanding of the framework behind them.
“I felt like I had accumulated different pieces of legal knowledge, but I had not yet developed a clear understanding of how they all came together to form the bigger picture.”
Osgoode’s Professional LLM in Construction Law offered the specialized legal education Edward was looking for. He saw the program as a natural extension of his professional development and a way to become a more effective leader by “bridging the gap” between engineering, project management and legal risk management.
The Construction Law program has changed how Edward approaches decisions in his work. Contract reviews, project changes and negotiations over commercial terms now involve closer consideration of their legal implications. His studies have also helped him identify risks earlier and communicate them across project teams.
“You definitely develop a deeper appreciation for the legal implications of every decision we make,” he says.
Contracts became an important part of this shift. Edward emphasizes that decisions made before construction begins can influence the outcome of a project, with the contract establishing responsibilities and accountability among the parties.
“The contract is a strategic tool,” he says. “It helps align expectations between the parties, reduces uncertainty and creates a clear path for how to resolve issues if they arise.”
Several areas of the Construction Law LLM connected directly with Edward’s work, including contracts, procurement models, dispute resolution, construction delays and disruption, claims and alternative project delivery methods. Learning about the distinction between delays and disruptions, for example, gave him a more detailed understanding of issues that regularly arise on construction projects. He also valued learning from faculty with extensive experience in construction law.
“It was a solid combination of theory and practical application,” he says.
Faculty brought insights from construction law practice into the classroom, helping students understand how legal principles apply to challenges they may encounter on projects and giving them frameworks for identifying the right questions to ask.
Entering the Construction Law LLM without a legal background initially gave Edward some concern. Instead of limiting his participation, his experience in engineering and construction became something he could contribute to classroom discussions. Edward connected legal concepts with situations he had encountered on projects, while classmates shared examples from their own work.
“You can share real experiences and how you approached them, while also learning from other students who have had highly relevant experiences of their own,” he says.
The program quickly built his legal knowledge and confidence while also giving him insight into how lawyers, arbitrators and judges approach construction issues. Years of engineering, project management and leadership remain central to Edward’s work, now supported by a stronger understanding of the legal considerations surrounding complex projects.
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