ICE Law & NEC4 Course | Fortfield & Brown

ICE Law & NEC4 Contracts Management Course

We are accredited by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) to deliver its Certificate in Law and NEC4 Contracts Management (CLCM). Our staff have been delivering the course for over 10 years, and we have helped 100’s of candidates pass the annual exams set by the ICE.

What is the CLCM Course?

The CLCM course is a 24-week programme aimed at construction professionals who work with construction contracts. The CLCM course is split into two modules:

Module 1 – Law: This 12-week module (September – December) covers the law of contract, tort and evidence. Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of the case law which underpins these key legal areas. Module 1 includes the following:
- The English Legal System and the Rule of Law
- Contract Formation
- Terms of Contract and Exclusion Clauses
- Misrepresentation, Mistake and Privity
- Breach of Contract and Remedies
- Discharge of a Contract
- General and Professional Negligence
- Negligence
- Employer’s and Occupier’s Liability
- The Law of Evidence
Module 2 – NEC4: This 12-week module (January – April) covers every clause of the NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract alongside plenty of worked examples from expert practitioners. Module 2 includes the following:
- Tendering and Procurement of NEC4 Contracts
- Contract Data, Site Information and Scope
- Main and Secondary Option Selection
- Communications and Notices
- Time and Programming
- Payment and the Schedule of Cost Components
- Risk Management and Early Warnings
- Managing Compensation Events
- Managing Defects and Quality
- Dispute Resolution and Termination

The full 2024 CLCM syllabus, published by the ICE, can be downloaded here.

Participants who successfully pass both* modules will be awarded a Certificate in Law and NEC4 Contracts Management entitling them to use the “CLCM” post-nominal. Successful participants will also be entitled to join the ICE Register of Accredited Contracts Managers.

* participants who already hold the NEC4 Project Manager Accreditation are exempt from Module 2, and only need to pass the Module 1 exam to be awarded the full certificate.

Course Delivery and Materials

We run the CLCM course remotely using a dedicated e-learning platform. Upon registration, candidates are given access to the following:

Weekly live lectures with Q&A (6:30pm – 8:30pm on Thursdays)
Recordings of each live lecture
Study notes
Suggested reading lists
Case law reinforcement quizzes
Pre-recorded past paper analysis sessions

A full copy of the 2023-24 timetable can be viewed here.

A full copy of the 2024-25 timetable can be viewed here.

Course Fees

The CLCM course fee is £750 plus VAT for both modules, or £400 plus VAT for a single module. We are happy to offer a discount for group bookings.

In addition to the fees above, an additional fee is payable directly to the ICE prior to the annual examinations. This fee is to cover the ICE’s administrative and marking costs. The ICE exam fees are currently £125 per module for ICE members, and £150 for non-members.

Enrolment or Registering your Interest

We are no longer accepting applications to join the 2023-24 course as it is already fully subscribed.

If you would like to enrol on to the 2024-25 course starting on 26 September 2024, please complete our online application form.

The same form can be used to register your interest if you are not yet fully committed to joining the course.

Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifications do I get if I pass?

Passing Module 1 and Module 2 allows you to join the ICE register of Accredited Contract Managers and you can refer to yourself as same. You do not need to be an ICE member to join the register.

We also note for students in Northern Ireland that from 2019 Project Managers on CPD projects are required to be either (1) NEC Accredited Project Managers; or (2) have completed Module 2 of the LCM course. Therefore, passing Module 2 is of great benefit to those working on CPD projects. Link to CPD guidance note is here for reference.

When / where are the exams?

The LCM exams are set by the ICE and take place in June each year. The Module 1 (law) exam is normally the first Monday of June. The Module 2 (NEC4) exam is normally the second Monday. The exams will be held online and will be remotely proctored / invigilated.

The ICE exam fee is not included in the price of our course. This exam fee is payable directly to the ICE. The exam fees are £125 per module for ICE members, or £150 for non-members.

Are there exam past papers? What are the pass marks?

Yes. The ICE publishes examiners reports every year which includes the past papers and answers. The 2021 examiners report can be downloaded here for reference.

As part of our delivery of the LCM course, we will focus heavily on past paper practice. We will have recorded videos going through each past paper in detail for students to use as a learning aid.

The pass mark for Module 1 is 40%. The pass mark for Module 2 is 50%.

What if you are too busy to attend?

Not an issue. All lectures are delivered live via zoom. These will be recorded and uploaded to our learning app so that you can rewatch in your own time.

Are there any exemptions available?

If you are an NEC3/4 accredited Project Manager (i.e. you have passed the official course run by NEC / Thomas Telford) then you are exempt from Module 2. You therefore only need to pass Module 1 to become an ICE Accredited Contracts Manager.

What if I fail?

If you fail one module, you can resit it the following year. You do not need to resit both. Similarly, you can do one module per year if you wish to take things slower. We charge a discounted rate for delegates who need to resit. Only 50% of the standard course fee is payable.

What can I do after the LCM course?

If you have passed Module 1 and Module 2, then you can choose proceed to Module 3 (Advanced Contract Management). This module is at a significantly higher level and is directed a mid-career professional who have considerable experience in contractual issues.

There are currently no preparation courses on the market for Module 3 because it is so specialist. It is our aim to run a preparation course for Module 3 in the future if there is enough interest in same. William Brown has passed this module and is available to provide further advice on Module 3 if required. Passing Module 3 is a pre-requisite to sitting the ICE Adjudicator’s Qualifying Exam for inclusion on the ICE panel of adjudicators.

Are group discounts available?

Yes. We are happy to give a discounted rate for group bookings. Please let us know the size of the group and we will propose a suitable discount.

Get in touch today

Would you like a free consultation? Submit your details here and we will arrange a call.

"*" indicates required fields