2009 Spring Classes
The spring course schedule is up. As with past semesters, here is a course recommendation thread.
My two cents for 1L's: Civ Pro II, Con Law, Advanced Legal Research, in that order. (Was that three cents?) That's just my view, and others may disagree, but there you have it.
Lastly, and as always, please try to avoid naming professors in any google-searchable manner. Not only will creative nicknames help keep your observations within the Boalt community, but they are also much more fun.
My two cents for 1L's: Civ Pro II, Con Law, Advanced Legal Research, in that order. (Was that three cents?) That's just my view, and others may disagree, but there you have it.
Lastly, and as always, please try to avoid naming professors in any google-searchable manner. Not only will creative nicknames help keep your observations within the Boalt community, but they are also much more fun.
Labels: Classes/Professors
posted by Patrick Bageant at 11:21 AM
93 Comments:
The nicknames and asterisks also ensure that nobody will be able to find or use these comments in later semesters without pouring through hundreds and hundreds of past comments. But anyway.
Sklansky for evidence?
I've heard good things about him as a professor, but as I poured through asterisk filled comments in the various blogs, I noticed someone say he has "killer" exams. Anyone know in what way they were killer? Like just long? Difficult to understand? Unrelated to what you learned in class?
Also there was a comment that he "made you transcribe your outline into the back pages of your textbook." Anyone know what that means? I'm inferring only the textbook and no notes allowed on finals?
Also, does anybody know any profs who don't allow laptops in class?
I respectfully disagree with Patrick, depending on the field you're going into. If you want to do anything related to IP (patent, copyright, trademark work, etc.), Intro to IP is almost a must-take. Going into an IP job without the fundamentals of patent rules is suicide.
Professor Segrem (that was fun!) is very rule-heavy, and is pretty tops in the country in the patent field. The reading is on the heavy side, but most of it is skimmable, as every case you read is talked about in great detail, and there is no cold calling.
Skahlansky or Sw!ft for Evidence?
for 1Ls would also recommend Legislation. Very helpful in my summer job.
there's an incredible shortage of four unit courses being offered.
Sklansky does not allow outlines in his final, but he does allow you to handwrite your outline in the blank pages at the back of hte book. It was a pain in the neck, but I only looked at the outline a couple of times during the exam.
The exam is so hard because (1) no outlines (except for whatever goes in your book), so everything has to be memorized (also the exam is a real time crunch), and (2) he tests on both the FRE and the California Evi Code, making it brutal. I think he's the only Evi professor who does FRE and CEC. Despite the difficult exam, the class is great and I strongly recommend taking it.
So Goodw*n L*u isn't leaving?
the nicknames and asterisks are sort of unnecessary, imo. professors read and see this blog. who are we really protecting by doing it?
intro to IP is best class i've had at boalt.
1:30 was your professor male or female?
Any thoughts on Ferg*son for Estates?
Ferg*son is currently teaching Estates. General consensus is that you can either read or attend lecture. I have chosen the former and it seems to be working out ok.
For those considering taking corporations, just wanted to say that D*badj is an awesome professor. I am in his Sec Reg class and very much enjoy it. Corporations last spring was horrendous, so I am particularly envious.
Fact: Vetter does it better.
i'm only in his criminal law class, and as a 1L can't yet testify to his exams, but sklanskerino is a wonderful lecturer.
Any thoughts on the new business counseling practicum?
1:30 here. the nicknames are cracking me up. i had a male for intro to IP.
Can someone explain to me why the registrar allows a once a week class at Wednesday at 2pm? That time slot is an absolute nightmare to schedule around.
skullansky's evidence final is a nightmare b/c it is multiple choice, about 1'40" per question, and many questions (1) are long, (2) test FRE and CEC, and (3) nuanced. But he is an awesome professor. so take the class, but prepared for the final to be fucked up.
I encourage people who take evidence to take evidence advocacy at the same time. Henry Brrrown's class is good.
anyone w/ the scoop on Greeeen for employment discrim?
I'm famous!
I think Green is quite good for Civ Pro. She is very thorough and goes over the cases clearly. Although if you fear the cold call you may be uncomfortable.
I find it pretty sad that the school doesn't offer a course like Securities Regulation in the spring. Is there anybody you can email suggesting that they add a course?
Thoughts on Crim Pro: Adjudication? Would this help with the bar exam or is Crim Pro: Investigation all you need for that?
9:47.
Maybe you could try emailing one of the faculty advisers on BCBLE. Also, the Sec Reg course this semester is severely under-enrolled. Lack of interest might be a reason.
I'm with 9:47...
I was hoping for Sec. Reg. II in the Spring and I know a few others who would be interested.
7:38 pm, you just made my night. Thank you for that.
You will thank Sklansky for his final exam come bar exam time. The California Bar exam tests (in theory) both CA and federal evidence rules. Going into the bar I felt like evidence was the subject I knew the most about.
I could not find ALR on the schedule. Are they just not offering it next semester? If so, that sucks. A lot.
Turns out they're not offering it next semester (don't I feel like a jerk.) Sorry.
Has anyone taken Family Law?
Remedies?
Thoughts on Swift v. Sklansky for evidence?
re ALR:
they sent out an email last semester saying it was only going to be offered in the fall this year.
Thoughts on Swift: Last yr Swiftt did an in-class examination, with part multiple-choice and part-essay. Open notes, but no supplements (to my recollection). She also only covered the FRE and not the California Rules. The m/c questions were short hypotheticals, asking you to apply certain FREs, and were similar to the ones that she gave to the class in handouts, from time to time. There were three essay questions, one was a policy one. I didn't think that any of the material on the final was unfair, and nothing was a surprise-- it was difficult, and kind of a time crunch, but fair.
Also, I feel that I got a better sense of her examination style from the book, since she was one of the editors.
Oh something that she did last year that I thought was helpful was that she assigned a writing assignment, asking us to analyze a fact patter-- she read through all of them, gave us individualized written feedback, and then a general handout on her thoughts, what she was expecting.
Overall, she's a great professor, and tries very hard to give you all the tools to do well in the class. It is a difficult subject matter, but she manages to make it interesting.
Green's civ pro class right now is gawdawful
re: CrimPro: Adjudication: you only need Investigations for the bar exam. Only those going into criminal litigation need to take this one.
Any reason to take or not take Corporations as a 1L? Does it help at all to have Contracts under your belt first rather than doing them concurrently? Or do the two not have that much in common?
what is up w/ scheduling Intro to IP so that 2/3 of the 1L class can't take it b/c it conflicts w/ one of the supermods?
i don't need sex because boalt fucks me everyday.
Why is Greeen's class "gawdawful," for those of us considering a class with her in the spring?
To 10:34, I took Corporations as a 1L and thought it was fine. I don't think it would be a problem to take it concurrently with Contracts.
From what I remember, there may be some areas where 1L classes arise (I remember Torts coming up more than anything... in the agency section). But my experience was that you learn what you need to know for Corporations in Corporations.
On another note, I was disappointed to see Corporations II will not be offered in the Spring. Is that class only offered every other Spring?
I'm in Gr33n's Civ Pro II class right now, and I don't think it's awful because of anything Gr33n does. I think it's awful because Civ Pro II is about a half-semester's worth of material stretched out into a semester.
I think this leads Gr33n to feel a need to fill class time with something - which is typically some abstract discussions of policy that about 3/4ths of us could care less about.
re: Intro to IP conflict. Could more 1Ls confirm that 2/3 would be conflicted? Does seem like a real issue, as its intended for 1Ls (amongst others!). I know the prof, and think he would lend a sympathetic ear. Just want to be sure of the problem before talking with him.
2:19, if you COULD care less about something then why don't you care less? Second, if it seems like CPII is being stretched out then there's something wrong with this professor. Jurisdiction, venue, and Erie doctrine are NOT half a semester's material.
12:47 Corporations II will be offered in the spring. Taught by the guy currently teaching corporations, he told us in class. They just haven't added it to the schedule yet. He also will be teaching Intl. Bus. Transactions which also hasn't been added to the schedule yet.
If there is anybody out there who is interested in Sec. Regulation can they please send an email to that Lu guy, or go to the Business Curriculum meeting on Monday to express interest. I concur with 9:47 that it is pretty unacceptable not to offer that course.
1) One supermod is not 2/3 of the 1L class. Maybe if you paid more attention to the big picture, 12:03, you would realize you are hardly being "fucked."
2) The problem with CPII this semester is that we aren't going deep or far enough into the cases, and as a result the class has tuned out. That, and it's in booth.
3) Anyone who takes corps with Professor B for an entire year without slitting their wrists deserves a medal. The maddening, horrible experience will surely leave them prepared to do transactional work in a frozen economy.
if 12:03 is one of the 1L's in the affected supermod, he/she is definitely being screwed. taking Intro 1L sets you up to to take full advantage of the IP program at boalt, which, incidentally, is the school's best program and the reason a lot of people came. this third party agrees that they they should change the time ...
I completely agree - Intro to IP gives 1Ls an incredible advantage for those who get firm jobs in the IP field, more so than any other class that 1Ls would be able to get into.
Ya'll should shoot many emails to M*rges, or M*ndi, or anyone else that might have a say in the matter. Just don't let up, and hopefully they'll come to their sense.
There are definitely two (of three) 1L supermods who have a time conflict with Intro to IP I.
The 1Ls are broadly fucked with respect to electives this year.
My apologies, Armen. I wrote that late into the night after a substantial number of beers. I made my best efforts to say we couldn't care less, but I came up three keystrokes short. I shall try to do better next time.
-2:19
It's a league game, Smokey.
anyone want to comment on Hanl*n?
IP scheduling problem solved? The course schedule now says MTuTh 8:45-9:50. All okey-dokey?
Whatever happened to BHSA doing professor evals? Is that going to be up and running this semester? Doing it by blog comments is too random.
I'm amused that the 1Ls are whining like they are the first ones to be screwed on their 1L electives. It feels like it sucks but we have all actually been there.
9:15 Just wanted to let you know that I sent an email off. I agree that it is pretty lame not to offer Securities Regulation in the Spring. Others please do this if you are interested.
On another note I have Bbaum for Corp. I this semester and can't follow 80% of what he says in class. Does anybody know if he is any better for Intl. Bus. Trans. I heard as well this course was offered in the spring.
Also, anybody who has had Bbaum in the past, how are his exams?
I don't know about BHSA - I'm not so optimistic - but if there's interest, I can update the Boalt Prof Blog again. It'll take me a good 5-6 hours to do it, though, and I'd prefer to have more than 15 people comment on it if I'm putting that kind of time into it.
9:38 AM:
Douchebag.
if someone really did pull strings, that's super awesome... but unfortunately the intro to IP schedule is still a problem for mods 1, 2, and 3.
they should make it an afternoon class.
Didn't Intro to IP conflict for one super-mod last year, too? Did any of those people live to tell about it? Or did they all disintegrate as a result?
Nevermind. No, it didn't.
-5:47
Speaking of intro to IP, how is M*rges? Or does it not really matter who the prof is, since the class is a prereq for so many other things in the Law/Tech curriculum?
I really dig M*rges... I'm in his patent law class right now. He's pretty much the most knowledgeable professor in the universe when it comes to patents, and I really jive with his dry sense of humor. His knowledge of the history and progression of patent law is incredible, so it really is a complete experience.
Having said that, I don't know how he is on the other subjects covered in the class, and I know some people don't care for his style. But that's just my $.02. Which in today's economy can buy just about anything.
So, I'm a 1L really interested in taking Intro to IP, mostly to decide if that's a field I want to pursue or not. I won't fall apart if I can't take it next semester, but it throws a little bit of a wrench in my plans. However, I'm in the supermod that conflicts with the class.
Any 2Ls/3Ls have advice? Is it worth it to send emails to the professor and/or the scheduling folks? Or is it just a waste of time and I have to suck it up?
1:19,
I don't know that taking the course is going to give you any better idea than introspection, working in an IP-related area this summer, and attending the tech events will. I don't see the course being make-or-break in terms of figuring it out, nor do you need an answer by the end of your 1L year.
That said, you may as well try the emails - what have you got to lose?
I'm pretty sure IP is usually offered in that early morning time. I'd say the person screwing you is Charlie Wei$$elberg.
I didn't take Family Law, but I've heard great things from those who have
I wonder if any of you have input on the following courses for someone who has yet to take any business law or accounting classes:
Mod. Financial Prods w/ J. Dalh**sen? Real Estate Txns II? Energy regulation and the environ't? Please and thank you.
Energy reg and the environment requires no background in any particular area. It's a pretty accessible course, although the reading (if you do it) can sometimes take a while.
Does anyone have any insight as to whether or not this is too much of a workload:
Quantitative Methods (4 credits)
Con Law (4 credits)
Civ Pro II (3 credits)
Public Lands (3 credits)
BTLJ editor (1 credit)
Is this feasible for an enthusiastic learner but generally unmotivated reader?
Yes.
Local Government Law... I think the professor is new. Any thoughts? Has anyone taken a class with her?
Haven't taken a class with Ander*on (who is teaching local government law), but I went to her job talk last spring - seems very smart, well organized. Any 1Ls on here have her for property small class?
dumb 1L question here:
is there anywhere to go for a (somewhat) comprehensive guide to/evaluation of/list of comments on various professors? this thread has been somewhat helpful, except that majority of professors reviewed here are not ones I can take courses with next semester. based on the above post about the shittiness of the course eval system, i'm guessing the answer to my question might be no?
but curious if upperclasspeople have any advice for a clueless 1L blindly picking classes.
Lots of journals and orgs have "roundtables" to give advice. Also, there are old versions of this thread that you can search through for things that resemble your professors' names. Better to just ask a friend. Or ask here. Usually somebody will be happy to tell you if the professor is horrible or great.
Check out http://boaltprofs.blogspot.com/. It's still not being used all that much, but there is no time like the present.
4:12,
I was just going to say the same thing. As a disclaimer, Boalt Professor Review only has professors that taught last spring, because that's when we started it. There is one thread for each class taught by each professor, as well as a general thread for each professor. What there isn't is a lot of feedback. But if you're lucky, you'll come across someone about whom something has been written.
Question if anybody had any information about the following courses/professors
Partnerships and LLC's with B*mberger
corporate tax with rkowski
Estates and Trusts F*rguson
Secured transactions K*sel
Corporations II with Bxbaum
Tax yes, Corps no.
I really like B*xbaum, although many in the case find him to be confusing.
With the exception of 6:16, the other half dozen or so people I have spoken with have disliked B*xbaum teaching. I have been planning on taking corps II, but I will now avoid it like the plague.
What's the word on L*pez, teaching the big Con Law section? And who do you have to off to get into C*pper's 10 person Con Law seminar?
as a 2L who is going to work at a large law firm for the first time this summer, are there any classes i should take that would make summer work easier/funner?
Wine law.
I found Securities Regulation to be the most helpful during my summer.
for the 2L, if you're going to do IP, take IP. otherwise, LRW is probably the most strictly "useful" class. 1L year otherwise is basically irrelevant.
if you want to do pro bono, taking a class on habeas or civil rights litigation might be helpful.
Any thoughts on Pooley for Trade Secrets? Harris for Construction Law? Thanks!
anyone have any knowledge/thoughts on han*y for con law: liberty vs. chop*r for con law: first amendment?
any thoughts on taking con law as a 1L at all vs. waiting for 2L year?
First Amendment law will probably be a very wonderful class, but also much narrower than con law I.
I took Structural Issues in con law last spring (not offered this spring) and I am glad I did. It has been useful background a number of times this fall.
I'm not sure that first amendment law would provide the same background, because there is a whole lot more to the Constitution. The Con Law I class will be broad in the way that Structural Issues was. (Those classes are different, too, though.)
I guess what I am trying to say is that if you are looking for good foundational classes this spring, take Con Law I. If you are really excited about first amendment law, take that class, and then take a basic con law class when you are a 2L.
Hey guys,
Complex Civil Litigation is easily the worst class offered here, taught by the simply awful Professor McBoring, and you chumps enrolled or on the waitlist should immediately drop the class. Say hello to your mother for me.
I agree with 1:47. I was originally on the waitlist but, after reading 1:47s comment, and talking with the really cool and popular 3Ls just now, I was convinced that dropping Complex Civil Litigation and shooting for Corporations was in my best interest.
Thanks 1:47!!
Is it just me, or do those last two comments look like a concerted effort among one or two individuals to free up some space in a class?
(In the interest of full disclosure, I'm not intending to take either, so I don't have a horse in this race.)
I agree with Matt. However, I really appreciated the "say hello to your mother for me" comment.
And can someone confirm whether or not Skullanksy cold calls in his evidence class? Thanks.
Any opinions about information privacy law? Is this something anyone should take or just the serious IP student?
Ferguson is great -- nice easy class, though the nightime aspect is tough. Anyone heard anything about this Warrington guy teaching crim? I know Murphy is great, but am classes on Fridays on not acceptable as a 3L. Also, pre-trial civ lit? Any thoughts?
Any thoughts on B*ber for Property law?
How about H*rris for Construction law?
Has anyone taken investment treaties?
hey folks, has anyone taken Remedies with Gergen? or is anyone enrolled in it now (Spring 2009)? Any thoughts on the class, who to take it with, if it's useful in a summer firm job?
Also, is it possible to get a summer IP assignment if you haven't taken IP?
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