UVA Law Students Taking Questions Forum

[vanwinkle]

so, does everyone type notes in class or would I be totally dumb to write out? I got Circus Ponies but I'm still resistant to the idea cuz I always took notes out of a notebook in UG. thoughts?

I took all my notes by hand and I never had a problem keeping up. Having typed notes can be advantageous when you're trying to find something (Ctrl+F is much quicker than flipping through pages) and also when you're making outlines, but I'm way too easily distracted and if I have a laptop with me I'll simply spend the entire class gchatting and surfing the Internet.

thanks. this is (pathetically) gonna be a tough decision for me to make

I'd just like to add that I took handwritten notes in all my 1L classes and I really think it helped me learn the material well. It's slower and makes you pay more attention, and those are good things when it comes to studying, really.

[paulinaporizkova]

so, does everyone type notes in class or would I be totally dumb to write out? I got Circus Ponies but I'm still resistant to the idea cuz I always took notes out of a notebook in UG. thoughts?

I took all my notes by hand and I never had a problem keeping up. Having typed notes can be advantageous when you're trying to find something (Ctrl+F is much quicker than flipping through pages) and also when you're making outlines, but I'm way too easily distracted and if I have a laptop with me I'll simply spend the entire class gchatting and surfing the Internet.

thanks. this is (pathetically) gonna be a tough decision for me to make

I'd just like to add that I took handwritten notes in all my 1L classes and I really think it helped me learn the material well. It's slower and makes you pay more attention, and those are good things when it comes to studying, really.

but what about the counterpoint that it's good practice to be typing all the time to pick up speed and endurance for exams since exams are pretty much just like murdering a keyboard for 4 hours? that's what's holding me back from writing out notes the most at this point

[vanwinkle]

but what about the counterpoint that it's good practice to be typing all the time to pick up speed and endurance for exams since exams are pretty much just like murdering a keyboard for 4 hours? that's what's holding me back from writing out notes the most at this point

After class, type up your notes.

[paulinaporizkova]

but what about the counterpoint that it's good practice to be typing all the time to pick up speed and endurance for exams since exams are pretty much just like murdering a keyboard for 4 hours? that's what's holding me back from writing out notes the most at this point

After class, type up your notes.

really? that what you did?

[Cavalier]

but what about the counterpoint that it's good practice to be typing all the time to pick up speed and endurance for exams since exams are pretty much just like murdering a keyboard for 4 hours? that's what's holding me back from writing out notes the most at this point

Don't worry about the typing practice. As long as you're able to maintain a decent typing speed you'll be fine for exams.

[Baba-tee]

what is your take on IP law at UVA

[Doritos]

what is your take on IP law at UVA

Sprigman is entertaining.

[WVUCelticFan]

Sections are up on law web.

[sundance95]

Where?

[pjo]

Anyone else in E? Any 2L's have anything to say about section E?

[joeshmo39]

Anyone else in E? Any 2L's have anything to say about section E?

Professor wise I only know 2 of them, but both are great. Harmon is absolutely awesome. She may try to scare you the first day and succeed, but you'll realize she's brilliant and really nice. As a teacher she is absolutely great, maybe one of the best we have. She'll pull themes out of cases that completely eluded you. She'll tell you it's all there if you just read the case, but being a genius helps. Hynes is really great too. He's really pumped to be teaching 1L contracts after a year off, I think he actively campaigned for it. Hynes is, and he himself will admit this, a little dorky but totally brilliant and really easy to approach. I think sometimes he struggles with being a lot smarter than the students so don't feel weird asking him to roll the discussion back a step.

[ThreeYears]

Section G:

CivPro: Spencer
Torts: Abraham
Crim Law: Low
Contracts: J. Setear

Any comments on the professors? Also when should we expect the casebooks to be revealed? Thanks a lot.

[grash]

Anyone else in E? Any 2L's have anything to say about section E?

Yeah. You have big shoes to fill.

Just kidding. I've had O'Connell (otherwise known as JOC). JOC can get mixed reviews - at least one 3L here has said they liked him. I...I was not a fan. IMO there are some negative aspects to his class, but it honestly would do you no good at all if I told you about them now; it'd only serve to stress you out about stuff you could not possibly control at this stage in the game. But the class moves pretty slowly, and that at least is nice. JOC can also be very charming and entertaining, e.g. I am now expert at the various pronunciations of expert and what they mean. I wouldn't worry overmuch about the various ratings and whatnot of your professors - you'll find out soon enough whether or not you like a professor, and there's really nothing you can do about it even if you dislike them. Just get in there and get 'er done.

Oh, and some possibly useful advice: the Abraham's book is prettty awesome, and I'd recommend reading it before you read the corresponding cases.

[icouldbuyu]

Section K:

Civil Procedure: N. Woolhandler
Torts: C. Sprigman
Criminal Law: D. Brown
Contracts: J. Johnston
Legal Research & Writing: D. Buck

Any thoughts on these professors? Also any suggestions for supplements? Also where are first assignments posted?

[joeshmo39]

Brow and Sprigman are both hit or miss. I liked both but I've talked to a lot of people who did not. Brown has a really dry sense of humor and is really relaxed. I matched up well with him. Sprigman is a little more intense and has some serious swagger. He wears a lot of light blues. You will now notice that a lot. Some people are put of by Sprigman but I liked him too. He's a very good professor though I'm not sure he teaches torts often. That could be an adventure.

[WVUCelticFan]

Anyone else in E? Any 2L's have anything to say about section E?

I'm in E. Most of our stuff is still available used.

[crossingforHYS]

how about section d?

Nelson, Armacost, Low, and Verkerke (buck for legal writing)

[billyez]

Section K:

Civil Procedure: N. Woolhandler
Torts: C. Sprigman
Criminal Law: D. Brown
Contracts: J. Johnston
Legal Research & Writing: D. Buck

Any thoughts on these professors? Also any suggestions for supplements? Also where are first assignments posted?

I hope you enjoy windmills, though I heard that Buck might be changing the subject. I can't be sure.

I liked Brown and echo joe's comments. No laptops allowed, for better and for worse. He can also be powerpoint heavy, but that didn't bother me - though it seemed to bother some folks for some reason.

[dailygrind]

Section K:

Civil Procedure: N. Woolhandler
Torts: C. Sprigman
Criminal Law: D. Brown
Contracts: J. Johnston
Legal Research & Writing: D. Buck

Any thoughts on these professors? Also any suggestions for supplements? Also where are first assignments posted?

Johnston got mixed reviews, but there are far, far more positive than negative (mixed reviews are normal for many professors, I think. They tend to have strong personalities). I personally loved his class. Chirelstein is required, I believe, and I would recommend reading it before you read the assigned cases (I'd wait to buy it until after you see the syllabus - he assigns page numbers and it'd bea real hassle if the edition was wrong). You can get Farnsworth if you want, but I don't think it's necessary. We've got a copy in the library for when you feel stumped and you really need help with a topic.

[vamedic03]

what is your take on IP law at UVA

There are plenty of IP related classes and there are two Patent clinics. More importantly, there are plenty of strong litigation related classes.

[vamedic03]

Anyone else in E? Any 2L's have anything to say about section E?

Yeah. You have big shoes to fill.

Just kidding. I've had O'Connell (otherwise known as JOC). JOC can get mixed reviews - at least one 3L here has said they liked him. I...I was not a fan. IMO there are some negative aspects to his class, but it honestly would do you no good at all if I told you about them now; it'd only serve to stress you out about stuff you could not possibly control at this stage in the game. But the class moves pretty slowly, and that at least is nice. JOC can also be very charming and entertaining, e.g. I am now expert at the various pronunciations of expert and what they mean. I wouldn't worry overmuch about the various ratings and whatnot of your professors - you'll find out soon enough whether or not you like a professor, and there's really nothing you can do about it even if you dislike them. Just get in there and get 'er done.

Oh, and some possibly useful advice: the Abraham's book is prettty awesome, and I'd recommend reading it before you read the corresponding cases.

I'm a 3L and I liked JOC. JOC is very, very old school. But, he's good at teaching what he wants to teach. You probably won't learn about intention torts, but they're not really that important. You will learn negligence. A lot about negligence. And, you'll learn a lot about insurance. The indoctrination of negligence and insurance by JOC has been useful. JOC also likes to teach you a lot about the law in general - lots of old terms, old school approaches, etc. If you go in expecting JOC to do his thing and let him do his thing, it's a good experience. Just realize that it won't be like anyone else's torts class.

[vamedic03]

how about section d?

Nelson, Armacost, Low, and Verkerke (buck for legal writing)

I'm a huge fan of Nelson. I had him for Legislation. He's incredibly smart and knowledgeable. At times it can feel like trying to drink from a fire hose. But, if you go see him with questions, he'll always break down and explain things for you. Plus, he's an amazing scholar.

[bgdddymtty]

Section G:

CivPro: Spencer
Torts: Abraham
Crim Law: Low
Contracts: J. Setear

Any comments on the professors? Also when should we expect the casebooks to be revealed? Thanks a lot.

Whereas Torts as a subject (and, really, 1L classes as a whole) is generally descriptive in nature (i.e., this is what the law is), Abraham's class is entirely normative in nature (i.e., why ought/ought not the law to be structured a certain way?). You will learn very little about the definitions of the various kinds of torts (nuisance is the only one that I can remember there actually being a definition given, but even then it was simply a jumping-off point for a larger discussion about assignment of property rights). Whereas other Torts classes' finals will likely be of the "horse race" issue-spotter variety, Abraham's fact patterns are extremely short. He also gives roughly 2/3 of the class B+'s, his rationale being that the point system used by most other professors is more or less arbitrary in its awarding of different grades to students based on minute (and perhaps meaningless) differences. He's universally thought of as brilliant, but many students are scared to death of his cold calls. He awards no grade bump for performance in class, though, and encourages students to be willing to be wrong.

Perhaps most important of all, his hornbook is essentially the script for the class. Nearly verbatim.

[vamedic03]

Section K:

Civil Procedure: N. Woolhandler
Torts: C. Sprigman
Criminal Law: D. Brown
Contracts: J. Johnston
Legal Research & Writing: D. Buck

Any thoughts on these professors? Also any suggestions for supplements? Also where are first assignments posted?

I hope you enjoy windmills, though I heard that Buck might be changing the subject. I can't be sure.

I liked Brown and echo joe's comments. No laptops allowed, for better and for worse. He can also be powerpoint heavy, but that didn't bother me - though it seemed to bother some folks for some reason.

(1) D. Brown - I've had two classes with Brown. I'm a big fan. He can be hard to follow at times, but he does a good overall job of explaining and breaking down concepts. He's incredibly nice and will give you lots of exam taking tips and outlining tips throughout the semester. His powerpoints are nice as well. He has a dry sense of humor.

(2) C. Sprigman - I'm not the biggest fan. He can be a very engaging lecturer, however, he was sort of a jerk to his trademark class last Fall.

(3) N. Woolhandler - I'm a big fan. She's very, very smart. She works hard at breaking down tough concepts and will (at least in admin law) always provide a review at the beginning of class of the prior class. She's great at explaining things during office hours. She's not the most dynamic lecturer but she cares about her students and cares about you learning the material.

[WVUCelticFan]

Now that we know professors, where do we find syllabi/first assignments?