Val Ricks - South Texas College of Law Houston

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Val Ricks - South Texas College of Law Houston

Professor: Val Ricks

Department: Law

College: South Texas College of Law Houston

Rating # 1

Overview:

Course: CONTRACTS1
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: No
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

This was one of my most difficult classes my first semester 1L year. He requires you to turn in your briefs and he reads them in front of the class and will roast you (anonymously) if it's bad, but he'll identify you by name if you've done a particularly good job. He absolutely LOVES granular analysis on both the assigned briefs and the final.

Rating # 2

Overview:

Course: CONTRACTS1
Grade Received: B+
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

The finest professor at STCL. Challenging in the best sense - wants to engage with you intellectually instead of spoon-feeding easy answers. Intentionally leans into ambiguities b/c that's where lawyers are actually needed (this frustrates some students). Deeply kind, thoughtful & dryly hilarious, he's ADORED by many. He even made us brownies once!

Rating # 3

Overview:

Course: CONTRACTS1
Grade Received: B+
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Ricks is one of my favorite professor's at STCL. His class is conducted in more of a philosophical manner rather than a practical manner which is why many students do not like him. He actually makes you think instead of spoon feeding you the answers. He also has a very unique sense of humor; if you have self confidence problems avoid his class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

Course: CONTRACTS2
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: No
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Prof Ricks is a professor that is very intelligent, at the least, in his own mind. He would rather condescend than explain or teach. On several occasions he has admitted that the topic is confusing and moved forward, leaving students confused and helpless. He uses bad law in his textbook, which is all about potatoes and horses. Can't make that up..

Rating # 5

Overview:

Course: LAW202B
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Ricks has been hands down my favorite professor of all time. He makes class interesting and is clearly very knowledgeable and passionate about what he teaches. He keeps you on your toes and makes you think about things in a way you probably never would have before. I have learned so much from him and am eternally grateful.

Rating # 6

Overview:

Course: CONTRACTS1
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

He is challenging. He expects you to think and probably won't give clear answers in class, but go to his office if you're confused because he is much more straightforward. He tells you the exam is based on the book and that is accurate. His exam was actually easier than I expected. All the problems were covered by a case we studied.

Rating # 7

Overview:

Course: LAW235A
Grade Received: B
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Ricks definitely thinks the students know more than we do, but he will take time to explain if it is brought to his attention. He knows the subject very well, and is pretty funny during lecture. I think this was possibly the easiest of all bar courses at STCL. But with that said, don't go in thinking it's a blow off course. Pay attention and pass.

Rating # 8

Overview:

Course: AGENCY
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Hes a philosopher by training and approaches the law from that deep philosophical tradition. So U can totally blow an essay,but if U make a deep and compelling case,then thats good enough. The only downsides that he prob wont do much in terms of getting U ready for the bar,if thats a major concern,as he focuses on the theory rather than the pr

Rating # 9

Overview:

Course: CONTRACTSII
Grade Received: B-
Overall Rating: 1.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

He uses a random number generator to determine who will be called on for recitation. You know when you're up and when you can relax for the day. He is not clear about what he expects from students and allows students to stumble onto the rules and make complete fools of themselves before he will help. Knows the material well, but not a good teacher.

Rating # 10

Overview:

Course: CONTRACTS2
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Ricks is one of the many examples of a person who is very intelligent, knows the law backwards and forwards, BUT should not be teaching. He calls on 4-5 students a class and pretty much lets them do the talking... which isn't helpful if they don't know anything. And the book... oh god the book... Just, hope your number doesn't pop up, good luck!

Rating # 11

Overview:

Course: AANDP
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Keeps it interesting. Knows the subject. Did a great job of organizing and explaining a subject that is kind of a mess as far as the actual law is concerned (agency). This was a nice crossover class - besides agency and partnership, you get a bit of employment and corporations. Recitation is easy if you read. Final was fair.

Rating # 12

Overview:

Course: LAW202D
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Ricks has been my favorite professor at STCL. If you are expecting something easy, go somewhere else. His self written book is fantastic. If you are not prepared for class, you wont be prepared for the final. Ricks is more knowledgable and passionate about the law than anyone. He engages multiple angles of the material with ease. Recommend!

Rating # 13

Overview:

Course: CONTRACTSI
Grade Received: Not sure yet
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Lots of people don't like this class because it actually involves approaching difficult concepts from an abstract position. You have to put the pieces together. How you do that is on you. You will feel lost and confused until you study for the final exam. But when you start reviewing where you have been, you will grasp the method behind the madness

Rating # 14

Overview:

Course: CORPS
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.5
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Sounds like I was in the same class as the previous 4 posts. Literally had no idea what we were talking about, ALL SEMESTER. I went, prayed I didn't see my number come up, then tried to pay attention, and left feeling utterly confused/inadequate. Glad it's not just me. Super condescending w/o meaning to be. Final is impossible. Nice guy though.

Rating # 15

Overview:

Course: CORP
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He treats class like its a bunch of CEOs with lots of business background competing for a job. Very hard to follow,confusing manner of speaking. Doesn't really break anything down into workable elements. Recitation- spent lots of time on each student even when it wasn't progressing understanding. I studied bar prep for final & didn't help AT ALL.

Rating # 16

Overview:

Course: CORP
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Ricks is not an effective teacher. Everyone in class was stumbling around in the dark the entire semester and the final was easily the most difficult that I've taken. He's got some redeeming qualities but unfortunately they don't ask about them on the bar exam. AVOID

Rating # 17

Overview:

Course: CORP
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Random number generator. Lots of questions surrounding Tx code and lots of cases to read, yet not much application of that on final. Not sure where questions on final came from. Nice guy, not so great of a teacher. Final was way too hard. Will avoid in future.

Rating # 18

Overview:

Course: CORPS
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.5
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Hardest final I have taken in law school. Why, oh why, did I take Ricks my last semester? His exam is a beast and I just hope for a mercy D so I can graduate. My entire class was confused the entire semester. He is a brilliant guy, but condescending and impossible to follow. He asked things on the exam that I had never seen before. AVOID!

Rating # 19

Overview:

Course: KI
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

You must come prepared for class everyday because recitation is done through a random number generator. The cases are the best way to study for the test because a lot of the questions came from the cases he hand chooses. He is very accessible outside the classroom. Take advantage of this b/c he will not give all the answers in class!

Rating # 20

Overview:

Course: CON1
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

contracts 1- Learn the case book- the test questions were very similar to the cases. Very tough final, i was happy to receive a C when I thought I had an F for sure. Visit him, it will definitely help, and attend landgell!!

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