Dotson - Thomas Cooley Law School, Lansing, MI

Professor: Dotson

Department: Law

College: Thomas Cooley Law School, Lansing, MI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: TORTS1
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Initially he makes you feel like an idiot and you dont belong. You soon come to realize that what he is saying is common sense. KNOW THE LAW. the LAW is like your Social Security number.. it doesnt change, you just apply it in different circumstances. Over time I came to like Dotson, he is informative but I prefer him out of the class setting.

Rating # 2

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Great professor. Really gets you to think like a lawyer. Tests are good and very argumentative, just what is needed. Should get him if possible.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: TORTSII
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Early on he doesn't give out much material aside from reading the book; by the end it all falls into place. His background would excuse him if he chose to be arrogant, but he's actually very approachable and is a great guy who truly wants his students to succeed. He gets you to think like a lawyer, and I appreciated his sense of humor too.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: TORTSII
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

As a student who performed well in Torts, I?m not at all surprised by the negative comments regarding Prof. Dotson. He?s a great guy, but near the end of the semester his lectures became incomprehensible. Take Prof. Palmer!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: TORTS001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I am somewhat baffled by the negative comments being made about Prof. Dotson. He was my Prof. in both Torts 1 and Torts 2, and he knows his stuff. I would not be surprised if those who are making those outrageous claims about Prof. Dotson are just disgruntled students who got low grades.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: TORTS1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very unhelpful professor. But makes you try to acquire the mentality of an attorney. So never offers a direct answer to any of your questions. He expects you to answer your own questions. But exam is easy, and hes a fair grader. Know Negligence.

Rating # 7

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Last term in law school and I the worst prof ever! He does not know how to speak nor write clearly. Read the portal's exam questions and you'll wonder how did he pass law school. If you try to listen to lecture, you will be confused. He used words (during class) that make absolutely no sense.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: TORTS0
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Best Professor at Cooley - hands down. Students do not understand that in the real world the law is not "black and white," it is grey. If the law was black and white, there would be no need for lawyers! Make your argument - that's what lawyers do.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: TORTS1
• 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:

no comment

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ER123
• 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:

this is the worst teacher ive had in law school. horrible!!

Rating # 11

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He is his biggest fan. Dotson loves to tell of people he knew when he was a practicing attorney (e.g., Johnnie Cochran). While teaching, he will go off on a tangent. In the end, his students need to find the relevant information in what he says and be prepared for the wildest Final they will ever take (e.g., typos and vaguely worded questions).

Rating # 12

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

This professor is not very competent. He is distracted, hard to follow,and believes he has his 'own version' of the law (not sure what the Bar thinks about that!)He made some major errors in the final exam questions (typos and other problems) which created a great deal of confusion. Anyone who has info about this same problem please post....

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: TORTS2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Good grade in the class, but this Prof does not know how to give straight/clear response to questions that are asked.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: TORTS1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

great class, I don't know how he is getting so lowly rated by some of the individuals below (other than if you get a bad grade you are more prone to flame here). every question I had he answered, he covered everything on the test in class, and after it was all said and done I had a pretty strong grasp on torts.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: TORTSI
• 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:

Very disorganized, never gives straight answer.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: TORTS1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Good. does not call on anyone unless no one raises their hand. Will meet with you to explain anything. Gives great "life lessons" if you will.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: TORTSII
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Had him for I&II. Doesn't really call on ppl, great guy, but a little hard to follow. Get the outlines and clarify any questions you have! Even if you have to ask 5 times before you get an answer do it. He is so smart it's sometimes hard for him to come down to student's level, but he is willing to put in the work and cares about students!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: TORTS2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very liberal professor. Always wants the plaintiff to win regardless of what the law says. Very high on himself and at times he just rambles, not a great professor but the tests are fairly easy if you know what he wants.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: TORTSII
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

very engaging in the beginning - like the real world examples (his past cases). Had a hard time understanding him toward the end of the semester...got to the point where all I was hearing was "blah blah blah" - could have something to do with my lack of interest in the subject (unfortunately, the class is required)

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: EQUITREM
• 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:

Steer clear from Dotson for Equities & Remedies! I took him for Torts II & he was pretty good - but he has no idea what he's talking about for Equities. It was like he was speaking a foreign language or just making up the course as he went along.