Douglas Heidenreich - Mitchell Hamline School of Law, Saint Paul, MN

Professor: Douglas Heidenreich

Department: Law

College: Mitchell Hamline School of Law, Saint Paul, MN

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CONT1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Some see Prof. Heidenreich as a "right of passage" at MH, but taking contracts with him is nothing short of sadistic. Some professors are really tough but they are good enough to make up for it. Prof. Heidenreich is not one of them. Although he is very smart and a great writer, his teaching and grading is inconsistent and sub par. Avoid if can.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CONT1
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Prof. Heidenreich has been teaching at WMCL, now MHSL, since 1963 after graduating himself in 1961. He is the classic example of a law professor and can be ruthless towards know-it-alls or students who come to class unprepared. He can be many things including harsh, but if approached with the right mindset is a gem. You get what you put into it.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PR1
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Took for PR. Most difficult grader at MSHL. Not my favorite prof but I respect the guy for not coddling students and thus depriving them of an honest assessment of their skills. Old school, especially Socratic method. Be prepared if your going to speak in class. Half my class technically failed the final before the curve bumped them to a C-.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PR1
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I would say this class was a tire fire. The test was very long and arduous. He would have failed 1/3 of the class if not for the curve. In my opinion, if 1/3 of your class is failing your test, that speaks to your teaching, more than their learning.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PR1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Heidenreich is an institution at Mitchell, and just sitting in a class with him makes you feel like this is a professor who has seen and heard everything. He can be hilariously feisty and entertaining, but his class often rambled and lacked clear organization. Very very tough grader- be prepared.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CONTRACTS
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

First of all, he will single out the first person in the class that is not prepared and make them want to sink into the floor and drop out. After that, it's still not much better. His teaching is not concise; rather, it is quite circular and not at all helpful. Avoid if possible. If you can't, memorize the absolute crap out of the Restatements.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CONTRACTS
• 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:

The quintessential law school experience. If you pick your professors based on their GPA stats, avoid Heidenreich. If you want to learn foundational cases, Socratic method-style, and you can memorize Restatements and write well, take Heidenreich. The man is a legend. He's also a teddy bear if you take the time to get to know him outside of class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PR1
• 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:

Though I would not recommend taking contracts with DH, I would recommend his PR class.DH is harder on 1L's than 2&3L's. It isn't enough to just know the material for this corse. You must also be organized, precise, and concise in your essays.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CONT1L
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you are attending law school but not interested in preparing for class you will hate this guy. If, on the other hand, you understand you are preparing for a career where judges and other lawyers will grill the unprepared without mercy, then Prof. H. is a good choice. Demands clarity and attention to details. Memorize restatement at all costs.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CON4
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Avoid at all cost if possible. Must memorize all material for test, especially the restatements. Punishes you for typos on the exam, and will hurt your GPA. Good riddance.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PR1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Avoid at all cost. Your grade will suffer for it unless you are an english major or an excellent writer.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CONTR1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you are stuck with this professor: Memorize the restatement of contracts and know how to apply the rules therein and you'll be alright. If you can take this class with another prof., do so.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CONTR1000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Know from the start that you will never be able to attain the standard that Heidenreich has set. Obsessively use practice problems and write/type your answers (you will not have any notes in the exam and must know all of the rules/definitions). He is a very wonderful person but stingy grader. I was blessed and cursed by having his class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CONT1000
• 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:

He's my fave.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PROFR2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He cares about his teaching. If you don't care about preparing he will treat you like the ass you are. If you do prepare, he's a lot of fun and you will learn. The class was very helpful for the MPRE. Half of the questions were discussed in class.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PROFE101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The class was entertaining but it does not really prepare you for the exam. If taking professional reasponsibility with Heidenrich I would recommend not even purchasing the text book and instead buy the E & E. The E & E will teach you everything. The textbook is useless. I studied the E & E while in class found it a good use of my time.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CONTR2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Don't back down or he'll roll right over you! If you can take it you'll learn a lot from him.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CONL2
• 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:

Professor Heidenreich is one of the best professors at William Mitchell. I read some of the comments on here before I had him for Contracts and was really worried, but my worries were unjustified! If you show up prepared and take advantage of office hours when you are unclear, there is no reason to worry at all-he genuinely wants you to succeed!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CONTR2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof Heidenreich is tough but no-nonsense and no BS. Come prepared for the class and be ready to discuss the cases intelligently or listen and learn. He's also the most generous man on campus - other professors will readily agree to this. He's my favorite professor - friend for life, greatly admired.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CONT101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Avoid at all cost. Worthless.