Joel Bakan - University of British Columbia

Professor: Joel Bakan

Department: TBD

College: University of British Columbia

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: LAW201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

One of the best profs out there. Tough to get an A but equally tough to get less than a B. He makes it very clear what you are expected to do on an exam so everyone ends up doing pretty well and sticking to the middle of the curve.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: LAW201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Bakan is really funny and especially for Federalism, he breaks the material way down to make it as clear as possible. And he's the best possible person to learn Oakes from. He's very explicit with exam prep and doesn't think that trying to catch you off-guard is just part of exams. Treats his students like smart adults, which I appreciate.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: LAW110
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Bakan is a phenomenal lecturer. He explains cases clearly and succinctly, and ties the cases into larger theoretical frameworks in a way that makes a lot of sense. He is very clear about what he expects from students on an exam.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: LAW110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

everyone gets average, but takes significant work to rise above that. very cool prof.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: LAW100
• 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:

Bakan was my favourite professor in first year - his lectures are frequently funny, always clear and break down difficult material into digestible bits. Highly recommended.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: LAW100
• 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:

An entertaining lecturer with a dry sense of humour, but very thought-provoking as well. He sets a fair exam. He assigned a decent amount of reading but went through it thoroughly in class, so if you missed something you weren't totally out of luck. Take a class with him, he's great.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: LAW110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

So good! If you're lucky enough to have Bakan, you're in for a treat.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: LAW467
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The best prof in law school. Just a guy with common sense and a great sense of humor. Brings up interesting discussions in class. I would recommend him to everyone.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: LAW110
• 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:

I loved contracts because of this prof. Great teacher, humorous, self deprecating, brilliant and aware of the condition that first year law students find themselves in and doesn't try to add to the misery. As mentioned, he marks close to the curve which can be frustrating.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: LAW100
• 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:

Very good teacher. Very clear but hard marker

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: LAW300
• 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 - loads of fun

Rating # 12

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

A very clear, focused lecturer who hammers home the point to the point of dullness. Does a reasonalbe job of keeping his left leaning political views in check during class. Bakan's egalitarianism shows up in the marking though with almost everyone getting ~ 73% +/- 3%.

Rating # 13

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Great Prof. Knows his material inside out. Doesn't take himself too seriously in class, cracks jokes and takes questions well.

Rating # 14

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Very much at ease while lecturing. Great sense of humour. Makes the course very meaningful stitching together high-level concepts right from the get-go.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: LAW346
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Yes, he's a hard marker, but the expectations are pretty clear. Also, while he takes a mostly lecture approach to class time, he will engage if a student challenges the concepts presented. Overall, one of the best UBC Law profs. Good sense of humor, fun to listen to. A good no pressure class that is worth showing up for.

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Great lectures but a brutal marker - mostly because it is hard to fathom what he really expects from you. If you can afford to lose some marks take one class with him. His Charter class is much better than Federalism.

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Made it somewhat interesting, but is a brutal marker. Killed my average.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: FEDERALISM
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Amazing prof. Clear lectures - one of the few professors who actually care if you understand or not. Makes dry material interesting. Plus he's funny!

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Great lectures. Clear structure, interesting presentation. Treats students like thinking humans. Fair marker, a bit closer to the tough end.

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Great teacher BUT....! Any one who can make Charter understandable and interesting is a genius. BUT he is TOO smart! Hard marker, don't let his friendly nature fool you! Just a little hint...look at his old exams!