Tobin Sparling - South Texas College of Law Houston

Professor: Tobin Sparling

Department: TBD

College: South Texas College of Law Houston

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: LRW1
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Sparling makes himself available to you. He also will repeatedly tell and show you what good legal writing should look like. If you are wise enough to pay attention and ask for his help you should do fine. Study for the multiple choice final. Not taking that portion of the course seriously can be the the undoing of many students good final grade.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: LRW1
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Sparling offered an enjoyable and illuminating Legal Research class. On a personal level, he is an entertaining person. On a professional level, he is very fair and very clear in what he wants. Any student who follows his template (slavishly) will receive an excellent grade in return, while learning precisely how to structure legal memos.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: LRW1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I cannot say enough positive things about Professor Sparling. He turns an otherwise dull subject of research into humorous and entertaining projects. His lectures have unexpected moments which left the whole class laughing. He will give you his phone number, and you should call him anytime you need help within the hours he gives you.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: LRW2
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Hes thorough and demanding,but the skills U learn will pay off handsomely. Hes available and provides great help with the papers. Hell almost write Ur paper for U if U have the initiative to seek his help. Hes the stereotypical law prof,but in a good way,the old New England blue blood gentlemen,but without the pomp and superiority.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: LRW1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is very helpful and makes his expectations known. He was great for LRW1 and I would gladly have him again for LRW2.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: LRW2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I enjoyed having Sparling as my LRW 2 prof. He expects a lot of his students and can be a bit tough on grading, but as long as you put in the work, expect to do just fine. This class is a TON of busy work so be prepared for that.

Rating # 7

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

You will learn, and if you really put in the work, you will write better than most coming out of school, and maybe even better than many practicing attorneys. He will go above and beyond to help you, all you have to do is ask.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: LRWI
• 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:

Had him for Fall 2010 LR&W. Hands down, after speaking with classmates in other LR&W classes that Prof. Sparling is not only the toughest LR&W prof but also the best. You will learn how to conduct research and how to use a law library these are core to being successful. Follow his guides and don't miss class. He is very helpful and informative.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: LRW1
• 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:

Sparling gives you the blueprint for EXACTY what he expects in the memos, if you follow it you will do fine. He is by far the hardest of the LRW profs in that he expects more out of his students than the others (longer & more complex papers) but you will learn a ton in his class! Very willing to help outside of class. Would take again.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: LRWI
• 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:

Best Professor at STCL. Not the easiest, but high expectations yield a high quality product. I learned a lot. His job is not to teach you HOW to write. If you can't write, you shouldn't have been accepted into law school!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: LRWII
• 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:

Does a good job of providing students with a template for how an effective brief/motion should be written. Not much actual advice, however, on how to improve one's writing. If you already write well, class should help refine your writing. If you are barely literate (which many of the students seemed to be), not sure how Sparling can help.

Rating # 12

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Professor Sparking turned what would have been a boring subject into something fun and enjoyable. He has a wonderful talent for teaching and helping others to learn. Professor Sparling is an outstanding Professor !!!!

Rating # 13

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Prof. Sparling is one of my favorite teachers here. He's not incredibly friendly and he won't go easy on you, but you WILL learn how to write an excellent memo and appellate brief. Also, he's pretty witty, so the class was not nearly as boring as it easily could have been.

Rating # 14

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

South Texas is in the top 20 in Legal Writing and Research and Tobin Sparling, without a doubt, has been a big part of that accomplishment. Well Done.

Rating # 15

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

TOUGH

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Very thorough, with a dry sense of humor. I learned a great deal from him.