Edward Steinman - Santa Clara University

Professor: Edward Steinman

Department: TBD

College: Santa Clara University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CRIM1CONLAW1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Ed's teaching style is polarizing - there's no middle ground. If you pay attention, you'll learn a lot about thinking like a lawyer. It's not in the syllabus, but he expects students to seek him out outside class. Go to his office hours when you're on call. If you do, he'll go easy on you. If you don't, he'll eviscerate you in front of everyone.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CRIM101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I had Steinman as a 1L. Steinman was the best and most memorable professor I had in law school. Anyone who mentions Steinman's ego or how he made them cry, clearly has never been in a courtroom. I practice criminal law and his found practice problems useful. If you want to do well on his exams, get his old practice exams and look at model answers

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CONLAW1
• 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:

Pure socratic method. Doesn't break down class & cases well overall. You must deduce from class discussion. Went to him before on call, steered me wrong, instead of saying we aren't even going to discuss those cases. He called on me, I thought it was time to bring up the new cases. Proceeded to chase me out of class and yell @ me. Huge ego.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CRIMLAW101
• 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:

Arrogant leftist professor who prosthelytizes his style of thinking, rather than plainly explaining the rules and the methods of showing a punishable act. Law in general is a simple subject which law professors often aim to make "difficult" by obfuscating. This professor is a pioneer of obfuscation.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: LAW310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I'll put it gently. I learned more from reviewing a supplement outline than from Ed Steinman (And I say that as someone who did extremely well in his class). He was consistently incorrectly stating law, refused to assist during office hours, and is currently pending review by the administration for multiple issues. Great mind, awful instructor.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: LAW106CRIM
• 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:

Great class! Very hard, but very interesting. Unparalleled dedication to teaching from the professor. He is a genius so you will have to work hard to keep up with him. Don't freak out though, he is a great guy and will spend the time with you to make sure you got it. Very clear about what he expects on the exam.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CRIM
• 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:

One of the best SCU has to offer. Steinman IS law school. His courses are a reality check, probably some of the most intellectually challenging at SCU. He compels you to learn and is passionate about law, and it shows. He emphasizes a practical, statute-based approach, a breath of fresh air from the usual case-based classes.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CRIM1
• 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:

Anyone reading these comments should ignore anything said by law students who naively say they will be a better lawyer because of the mind-bending experience of taking a class with Steinman. As a lawyer, years removed from LS, you'll realize core LS classes were just hoops to jump through. Unless you're a masochist why torture yourself? Stay away!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CRIM101
• 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:

Prof. Steinman teaches you skills you will learn in no other class. He is ridiculously hard and the work load is substantial. But if you buy into his methods and invest the time, you will learn invaluable legal skills. Unparalleled training in sythesis of cases and application of the law. Wound up taking him 3 times. Also a brilliant attorney.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CRIMCRIM
• 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:

His class is challenging but fun. He is very helpful if you can identify what exactly you are confused about. (He does not have much patience if you ask him a vague question). His class is well organized by the minute. Caveat: he gives a lot of assignment for each class.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CRIM001
• 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:

He's an asset to SCU and cares deeply about his students. He may intimidate if you're not prepared to have real-world, adult discussions about law. No case method here; he (effectively) teaches law more as a vocation or craft through hypos. I've never been more challenged in my life, and I'll be a better lawyer because of it.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CONLAW
• 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:

He is one of the best professors on campus and he truly cares about his students. He is appropriately tough, and his classes are like a boot camp for lawyers in training.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CRIMLAW
• 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:

I had Steinman in the 1990s as a 1L for Crim Law. When I went on this site I guessed he'd have the most comments of any prof. He hasn't changed much. He made students cry in class, yelled, was egocentric and borderline cruel. Had poor boundaries -I wouldn't see him alone in his office. Poor didactics: grandstanding ego-feast instead of teaching.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CONSTI
• 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:

Brilliant attorney, poor professor. He's got the heart, but he lacks a lot of the fundamental teaching skills. It's a shame because he has some great ideas. Another professor could work wonders with some of Steinman's methods, but he is too disorganized/self-centered/flamboyant to be effective.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: LAW04
• 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:

I would be surprised if any of the negative raters now practice criminal defense. Steinman can be intimidating for a 1L who's sole objective in life is to get good grades so you can devote your life to defending corporations or insurance companies. If you want to be a real lawyer and defend the criminally accused at trial, take Steinman.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CONLA1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The most condescending teacher I have ever had. Insults his students, does not understand personal boundaries, and purposely makes sure his class makes no sense. I was afraid to go to his office hours on my own. Never take a class from this man.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CRIM101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

According to a recent issue of the Advocate, the Law Newspaper, he has been banned from teaching 1st year courses due to his erratic and inappropriate behavior. Wish he was banned earlier so I didn't have to take first year Crim with him.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CONLA111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Perfect example of the saying "all the genius in the world is useless if you can't communicate it to anyone". He has ADD to the max..he thinks in tangents, you will not be able to follow him, regardless of how much you prep..your grade will suffer. DROP.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CRIM100
• 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:

I am utterly amazed that some folk suggest that anyone would be "better off" having introduced this "teacher" to their life. He touched me when I didn't want to be touched. I witnessed most of the unpalatable behaviors previously mentioned. He actually admitted that he chose the most opaque text on purpose. Good riddance.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CRIM106
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Steinman is a wonderful professor. His class was the most rewarding of my 1L experience. The class requires a lot of effort, but If you go to his office hours and attempt his previous tests you are sure to succeed. Also, is intimidating at first, but once you get to know him you will realize he is a genuinely nice and funny man.