From evaluations of “Professor” Wertlieb completed anonymously by students in the year indicated, except where otherwise indicated:
2024:
[Overall evaluation of instructor (9-point scale): Median 9; Mean 9]
I took your life cycle of a corporation course at UCLA in 2014. Completely changed my career path. I thoroughly enjoyed the subject matter/your advice about practicing and found my niche. Cheers to all of the impact that you’ve made in your career. [message from former student]
Probably the most useful and straightforwardly relevant class I’ve taken in law school. I recommend anyone interested in transactional work to take the course.
The instructor is very enthusiastic and it makes the class very fun and helpful!
-he is a really kind and caring professor. you can tell that he really cares about his students. -very patient, loves questions, welcomes student discussion -love the one sentence homework assignments
professor is very prepared, really knows his stuff, is very caring and engaging
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] Passion, engagement, receptivity to student ideas and comments
Great course, great experience, definitely feel more prepared for transactional experience.
Neil is one of the sweetest and most caring professors I’ve had the pleasure of learning with at UCLA. If you’re in any way interested in transactional work, this is the class to take. He does a really great job of encouraging participation without cold-calling and letting us know he was available.
Professor Wertlieb is very, very knowledgeable. He is incredibly approachable and kind. He knows how to make rather dry subjects enjoyable. I know that this class will help me in my future.
Very fun course. The alternative structure feels appropriate for the transactional nature of the course.
Professor is super engaging, I highly recommend this course.
Professor Wertlieb did a great job making his lecture engaging.
Professor Wertlieb is so enthusiastic and really cares about his students and passing along his knowledge and experience in transactional law! A great class.
Really great professor who structured the course to hit the most relevant and important points of transactional work.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] Personable, energetic, and clearly passionate about the material. Very kind and the classroom environment felt comfortable. I liked his personal stories about his experiences.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] Professionalism and availability for in and out of class correspondence.
Professor Wertlieb is incredibly sharp and personable. He offers a practical perspective to aspects of the legal field as a business and the course was a great overview of general corporate law topics. I am grateful to have taken this course and urge other students to take this class before graduation.
2023:
[Overall evaluation of instructor (9-point scale): Median 9; Mean 9]
Professor Wertlieb explained the material very well. You could ask questions at any time and he took a lot of time to answer every question in detail. Nevertheless, you never had the feeling that he lacked the time to discuss all the material. Professor Wertlieb was very good at assessing which topics were more difficult, so we took more time to discuss them and which ones only needed to be touched on briefly, so that you could always follow the lesson well but were never bored. In addition, he managed to create a classroom atmosphere in which everyone was happy to participate and thus the class was very interactive. Professor Wertlieb not only showed us how certain contract clauses should look like, but also taught us how to generally approach the drafting of any type of contract and how to think as a transactional lawyer.
This class was my favorite one. I found the material that was discussed very interesting and I really liked the model that almost all of it was discussed on the example of the start up we as class “founded”. The course has a good balance between theoretical content you learn and practical tips. In addition, the class is very interactive, so it was a lot of fun. When I read that before in the previous evaluations, as an LL.M. I was a bit intimidated. But you don’t need to be, because professor Wertlieb gives you the feeling that every participation is valued. I particularly liked the fact that the course had a high practical relevance and professor wertlieb shared many valuable experiences with us. I would recommend anyone to take this class, you don’t have to put in too much work but you get a lot out of it.
Prof Wertlieb creates a really comfortable learning environment where students can ask questions, learn through doing, and make mistakes. I appreciate that he gives us time in class to work together and collaborate on transactional work, as few courses at the law school do that.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] Making this a really fun and engaging course.
I love this course.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] Extreme mastery of subject area and approachable manner of teaching.
The course is incredibly interesting and useful. I believe it has helped me get a better feel for the issues I will face as a transactional lawyer, which is rare of classes here.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of weakness are:] n/a!!!!!!!
I had a lot of fun – it was interactive and practical, being able to take our start up from inception to IPO was extremely fun.
Neil is an amazing guide on how to lead a start-up through launch to exit. All the assignments were helpful and were at times fun, especially the contract loopholes assignment.
I cannot imagine a better way to satisfy the experiential requirement! Definitely take the course. It is a helpful way to see all the business law classes come together in how a practicing attorney would encounter them in practice. If you didn’t have time to take a particular key business law class this class is a way to learn everything you need to know.
2022:
[Overall evaluation of instructor (9-point scale): Median 9; Mean 9]
As a student interested in corporate transactions, this has been my favorite class so far in law school. The professor is very knowledgeable and passionate about the subject. He provides the material in a easy-to-understand method and is very concise, further enriching my class experience. He focuses on key concepts and material that is directly applicable to work done by a first year corporate associate. He is always willing to meet with students outside of class and be helpful in any manner possible. One of the best teachers at UCLA Law.
Neil is clearly a very experienced and knowledgeable transactional attorney. I enjoyed this class because he easily distilled the concepts of starting and running a business into easily manageable bites. I feel much better about starting my career incorporate work after taking this class as now I know I’m equipped with the strong fundamentals of practice.
One of the best classes I have ever taken at UCLA Law. Professor Wertlieb is great at explaining concepts in simple terms. It is nice that he never assumes that we have prior knowledge (which most professors at UCLA do.) I absolutely loved that Professor Wertlieb added all of us on LinkedIn at the start of the school year and made himself available to grab coffee before class so we could pick his brains.
He is very knowledgable about transactional law, is a good teacher, and very friendly/approachable.
Take this class!!! If you are thinking about doing transactional work, this class is an absolute must. Neil’s ability to breakdown such a complex area of the law into simple and manageable bites is amazing.
Neil was great at engaging everyone in discussion, talking about the readings in class and assigning us manageable assignments, providing helpful feedback on assignments, and explaining things clearly. Overall, Neil is a great person and professor and I feel very grateful to have taken this class.
The course is very helpful for students interested in corporate transactions. UCLA Law tends to be very litigation focused in their course offering. Therefore, with the great teaching by the professor, I found this class to be highly enjoyable and very applicable to work as a first year corporate associate.
10/10 would recommend! The readings are manageable (and he talks about everything that’s important in class). This is definitely not a stressful class, so if you want to take it but are worried about squeezing it in with a heavy class load – I would say it is worth it.
The course was amazing – I learned a lot and the learning process itself was enjoyable.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] Exceptional knowledge in the field
Brings great real-world examples
This is the best class ever and Professor Wertlieb is amazing!! I highly recommend this class to anyone interested in transactional law!! He is so engaging, smart, funny, an expert in his field, and truly cares about his students. I love how he brings in real life examples from his work. He is so great at engaging all the students and incorporating our participation and questions into his teaching. He creates a really inclusive and safe environment where everyone can participate, ask questions, and feel a part of the overall simulation. I literally always leave class feeling like I learned so much that day.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of weakness are:] I cannot think of anything I would change about this class or the professor’s teaching style. This is my favorite class I’ve taken at UCLA and Professor Wertlieb is my favorite professor.
The simulation format for this class is so fun! I felt like I learned so much but it was in such an interesting and engaging way that it didn’t feel like work. I have a much better understanding of the law and about how it is practically applied because the professor would teach the law but then also frame it as how we would give advice to our clients. I was constantly challenged by the professor and my classmates to come up with creative solutions to potential problems. The one sentence drafting assignments really improved my confidence and the reading assignments were relevant, interesting, and helpful. The big assignments were also so great because I feel much more prepared going into my summer internship now.
Professor Wertlieb makes very complicated topics understandable. He is very patient in explaining things to the class and to individual students when they ask a question. It is also great to get perspective on practical things that transactional lawyers will actually use in their career.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] He is really intelligent and kind. He brings warmth and accessibility to a subject that people might expect to be uptight and unapproachable.
This is one of the most useful courses I have taken in law school and it benefits from the professor’s deep real-world experience. Highly recommend for people who want to do transactional law.
Clearly enjoys teaching and is good at it. His syllabus is a good front to back simulation of creating/selling a startup. He is a nice person.
Professor Wertlieb does a fantastic job of distilling complex law into takeaways that I will be able to remember/employ for the rest of my career.
Great class! I highly recommend it.Great class. Very enjoyable. Of all classes I took, it was a pleasure to come to and I looked forward to it each week (twice a week)! It was light and enjoyable and fun.
This class does a great job of giving a summary/ overview of a lot of the issues that corporate lawyers will see. The assignments were really interesting and fun to work on.
Useful and entertaining course
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] Tying different subjects together.
2021:
[Overall evaluation of instructor (9-point scale): Median 9; Mean 9]
Thank you for teaching this class. It’s one of the best I’ve had at UCLA Law, in large part to your style of teaching and the classroom culture you promote. [email from current student]
Thank you for teaching one of my favorite classes in law school. This has been the most practically applicable class I’ve taken and I feel so lucky to have a teacher like you. [email from current student]
I wanted to thank you for a great semester and let you know how much I liked your class. In my opinion, UCLA doesn’t have nearly enough opportunities for students to learn about start-up and/or transactional law, so I really appreciate that this class was available. I only wish I had taken it sooner because it would have been extremely helpful for my summer internship with [law firm] last year. I feel so much more prepared and confident to go into my job after your class and I’m so grateful! [email from current student]
This course taught me the basics of what I need to know to start as an associate in a transactional law firm that focuses on startups. We covered everything from financings, exits, compensation, securities laws, and contract drafting. [anonymous feedback from current student]
Anyone interested in a transactional practice should take this course. I have yet to find a class that provides such applicable information in such a succinct way. [anonymous feedback from current student]
It’s a great course and I knew a bit about transactional practice during summer compared to fellow summers because of this class and another one I took the same semester. [anonymous feedback from student who took class 1 year earlier]
Professor Wertlieb is amazing and I would highly recommend this class to anyone who has an interest in transactional work. His explanations are clear and thorough and his method of teaching in class fosters thoughtful class participation. Zoom school of law is difficult and I really appreciate the “guess the couch” backgrounds even though I didn’t know many of them. The weekly one sentence drafting exercises were also a helpful way to engage with the material that we’ve learned. Thankyou Professor Wertlieb for a great class.
Prof. Wertlieb is really good at creating an environment where I feel comfortable contributing to the class discussion, and I truly appreciate it.
I’d strongly recommend this class to anyone who’s considering becoming a transactional lawyer.
I really love the weekly one-sentence contract drafting exercise. It helps me understand the importance of actively thinking about how to better address different clients’ needs and of keeping the contract language simple.
This class is one of the few classes offered at UCLA Law that focus on practical transactional law. I wish UCLA would offer more classes like because most of the courses are catered towards a career in litigation. The class teaches you a variety of business transactions and contract drafting considerations in a practically rather than theoretically (which I find to be the case in other contract drafting and business courses).
Truly an excellent class. Has helped me to feel really confident about the scope of issues that I’ll encounter practicing corporate law. Thank you, Neil, for making this by far the most engaging and interesting class that I’ve taken in law school, most notably since we transitioned from in-class to Zoom. You have excelled at handling this course remotely and utilizing technology and participation to keep it awesome. The assignments have literally been fun – and so has our class time! I will miss our Wednesdays and Fridays.
He is very knowledgeable about the subject of this course. He also truly cares about the success of all of his students. I enjoyed going to class and always felt comfortable and welcomed to participate. This class was also one of the most useful classes I have taken at UCLA.
This course and Prof. Wertlieb are both fantastic! If you have any interest in Corporate/Transactional work you should take this course. I wish there were more transactional-based experiential classes like this to take!
Prof. Wertlieb connects really well with his students. The class is a really good back-and-forth discourse, and the professorreally cares about everyone’s participation. His depth of knowledge and practical insight is invaluable.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of weakness are:] I honestly can’t think of a single way this course could be improved. It is everything I hoped it would be.
This has perhaps been the most applicable course I could imagine. The work is hands on and directly related to what practitioners actually do. The broad survey of topics and the assignments focusing on a single, hypothetical business has given me a better idea of what I will be doing when I start practicing than any other course I have taken.
I think the instructor benefits a lot from a unique perspective of the subject area that we don’t usually get from the traditional law school professor. I think that sometimes law schools can struggle to fully prepare students for transactional practice, but I think that this was a great starting point. I liked how the professor was engaged and connected with all students in the class rather than focusing on 3-4 that answer the most questions.
I think that we need more courses like this. Business associations is great and all, but like actually applying those concepts is so important. I feel like any week could have been expanded into a full semester of content. I think the topics were all relevant and the structure of the course flowed nicely.
He does a great job of touching upon a variety different areas of the law (securities, tax etc.) in a way that is not overwhelming but still very informative. In fact, I felt that this class gave me the same core information I was learning in other classes in a more digestible manner. Overall, it was a great course. I only wish I had been able to take it in person.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] Experience and practicality! I so appreciate how practical in nature the course was. I feel prepared for transactional work! I really appreciated his relentlessly positive attitude. … Just loved it. Great teacher. Awesomely practical assignments. You ended up surprising yourself at how much you learned.
Professor Wertlieb is super knowledgeable about the subject because he spent his entire career in transactional law so he teaches you practical aspects of the law that you will actually use. The readings are a good length and he kept the class engaged without cold calling because everyone felt comfortable participating and wanted to be a part of the discussion. Nothing felt like busy work. I think the best thing about Professor Wertlieb was that he made himself available outside of class whenever his students needed help and was beyond patient in answering questions and clarifying anything — no matter how small. I couldn’t recommend this class enough — I would take any class Professor Wertlieb taught!
Professor Wertlieb is versatile, intelligent, and an overall solid professor. He was always understanding and I felt that he was very invested in the course. Having taken BA last semester, I can say with confidence that I wish we could just take Professor Wertlieb’s class and forget about BA. He weeded out all of the unnecessary information and honed in on the stuff we’d actually need to understand in practice. He’s also funny and good at keeping the class engaged. Plus he has a great collection of couches!
I absolutely loved this course. I know that it will be immensely helpful as I go into my summer associate position. UCLA needs to offer even more specific practical transactional courses to go along with this course. I thought that the exercises were very manageable and helped solidify the skills that we were learning in class. I greatly enjoyed the guest speakers …. I also really liked how participatory the class was. I was able to learn a lot from my classmates.
2020:
[Overall evaluation of instructor (9-point scale): Median 9; Mean 9]
It was not until after I spent my summer working as a summer associate for mostly early stage companies at [law firm] that I really understood how useful this course was. Not only did Life Cycle expose me to many of the concepts I would need to complete and have a full understanding of my assignments, but learning this material before starting my job also prompted me to ask questions about each client’s goals and why an attorney was choosing to go down one path versus another to achieve them. This gave me a huge advantage over other summer associates in my class. [email from student who took class 1 year earlier]
Thank you for a wonderful semester! I had no background in business or finance before law school, but after this class, I am finally comfortable with all the concepts covered in Business Associations. All the assignments, readings, and classroom discussions were really helpful, and I’ve actually been using our class notes to help me prepare for my exams in Securities Regulation and Venture Capital this week. I wish there was a way for every Business Law student to benefit from this course to truly understand the lifecycle of a business, but I really appreciated the intimate classroom environment we had, especially during the remote transition. [email from current student]
This class was a great experience! Your teaching style was engaging and it was a pleasure to learn from you. [email from current student]
I wanted to thank you for a great semester, especially given the unusual circumstances! I learned a lot about transactional practices in this class and enjoyed all our class discussions. I also feel more comfortable and prepared for my summer job at a firm that has a big practice working with emerging companies and venture capitals. I have recommended this class to many people in my class who are interested in transactional practices. [email from current student]
This was truly the most useful class I have taken in law school. Hopefully you will be teaching at UCLA again this spring, because I cannot wait to recommend your class to all of the future 2/3Ls. [email from current student]
I had one of my best semesters in law school largely because you were my teacher. [email from current student]
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] Breaks material down closely, and only focuses on what we need to know
[The instructor’s greatest areas of weakness are:] None! Professor Wertlieb is incredible!
I learned SO MUCH useful information in this class. If you are planning to work in transactional law, or even want to see what transactional work is like, I would *highly* recommend this class. I also appreciated that Prof. Wertlieb talks about the ethical perspective on a lot of issues.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] Empathy and receptivity to student participation. He understands this is an area of law we don’t get much exposure to at all in law school and makes everyone feel like their contribution is worth consideration. Also, the “war stories” from his time in practice are always fascinating. Knowing more about the in’s and out’s of actually working as a lawyer in a law firm is never really covered in any depth at law school.
I wish there were more courses at the law school that took this approach to teaching. I felt I learned more and contributed more than I have in any other course. Everyone bought into our company and wanted to have it succeed, get good terms for fundraising, etc.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] Experience as a transactional attorney, organization of class, passion for subject, commitment to course despite the transition to remote classes (unlike many other professors), extremely willing to meet with students before transition.
Extremely helpful course in preparing to be a transactional attorney. I think this course ought to be a requirement for students pursuing Business Law. I have a much better understanding of the practice now, and even a deal toy to prove it.
This is probably one of the only (if not the only) courses and professors I will remember after graduating. Also the first time at UCLA Law where I’ve liked both the professor and the class, instead of just one of the two.
Unlike most of my professors so far, Prof. Wertlieb gave us incredible insight into what is actually important to note that would improve our performance during practice. This class was incredibly helpful in us learning about things we would actually engage in during practice as associates. My mentors have told me about what a typical junior or mid-level associate would do at my firm and they line up with projects and practices we’ve done in class like negotiating term sheets.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of weakness are:] I’m not sure if I would have changed anything to improve the class.
Great, I highly recommend if you are interested in going into a transactional practice, especially working in a corporate group.
Prof. Wertlieb is always there to help. He is very accessible and will answer your questions thoroughly anytime, whether it pertains to the course or not. He genuinely wants you to succeed and it is very apparent!
Amazing Professor and he simplifies the most complex areas to make it easily understandable.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] Very knowledgeable about all things transactional work. Professor Wertlieb is very helpful and receptive to student input. He creates a classroom environment where every student feels comfortable participating (even shy students, like me). He dealt with the mandatory move to Zoom lectures very well and managed to maintain a productive and engaging learning environment online.
This is a fantastic experiential course. Absolutely would recommend. Work load is not too heavy, and opportunities to learn are substantial. Professor is great and can answer any question. The course title is fairly descriptive – you cover everything a business would need to consider (entity choice, tax, investment, issuing debt, bankruptcy, M&A, IPOs, and more), but at a very high level that is ~NOT~ hard to understand. I wish I had taken this class earlier because the 30,000 ft. view of these topics helped me see things that would have been super interesting to learn about. That’s really a compliment to the professor, who did an excellent job of making things easy to follow.
Professor Wertlieb is very knowledgeable about the materials, organized throughout the semester and accessible in and outside of class. It has been a hard semester for the faculty to teach remotely, but I think Professor Wertlieb has done a great job doing that!
I learned a lot from this course and enjoyed the discussions during class. The materials were practical and useful for realworld practice. I liked how our class focused more on the big picture things and not fixated on details. The exercises were well-written and the grading was fair. I received individualized feedback for each exercise and felt like I was making progress throughout the semester.
2019:
[Overall evaluation of instructor (9-point scale): Median 9; Mean 9]
I am doing a lot of contract drafting and editing and directly applying a lot of the skills I learned in your class. The very careful and precise editing that you taught us has been very useful. It has also been useful to simply have a basic understanding of some of the standard term sheet terms. So, thank you for the great training. [email from student who took course 2 years earlier]
I truly enjoyed your class and teaching method. [email from student who took class 1 year earlier]
Thank you for a wonderful semester. As we discussed, I certainly feel this course has taught me practical skills and knowledge that will help me in my law career and beyond. [email from current student]
This was the best class that I had at UCLA. [email from current student]
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] Incredibly kind, understanding, helpful, brilliant, and supportive. Really takes the time in and out of class to provide extensive feedback for your work. It feels like you have a personal-attorney-trainer on your team. Thanks for a great semester Professor Wertlieb!
Professor Wertlieb has a deep mastery of the subject. I cannot thank him enough for his great availability and his kindness. It was a great pleasure to attend his class. Even if I am not comfortable in speaking in class, I really enjoyed this class because he did his best to make us comfortable in participating and was very receptive to all our ideas. There was a real exchange between the professor and the students. His presentations and explanations are always very clear and precise. His class is very interactive: the class is often divided in order to represent both parties and this is one of the best parts of this class because you really have to think as a lawyer of a specific party and try to find counter-arguments.
This class was amazing and really has exceeded all my expectations. Specialized in corporate law, I could not recommend taking this course enough. Everything is studied from a practical point of view. You get to understand what is the role and the tasks of a transactional lawyer in specific situations. Professor Wertlieb brings us to think as lawyers. I am more confident in working as a junior associate after this class because I had an overview of all the aspects I could have to deal with in a corporate department. This course helps us to acquire reflexes, in given situations, which will be particularly useful to us as a junior associate. I really enjoyed all the exercises because they were very complementary: we really got to know what it is like to negotiate and redraft an agreement, and what it is like to advise a client, to recommend a particular strategy. I have the feeling that I really had the opportunity to get practical skills and that is exactly what I was looking for.
I could not recommend taking this course enough! The subject is very wide: you get to learn what to do regarding corporate issues, tax issues, securities issues… You follow a time line: the life cycle of a company and you get to understand what you have to do and what you have to think about at the different stages (creation, new funding, exit). It really makes you more confident in working with a company because after this class you know what to expect.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] Extremely patient (he smiled throughout the course, not even skipping one day without a smile) and well equipped with the most comprehensive knowledge.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] Very enthusiastic about the material and the course; master of the material; very receptive to students and student input; values student participation (even if answered incorrectly); welcoming environment; useful material we are learning; he always tries to link it back to real life (a must! for all other law school courses ….); wonderful person overall; cares about students and how students do.
Most law school classes seem to lack in practicality and usefulness in the real world. . . . would like more transactional courses like Professor Wertlieb’s. I found this truly valuable.
The instructor does a very good job of making students think about the issues and allowing them to arrive at the answers on their own as opposed to just telling them what the answer is. He also does an excellent job of explaining complex concepts in ways that are easy to understand. Finally his demeanor is very positive and full of energy which makes the class more enjoyable.
I thought the course was excellent. I thought the drafting exercises were very helpful in making students think through the important issues in a given provision instead of just reading off of a template. Additionally, the drafting exercises were very helpful in getting students to think of non-obvious issues like loopholes and workarounds. It really put into perspective what the role of a transactional attorney is and how transactional attorneys should think about problems. I felt that the exercises were helpful for the same reasons. I also thought class time was informative and engaging.
Professor Wertlieb is very patient, he explains things clearly, and gives students an opportunity to put their ideas out there in an environment that feels very safe.
This was my favorite class this semester.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] Engaging students in conversation about a topic most students are unfamiliar at this point. Always willing to meet students outside of class.
Very useful, practical course. A great way to get lots of helpful information about transactional work. Really glad that I take this course! We can discuss any confusion or question with Professor, and always get helpful feedback!
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] his insights from his years of practical experience.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] Expertise in the subject, very approachable, simplifying complex issues by giving real life examples. He has encouraged all students to think out of the box.
This is an excellent course for people wanting to be transactional attorneys and helps aligning our basic concepts of how a business is structured. It helps in identifying all the legal procedures a business needs to go through in order to function effectively. Has a very practical approach.
The workload is perfect and interesting with wonderful feedback and interesting lectures.
Best Class I had at the law school.
The most practical and comprehensive overview of transaction work. Loved that the course covered the full cycle and touched upon all areas that a postgrad will encounter in the real work environment. I would recommend students to take this class so that they can get a big picture understanding of transaction work.
Professor Neil’s thoughts are clear and logic. When he asks questions, it always helps me to think more about the issue.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of weakness are:] none – loved every minute of this course.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of weakness are:] I don’t think there is any.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of weakness are:] I don’t find one yet.
2018:
[Overall evaluation of instructor (9-point scale): Median 9; Mean 9]
I can certainly vouch for your teaching skills. Best class at UCLA Law! [social media post from student who took course 10 years earlier]
I too certainly vouch for your teaching skills and the mentorship you provide to your students! [social media post (in response to above post) from student who took course 2 years earlier]
I hope you are still teaching lifecycle of a corporation. It taught me many practical lessons that I use on a daily basis (i.e., reading and analyzing legal documents and drafting). It was definitely one of the best classes I took in law school. [email from student who took course 8 years earlier]
Now I am working in a large law firm in Taiwan as well as lecturing a few courses at university. I just want to say your class was inspiring. I learnt a lot from you. Thank you so much! [email from student who took course 3 years earlier]
It was such a privilege being able to participate in your course, and I am grateful to have learned so much from a practical perspective. The skills I have learned not only helped me during my interviews for my summer job search, but I am confident that they will be useful in my future career as well. I cannot recommend it enough to my peers! [email from student who took course earlier in the year]
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] Extremely well-versed in the subject matter while also doing a great job of distilling difficult concepts into smaller parts that the students can easily understand. The course was extremely interesting and useful. It helps get a grasp on essential corporate law skills that is rarely taught in law school and will certainly help with performance as a summer associate.
Professor Wertlieb is very knowledgeable and has a wealth of experience in the field. He cares about helping students understand the material. The course was a great overview of a business from its inception through an exit. Didn’t get into too many details but enough to be able to spot some issues and refer to other attorneys who specialize in areas such as tax or bankruptcy. Pace of the class was just right to cover a broad range of topics.
Prof. Wertlieb knows his practice very well. Taught us very practical stuff. We did a lot of (short) drafting assignments, and we would discuss them during class. For the exercises, Prof. Wertlieb would provide very detailed feedbacks for each individual. The course reader is very helpful. Really helps you to get prepared for transactional practices and obtain a business sense.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] His encouragement in prompting class participation and questions from the group. You can definitely tell he draws on a deep pool of experience to supplement the lectures and content, which makes it SUPER interesting. Professor Wertlieb’s class was my favorite of my law school experience. The small class size and intimate environment made for a space where the anxiety and nervousness around participating/cold calling weren’t even a consideration. I could focus on learning the material and wasn’t discouraged to ask questions whenever necessary. He was also very kind and approachable out of class, which definitely contributed to this great environment. I would highly recommend!
Prof. Wertlieb really cares about this course and his students. The material he put into the course reader is thoughtfully prepared and very useful. The lectures are well structured and provide practical insights into transactional lawyers work. One of the best classes I’ve ever had at the school.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] Clear presentation, extensive feedback on assignments, approachable and kind guy! Learned a lot and was able to ask questions about confusing topics that were quickly blown through in BA, since the pace was much more manageable in this class. I learned a lot and liked the idea of using a business we came up with together to walk us through the life cycle and make it more tangible. It is my first skills class and I feel more ready for practice after, looking forward to more classes like these. Great course, thanks!
Professor Wertlieb is fantastic. He clearly has a deep understanding of the material from decades of experience. I found that the material, even some of the more complex bankruptcy and securities regulation law, was related in a very clear and relatable manner. Further, Professor Wertlieb was always available to talk and answer questions should any arise. The course was great. I felt like I got a good baseline of information to go into my summer in corporate law prepared.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] Advice on the actual practice of transactional law in Law Firms, and feedback from his own experience as a transactional lawyer. Great class providing a good overview of all the areas of practice that a Transactional lawyer will encounter during his practice.
Best course and best professor in law school!
Prof. Wertlieb has developed this course to be extremely engaging and interesting. The materials and assignments are well organized and clear. The Professor keeps classes very interactive but provides good guidance and structure in his explanations. The course reader is interesting and the amount of reading/assignments are very reasonable. The weekly drafting exercises are not time consuming but force you to think and analyze what the task is. The in-class review of these exercises is very important. The longer exercises are also very good practice and the Professor’s detailed feedback is great. The course is very practical and because of this very useful. It is very different from any other class I have taken in law school and so far, it has been my favorite course. For someone like myself, who is approaching graduation and beginning to look at employment opportunities, this course teaches very important drafting skills as well as critical thinking/analysis of documents.
Professor Wertlieb is a kind, caring, enthusiastic and extremely knowledgeable professor. He is always open to questions and makes students feel comfortable and welcome. This class is also extremely useful in terms of the practical skills and tips we learned. I highly recommend this class to anyone who is interested in learning more about a transactional practice and all of its related areas, including business law, tax, securities regulation, and accounting. We need more clinics like this one!!!
He is experienced in the subject and always passionate about teaching. Very patient to the students. I would say he is perfect as a professor. The course is interesting and practical. Based on the hypothetical study, we have a basic overview of the transactional skills. I really enjoy the class.
He is clear and excited about the subject. I learned a lot and thought Neil was a great instructor.
2017:
[Overall evaluation of instructor (9-point scale): Median 9; Mean 9]
The course was uniquely centered on the crucial practical skills . . . that I use in my law practice on a daily basis. Professor Wertlieb was a truly great instructor. Not only does he plainly have a deep understanding of the subject matter, but he brings a tremendous commitment to the course and his students. He clearly dedicates substantial time and effort to the course materials and the topics that he wants to address in each session. I also know that he continuously considers ways to improve the course to provide an even greater experience for his students. [letter from student who took course 10 years earlier]
Neil Wertlieb is an excellent teacher and resource to the school, students and alumni. . . . I still think about and apply some of the concrete drafting skills we learned in this course . . . . I wish I was offered more courses like LifeCycle of a Corporation so that I would have been [better] prepared for my first few years of practice. [letter from student who took course 7 years earlier]
Neil’s knowledge and experience as a successful partner at a large law firm colored each of our lessons with a new level of practical insight. It was evident that Neil not only knew everything, but knew it all well. He was always passionate about sharing his knowledge and made himself available to students outside of class hours to supplement our lesson that day. Now that I have been working as a junior associate at a large law firm for almost a year, I appreciate the course even more. [letter from student who took course 2 years earlier]
By my count, I had 28 professors in law school. None has been as influential in my nascent career as Professor Neil Wertlieb. . . . Having practiced corporate law and served as a partner at a prominent national law firm for numerous years, Professor Wertlieb is well equipped to guide the transition from student to attorney. He understands the substantive knowledge and skills that help facilitate professional success, and he builds his course around helping students develop these. . . . I am struck by three outstanding qualities in Professor Wertlieb: his substantive knowledge of the subject matter and course material, his acumen in structuring and lecturing for the course, and his genuine care for the well-being and professional success of his students. [letter from student who took course 1 year earlier]
The Life Cycle of a Corporation course provided valuable preparation for my summer corporate law internship. It is no surprise to me that Professor Wertlieb’s course is so successful, because Professor Wertlieb himself is both incredibly accomplished and approachable. He has a wealth of personal experience and knowledge and can break down complicated topics into manageable pieces. Professor Wertlieb cares very much about student learning and takes student feedback seriously to continuously update the course. I learned more from Professor Wertlieb’s class than any other class in law school. [letter from student who took course earlier in the year]
I thoroughly enjoyed your class, Life Cycle of a Business: Transactional Skills, at UCLA School of Law last semester. I am currently working at [a law firm] in Palo Alto as a corporate summer associate, and I am finding that a big number of the topics we discussed in that class are coming up at work regularly. [email from student who took course earlier in the year]
Professor, Just thought you’d be excited to hear that I am already applying what we discussed in class. A partner at my firm just asked for a memo about the initial steps of an IPO. Pretty confident I can give them quality work thanks to you. [email from student who took course earlier in the year]
Just wanted to let you know that your Lifecycle class has been extremely helpful during my corporate rotation here at [law firm]! I sat in on an acquisition conference call the other day, and was able to understand a majority of what everyone was saying. [email from student who took course earlier in the year]
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] His mastery of the subject and being able to simplify complicated ideas down to the basic elements necessary for practical use in a working environment. . . . I greatly enjoyed the class and think that it will be very helpful when I enter a transactional practice after law school.
He is very knowledgeable and experienced and does an amazing job of simplifying complex concepts to make them accessible and easy to understand. . . . I thought the course was really valuable, especially given the general lack of transactional based classes in law school overall. I feel a lot more confident that I will actually know what is going on when I am working on deals this summer at my firm.
As someone that actually practiced law/continues to practice Prof. Wertlieb presents a different, and welcome perspective to students. He used his experiences in the practice quite well to add to class discussions. And he used his connections to bring in a Superior Ct. Judge for a class which was one of the more interesting and beneficial classes I’ve attended during my time at UCLA.
Very intelligent professor. He always allows students to participate in class and he listens carefully. He teaches only practical material and does not waste students’ time on stuff that do not matter or are outdated. He is ALWAYS accessible. He called me twice (both one day before my assignments were due) and answered every question I had. No professor would ever do that for students. He does not make his students feel uncomfortable. I would not change one thing about him. Incredible professor! . . . Take this course. It is amazing. He is amazing. The material is relevant and helpful.
This course is probably one of the best courses I have taken in law school. Transactional law is not really emphasized upon in law school, so was a great way to get some practical knowledge that will be useful in the future.
Great practical course. Anyone interested in corporate practice should take this class.
Extremely nice professor. Very experienced and provides good insight into the practical concerns of transactional work. Receptive to student ideas and very accessible outside of class. Highly recommended.
2016:
[Overall evaluation of instructor (9-point scale): Median 9; Mean 8.72]
I took your Lifecycle of a Corporation class nearly a decade ago . . . . I thought I’d shoot you an email and let you know how important your class has been to my career path. . . . Having your class as a primer has been incredibly valuable as I have moved into the startup world. I can’t thank you enough! Are you still teaching Lifecycle at UCLA? I hope so! [email from student who took course 9 years earlier]
I was an LLM student attending your course of Lifecycle of a Corporation last year in UCLA. It was a great course which inspires me . . . . [email from student who took course 1 year earlier]
It’s been a while since I took your class last year, which was the best class at UCLA. [email from student who took course 1 year earlier]
I wanted to thank you again for a very practical and eye-opening class in Lifecycle of a Corporation. Your class has given me a greater appreciation and more confidence in legal drafting. . . . Your insight will be very valuable to me as I begin my career as an associate this fall. [student email]
Thanks again for a great semester. Your class felt like the most practical course I took during any of my three years at UCLA. Also, I now find myself second-guessing the litigation track; I’m blaming you for that! [student email]
Thanks again for teaching this course. It was without a doubt my favorite class at UCLA and I couldn’t think of a better way to end my last semester! [student email]
I am already jealous of your future students who will have the pleasure of being in your class. [student email]
Thank you so much and I really love this class! Greatest one I’ve had here! [student note]
Thank you for a great semester. This has been one of my favorite courses at UCLA Law. [student note]
Thank you for being an amazing professor. Your class was one of the best I’ve ever had. [student note]
I shall never forget what an amazing class this was. Thanks for giving me an advantage. [student note]
This has been one of my favorite classes in law school because it’s really geared toward the practical side of practice. I highly recommend his class to any student, regardless of whether they want to do transactional law or litigation because it provides a great foundation for what’\’s going on with companies/clients.
Class was extremely well organized and engaging. I enjoyed the drafting exercises and thought that the midterm exercise was fantastic. Job well done, sir.
Professor Wertlieb’s practical knowhow and impressive accomplishments as a corporate lawyer make him ideal to teach this course. And given that Professor Wertlieb is among the 100 most influential lawyers in California, I was surprised to discover how truly humble, patient, and invested he is in student learning.
For anyone wanting to build substantive knowledge of corporate law and improve drafting, this is just the course to take. I loved that I got a chance to learn about areas in which I’ve taken zero classes (securities regulation, in particular). This class is another example of how great the business law and policy specialization is.
This class helped congeal everything I’ve learned thus far in the business law and policy specialization, and Professor Wertlieb’s helpful readings and checklists demystified the process of putting together a complex corporate transaction.
Professor Wertlieb brings a wealth of knowledge from his practice. His reading and instruction are very practical. He is very approachable in class and also happy to meet students outside of class. The semester long hypothetical (from start to end of a small startup with the students as the founders) is a great way to simulate real work practice. He allows students to make decisions with the company, which helps us get involved and invested.
Professor does not assume students know anything about the subject, which is great. Presentation is excellent – clear and organized. Approach is creative. I really like the drafting exercises and the collective exercise in starting and exiting a company. Makes you want to participate, but doesn’t pressure you to feel like you can participate only if you are an expert in the subject. Friendly, happy to help students.
The Professor is very experienced and teaches us lots of practical skills that a transactional lawyers need. He explains the subject clearly and thoroughly.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] Being a great guy. Being clear. Making me want to show up to this class even though it meant an hour and a half drive home through traffic.
This course is an amazing survey of transactional law. I decided not to practice law because I hate litigation and was force fed it exclusively throughout the beginning of my legal education. If this class had been available to me 1L year, it may have completely altered my career choices. Please consider adding this course to the 1L curriculum. Perhaps as a replacement for a portion of the “lawyering skills” course, which currently focuses exclusively on brief writing (because all lawyers write court briefs, right???).
The class was very practical and very useful. It is a unique and refreshing approach for a law class.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] Super friendly and approachable. Makes a conscious effort to convey practical advice to students. Makes learning the content interesting. The course exceeded my expectations in all regards.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] Extremely knowledgeable on the materials and does an amazing job of explaining all of the concepts in class. Highly organized and clear on the materials that are being covered in class.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] ability to convey the material such that I understood everything. Ability to create a very welcoming classroom environment so that I always felt comfortable contributing to the discussion. One of the best classes I have taken here. Just like the name of the course, great overview of the lifecycle of a corporation, from formation to exit.
Excellent all-around instructor!!! Super clear, practical, hands on. Cares about the students an incredible lot. Open to lunch outside of class. Buys the whole class personalized “deal toys”!!! No weaknesses at all! Incredible course!! Any aspiring transactional attorney must take this (if you can get in)!!
2015:
[Overall evaluation of instructor (9-point scale): Median 9; Mean 8.63]
Thank you for teaching one of the most practical & useful courses I have ever had the pleasure of taking during my law school career. I loved the course while it was being taught, but I no idea how much I would use everything until I was a summer associate & now a third year law student. From the first project that was assigned tome to the final project of the summer, partners were impressed by my knowledge & it was all thanks to you & [co-teacher] Brett. I hope that you will continue to share your knowledge with other students because you are a wonderful teacher & your passion for it is undeniable. [letter from student]
It was great. The subject is so practical that I believe it would be helpful in future. There are a lot of chances to participate in discussions as well. Not only practical and helpful, it was so fun. The professors’ talk is very nice and 2 hours passes so fast.
Great class, lucky to have this opportunity at UCLA.
Great course and really interesting.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] incredibly smart, knowledgeable, very open to student questions. Very interactive; fun way to learn the material.
Great idea. Really novel class at UCLA Law. Props to the school for doing this.
[Co-teacher] Prof. Goldblatt and Prof. Wertlieb are funny and very much approachable professors and attorneys. They have so many experiences and knowledge from which I profited during class. They were able to give a very good overview about what a Corporation Lawyer is working with. Their teaching style was unique. They were extremely helpful outside of class and [I] would recommend their class without hesitation!
This was an excellent course and I enjoyed it so much. I also liked that they discussed the next readings with us, so I always knew what to prepare for next class. I wish other law school professor would teach like them.
I really enjoyed this course. I like that it gave us practical knowledge of how corporate transactional work is done at a big law firm. I think that this will prove to be a very useful course for my summer in the corporate department at a law firm.
2014:
[Overall evaluation of instructor (9-point scale): Median 9; Mean 8.70]
Fantastic Course that is very practical.
One of the best courses I’ve taken at UCLA.
2013:
[Overall evaluation of instructor (9-point scale): Median 9; Mean 8.69]
This is hands-down the best, most practical (for a transactional lawyer), most engaging, best designed class I’ve ever taken at the law school. Finally a chance to learn what a transactional lawyer does. And finally a chance to get experience doing a lot of hands-on practice with corporate law. I would recommend this class to anyone that has any inkling of interest in corporate law. I’m in another transactional-focused class at the law school and that one does not compare to this one. [In this class,] there is some lecturing on certain topics, some negotiations in class, some advocacy, lots of drafting, and very practical assignments. The small class setting is perfect for this class and it is truly a free-flow of information with everyone participating and providing their thoughts regarding certain provisions/drafts/topics.
Professor Wertlieb seriously cares that you learn the material, dispenses great practical advice, great facilitator of class discussion. He is always available for any questions.
Great course. We need more practical courses like this one.
This course is a great introduction to many corporate and corporate-related concepts. . . . The drafting exercises are great – I don’t know where you can get that sort of training anywhere else.
One of my favorite courses at UCLA. Would love to have more clinical courses like this one to choose from.
The class gives great practical and technical tools for a transactional lawyer. There definitely should be more classes like this one in the School options. The idea of choosing a fictitious company the first day of class and follow its whole life cycle as if it was real is brilliant. [It] is a great way of incorporating very naturally the things you learn during the semester.
The drafting homework exercises (that don’t take more than 20 minutes to do them) and the class revision every Monday are a great great great! way of teaching to draft contracts. I learned more how to do it by these simple exercises than in my whole contracts class.
Great course and highly beneficial to any law student interested in transactional work. I thought the drafting exercises were extremely valuable – this was the only course I took at UCLA that actually spent time on drafting provisions of a contract or agreement.
Great class! Interesting every week.
Professor Wertlieb knows his stuff. He also includes interesting insights from his practice.
Very clear presentation of the materials. I can tell that the professor actually cares about teaching and that he has put time into thinking about clear and concise ways to deliver lectures. Moreover, I think professor does a good job fielding questions and helping students to think through problems in a Socratic method.
I hope UCLA keeps this class around and adds more like it in the future.
Professor Wertlieb is nice and keeps the class engaging and entertaining.
Great class. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking to pursue a transactional career. The contract drafting exercises were great.
The class is dynamic and the professor knows very well how to teach the class. The student never get bored. The relationship with the students is excellent. To finish, the professor is a practitioner, so he really knows what he is taking about.
The sense of humor, dominion of materials and predisposition of the professor make this class something not to miss in the corporate courses.
Excellent course!
2012:
[Overall evaluation of instructor (9-point scale): Median 9; Mean 8.94]
Awesome class!!! Great instructors. Definitely recommend to anyone who is interested in transactional practice. Wish UCLA offered more classes like this
Very practical and interesting subject. I had a lot of fun, and feel I learned a lot. The negotiation exercise, and drafting assignments were of a particular interest!
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] Very knowledgeable and experienced. Did a great job of dynamically presenting what could sometimes be considered dry material and keeping the class very engaged despite the 8:30 a.m. start time.
Although I had previously taken some courses involving negotiations, tax, and finance, I felt this course did a great job of tying everything together and leaving me with a good understanding of what life will be like as a transactional attorney.
The course was one of the best if not the best course I have taken at UCLA Law. It’s all transactional work that helps to prepare you for practice at a firm. Plus the professors are funny, interesting, and insightful. Highly recommend it.
Great class! Both Professors are very engaging and enthusiastic about teaching the material.
The drafting exercises were great. Loved taking a practical course that taught me about drafting and the practice of corporate transactional law. Hopefully UCLA will offer more classes like this in the future.
Amazing course, my favorite this semester.
The course was a great overview of corporate transactional practice. I liked the mix of topics in each class session, particularly the drafting segments. I also liked working with the sample term sheets, stock purchase agreement and contract provisions. The course was also particularly good at exposing the array of concerns/issues which depended on the nature of the client: company founder, investor or the company itself. I highly recommend this course.
Loved this class. The 2.5 hours we spent in class always flew by. Wish more courses were like this.
Prof gave very organized presentations of the material that made it very easy to learn. He was also very receptive to student ideas. He was good at integrating student ideas into his presentation.
Great course! I really learned a lot about drafting contracts. I appreciated that this class was more about the practical aspect of being a corporate lawyer because I don’t think there are enough of those classes in law school.
Best overview course I’ve taken at UCLA. Drafting exercises are good, the reading is well planned.
This class is organized really well; information is generally laid out in a clear manner.
Professor Wertlieb is a very good teacher, he is patient, systematic and very experienced.
2011:
[Overall evaluation of instructor (9-point scale): Median 9; Mean 8.85]
Both professors were great. They taught it in an organized, clear and interesting way and genuinely seemed to care if we were getting the material. Made such an early class actually enjoyable.
Easily one of, if not the, best course taken so far at UCLA. . . . Both professors are great and teach the material in a very practical manner which will be applicable for anyone doing corporate law.
Absolutely take this course if you can. Practical and hands-on type work. I worked in transactional work at a firm and this material is exactly what 1st year associates would need to know or would be learning on the job. The class tries to cover almost every topic at a general level for a corporate attorney and is perfect for someone who wants familiarity with the terms and basic concepts. If you have no interest in corporate law, it still might be worth taking just because the professors are good at teaching in a clear and interesting way. If you do have any interest in corporate law, then this is by far the best class to take in terms of preparing you for actual work, even when compared to all of the other business law classes I have taken.
Fantastic practical knowledge, supportive and receptive to students, keeps the class mood upbeat.
This was one of my favorite classes at UCLA. The professors have taught this class for 10 years and it shows – they know what they’re doing and I felt like I learned a great deal of practical knowledge. I hope UCLA continues to support more classes like [this one]. I got much more of a sense of what it’s like to work as a lawyer in this class than any other. The reading assignments weren’t mired in academic theory, but contained useful and practical information from working attorneys.
This is a great class.
Prof Wertlieb is extremely friendly and very receptive to students’ ideas and comments. He also brings in a wealth of practical knowledge and really knows what to look out for when drafting contract provisions. You can tell that he enjoys teaching and he really tries to engage the class (sometimes I feel bad when nobody raises their hand but I think this is because the class is at 8:30 am on Mondays).
This is a great course for anyone interested in learning about drafting contract provisions, negotiation techniques, and the challenges and choices facing a corporation from startup to sale (or bankruptcy). We actually “started” our own company (which we got to pick) as a class and went through the different phases. As practicing lawyers, the professors are both extremely knowledgeable. They are also very approachable and very open to students’ ideas. Highly recommended course!
Thank you again for teaching such a wonderful class – a lot of students had told me your class was not to be missed, and it truly was an amazing experience. [email from student]
Thank you for the excellent teaching and feedback that you have provided me this semester; I am grateful to have been able to participate in your course. [email from student]
2010:
[Overall evaluation of instructor (9-point scale): Median 9; Mean 9.00]
Great course for any student wanting to do corporate transactional work.
Very organized, articulate, approachable and really knows his stuff. Seems very mature, seasoned and under control. If you are going into transactional work, this is one of the few relevant courses offered at UCLA. You won’t read a single case, instead you’ll learn practical drafting skills and learn about the stages that companies go through from inception to exit.
I felt like I gained a lot of insight . . . great class!
Very organized, experienced and receptive t student views. A great course headed by an organized, knowledgeable, kindly professor teaching something he’s been working at forever.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] Humor, knowledge, understanding of the material. Amazing professor.
Just a practical, useful, well done class. Law school should have 100 of these classes.
Well organized lecture based on the experience.
This is one of the classes I really wanted to take in this law school to review the entire transaction flow and join the negotiation. And it really [was] worth it. Negotiation regarding the term sheet and exercises and lecture about drafting technique are quite helpful for a non-native foreign student. Because of the limited capacity of the class, it was easy to participate at the class.
It was precious experience to brush up the stream of the corporate transaction flows from the start to exit.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] his ability to communicate well in class and his practical knowledge of the subject.
This course is the only course I know of in law school where the professors actually assign drafting of contract provisions and draft similar provisions with students during class. Very valuable. This course also allowed me to understand / get a feel for what a transactional practice is like.
Lifecycles was one of the most informative – and fun – classes I’ve taken, and I appreciate the keepsake to remember it by. Thank you! [student email]
2009:
[Overall evaluation of instructor (9-point scale): Median 9; Mean 8.60]
Great course, provides a brief exposure to the transactional side of the law, illuminates some very interesting issues with drafting contracts, explores interesting ethical issues, but leaves them unresolved – as in welcome to being a lawyer.
I actually spent a lot of time on the homework (I almost never do anything outside of basic reading for a class) and I only spent this time because I really enjoyed it.
It was a fantastic class. All students interested in transactional work should be required to take the class. I know that is impossible, but it is really that good of a class. Seriously.
Very good look into a lot of the work a transactional lawyer does, and better training for said work than any other class I’ve taken.
I found this to be the most useful course I have taken thus far at UCLA. The subject matter was interesting, the presentation was organized and helpful, and I feel like I can leave with some practical skills. I thought the drafting exercises were crucially helpful to my future practice.
It’s a very cool class and unlike anything else I’ve taken. The drafting exercises are extremely helpful and something that it is very difficult to get elsewhere in the law school.
Great professors. Very helpful survey of the issues faced by corporate attorneys on a daily basis. Recommended for students interested in becoming transactional and litigation attorneys.
This course is great if you plan to do corporate/transactional work. If you plan to be a litigator, it is less useful, but still worth taking because it is interesting and fun.
The class is really good; it is really interesting and provides great practical experience.
The course is great; the professors are very helpful and are always available to talk about the class material or any other concerns that students have.
This is one of the best classes to take for anyone interested in transactional work. The class size is perfect.
A great teacher.
I love this class. I learned so much about business and how to be a good transactional attorney.
Neil is extremely personable and cares about the students. As an example, I missed a class where Neil handed out an assignment. Neil made sure that the handouts made their way to my mailbox, something I’ve never heard of a professor doing. He’s very precise and organized making every minute of class worthwhile.
A must-take for anyone interested in transactional practice. The course basically runs you through a company from formation to death and exposes you to the relevant legal topics and documents that goes along with each phase.
2008:
[Overall evaluation of instructor (9-point scale): Median 9; Mean 8.83]
Thank you for a fantastic semester! This was a personally challenging class but by far my favorite of the semester. [student email]
A great class. Helps students develop skills necessary for real-world practice.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] great experience in the field and ability to effectively communicate lessons from that experience to the class. A lot of good practical advice. Great class, it was good to get experience in drafting and negotiating before starting to work.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] very knowledgeable, great attitude, created a very pleasant environment in class. It’s a great class, highly recommend.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] breaks down complex issues and makes them understandable. Probably one of the best classes I’ve taken. Very practice oriented. The drafting and negotiation exercises are particularly helpful for understanding the rationale of provisions and appreciating the efforts behind achieving results in practice.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] helpful, friendly, skilled, organized. Great and super relevant course with a practical approach. Best course ever, keep it that way.
Great course to take for those interested in corporate law or transactional work. Gives a brief survey of aspects of securities, tax, and bankruptcy law that is relevant to a corporate practice.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] integration of student comments into structure of lecture. One of the best classes I have taken. I have never enjoyed a simulation exercise before, but this one was very effective in forcing a thorough review of a lot of material, and the rewards for preparation were immense. Very satisfying.
Prof. Wertlieb is a great teacher, knowledgeable, and presents the material with a demeanor that makes you want to learn. The profs for this course were some of the best I’ve had in law school. Great course especially for those interested in corporate law.
2007:
[Overall evaluation of instructor (9-point scale): Median 9; Mean 8.62]
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] knowledge, experience, humor, he’s genuinely interested in the class and our learning experience.
Great professors, valuable material (and somewhat unique to a law school class), great guest speakers, occasional free donuts! For an early morning class, I never missed and I always looked forward to being there.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] clear delivery of information; very lively and entertaining; inspires me to want to be involved in transactional practice. Great course. UCLA should have more practical and small discussion-based classes like this. It’s very useful!
This course was a very useful course, where we learned what we really need to know as a corporate lawyer. The prof. was very thorough in explaining important factors and very concise in matters which could be covered briefly.
Great presentation; great mastery of subject. Drafting/negotiation exercises are great. This type of course taught by practitioners are strongly recommended.
His presentation of the course materials makes clear his understanding of the subject matter and experience as a professor.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] clarity; thoughtfulness with respect to presentation; ability to relate abstract legal considerations to real-world problems.
This is the kind of course that should be the rule, not the exception, in upper year courses – practical, still some interesting theory, illustrative of lawyering.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] has broad knowledge on the subject; very organized; clear explanation.
Great class. Must take this class if you plan to be a transactional lawyer! Negotiation exercise was fun. We could learn what we really need once we become a lawyer.
Excellent overview of corporate law; materials well organized and presented. Format of class (practical application of material, exercises, “creating” a company) provided great, useful insight into life of a corporate lawyer.
Great experience in the field of practice that he is able to integrate into the class. He knows what he is speaking about and enriches class content with a lot of examples. The practical approach makes the course very attractive and shows how the reality works. Such types of courses should be supported as much as possible to prepare students for their entry into the corporate practice.
Great ability to draw points from students to incorporate them into the lesson. Learnt a lot from this course – must be kept in the curriculum.
2006:
[Overall evaluation of instructor (9-point scale): Median 9; Mean 8.5]
Very helpful/practical course for those interested in starting own company.
Prof. Wertlieb is well organized, really knowledgeable, and seems to care about his students actually learning the material. I most appreciated his availability outside of class. A very valuable class with amazing professors.
I (and most of my colleagues) really appreciated the practicality of this course. Your approach to teaching, with tie-ins from your actual practice, was sincerely appreciated. It was a pleasure!
It’s great to see practicing attorneys who actually seem to enjoy their job.
Neil was knowledgeable, personable and always eager to give us insight into the actual practice of corporate transactional law. He cared enough to take the time to make the class fun and informative. Great guy.
The class was good at giving us a big picture of what we’re about to get into. The profs, though very busy, never made the class feel rushed, or like an afterthought. I will hit the ground running because of that.
Super useful.
Complete mastery of the material, a great teaching style and real-world experience make him an outstanding instructor. This course is a must for anyone taking transactional courses.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] clarity, explanation, enthusiasm!
This was a fantastic class, and should be taken by all 3Ls interested in business law (either litigation or business).
The course is exceptionally well organized & easy to understand (not easy concept-wise, but well explained).
This class, more than any other I’ve had, addressed what issues I will be facing as a lawyer. I think it will at least lessen the feeling of panic when I get my first legal assignment.
Really knowledgeable & entertaining. Practical yet fun class.
Amazing class!
2005:
[Overall evaluation of instructor (9-point scale): Median 9; Mean 8.71]
This class is unique and necessary for practical experience in the business/transactional law field. . . . This is a great course for a graduating 3L, to put various modules of knowledge in context. This class is equally important for a 1st semester 2L, because it provides great coverage of various concepts that could provide great experience from which to choose specialization within the business law context.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] exceptional knowledge; great examples & explanations. Practical knowledge gained was very helpful. Really learned a lot about being a practicing attorney.
Neil was very thoughtful & knowledgeable. Great prof.
This is probably the best class I have taken. It’s not only practical but it really helps bring together lots of different substantive areas. . . . Thank you so much for teaching this class. It’s so refreshing to gain knowledge that can readily be used in practice as opposed to theoretical abstractions.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] good humor, patience, friendliness.
Great course. Very valuable & practical; more so than just about every other course I’ve ever taken.
[Neil] knew the material very well; presented in a clear manner. I want more of these practical classes; they are very beneficial.
Able to explain complicated concepts in a clear, concise & approachable manner. This was an excellent course. I loved the concept & design/presentation of the material.
2004:
[Overall evaluation of instructor (9-point scale): Median 8.5; Mean 8.29]
I loved the class. Thank you so much for coming in each week and sharing. I think I had more “fun” in your class than any other. [student email]
2003:
[Overall evaluation of instructor (9-point scale): Median 9; Mean 8.69]
Prof. is a very experienced and highly knowledgeable corporate lawyer. Great teacher. Easily distills complex materials down to the basics. Very receptive to student questions, etc. – accessible.
This is one of the best classes I have ever taken at UCLAW. Classes were very well organized. The material spans all of corporate law. The readings are important for corporate practice; the presentations are very well organized. Profs are very receptive to questions and the personalized feedback is very helpful.
I really liked the course; don’t think I’m going to do corporate work, but nice to see how it works so I have a better understanding when doing [different practice].
You guys demonstrated that a course can be successfully taught by working attorneys, something that I have not always found to be the case.
I wish all my reading supplements were organized so well. Class was very valuable in showing me how the info from all my other corp. law classes works together. Both written exercises were great. I spent a lot of time on them, but felt like it was totally worthwhile in helping me understand term sheets & risk factors.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] knowledge of material & practical experience. Very nice, clear and organized.
Great course to get a big picture; very practical learning on being a corporate lawyer.
This was a really great class for students interested in corp/transactional work! It really puts everything you’ve learned (tax, corp law, securities reg, public offerings, etc.) into one place. The class does a really good job of showing the variety of work that a corp lawyer works on.
Great interesting fun class.
Highly valuable – great balance and integration of law and practice of law. Keep this course.
Neil was a great prof – very enthusiastic about the subject matter. An enthusiastic prof makes enthusiastic students. I enjoyed coming to class every week. This has been one of my favorite courses in law school. Thanks!
Great class. All those interested in transactional work should take it.
[The instructor’s greatest areas of strength are:] good at helping students understand the concepts; very reception to classroom ideas.
2002:
[Overall evaluation of instructor (9-point scale): Median 9; Mean 8.80]
Best class I have taken in law school. This class ties everything else I learned in law school & brings it together into something useful.
Clear explanation of concepts.
Great practical class. Nice change from other law classes.
Great overview of corporate law, very practical, very interesting.
Class very practical. Please bring back Neil & [co-teacher] Brett. They work very hard and are a credit to UCLA Law.
I learned a lot. Enjoyed the class atmosphere.
This class is atypical from any other classes, which is great. Much more practical oriented than theory. Keep it!
The lifecycle approach is great.