There aren’t a lot of reviews submitted for Primus yet. If you’re thinking about taking a class with him, try randomly asking around: I’m pretty sure you’ll rapidly realize he’s renowned as one of the best, or quite possibly the best, professor here.
He does the Socratic method, and he does it well. Most professors described as “socratic” really would be better labeled “professors who cold call a lot to audit the class for having done the reading”. You’re not actually learning anything, just being asked to state holdings or recite fact patterns. Primus actually goes after your thinking. Most highly recommended.
Primus is the smartest person I have ever met. He is a crazy intense cold caller, but it sure keeps you on your toes. I would read, take notes, and then review my notes before class. The general consensus in my class was that he was the best professor any of us had ever had.
Agree with all of the above. If you don’t have him for 1L Con Law, make sure to take anything else he offers while you are here. I have taken classes with some brilliant and amazing professors here, but Prof. Primus is in a league of his own. Cannot recommend him strongly enough.
I took his Problems in Constitutional Theory seminar. He is a true genius in the field and opened my mind to deepening my ability to think about constitutional law. I think I now have quite a deep understanding of the field (as much as you can get in law school) and I have a strong understanding of the moves courts make in constitutional reasoning. He is one of the professors that offered a truly enlightening experience. If you have any interest in the field, you should absolutely take one of his classes.
Had Primus for 1L Con Law. He’s a good prof. He did a good job of teaching students how to read and synthesize cases. He went overboard with the mean-law-prof schtick at the start of the semester and veered into real nastiness at points, but he settled into a more respectful register for most of the semester.
I had Primus for Con Law in Winter 2020 when we were all remote. He definitely leans into the “hard ass law professor” thing a little too far and he chastised us during the class that we weren’t working hard enough. Once we went remote, he made a huge effort to make the class the best it could possibly be and we saw a whole new side of him.
When you take a class with him, get ready to work HARD. He expects a lot. His class made me a better student and was the one in which I learned the most by far.
DO NOT Take this professor if you can avoid it – too busy being “brilliant” to educate or work with his students. If you already know the law before you get to his class, you’ll be set. Probably one of the worst professors of all time – just because someone went to Harvard and Yale doesn’t make them a good educator.
For Constitutional Law, I agree with the positive commenters. He was fantastic. Engaging, gifted teacher, expected a lot but gave a lot in return, and I learned a ton from him.
Problems in Constitutional Theory was different. I agree with the commenter who says that, there, Prof. Primus is too busy being “brilliant” to educate or work with his students. That was my experience too. He was not available to answer questions in/after class and didn’t hold office hours. Also, word to the wise: PiCT is a 2-credit class with a 5-6 credit workload.
Pretty easily the worst Professor I’ve had in this law school. Is incredibly self obsessed and spends the whole class showing off his brilliance. Definitely has favorites in the class (usually, brilliant white men like himself) and doesn’t care that he shows it. Would absolutely not recommend taking any class with him (sorry if you’re stuck with him for conlaw)
Primus is an incredible professor. I learned so much from his 1L Con Law class and I truly think he is one of the most gifted Constitutional Lawyers in the country. His class was definitely my favorite during 1L. However, he is tough. He doesn’t give any slack and if the class is not understanding a concept, he will sometimes verbally lash out. The reason that this didn’t really affect my overall good view of him and his class is because he obviously cared about us, and was only upset because the concepts were things that we collectively should have known by that point in the semester. So fair warning to future students: you will have a wonderful experience, but you need to be fully committed and prepared ahead of class.
MLaw Prof Reviews
Great prof. one of the few to have mastered the difficult art of conveying useful & interesting information using the socratic method.
There aren’t a lot of reviews submitted for Primus yet. If you’re thinking about taking a class with him, try randomly asking around: I’m pretty sure you’ll rapidly realize he’s renowned as one of the best, or quite possibly the best, professor here.
He does the Socratic method, and he does it well. Most professors described as “socratic” really would be better labeled “professors who cold call a lot to audit the class for having done the reading”. You’re not actually learning anything, just being asked to state holdings or recite fact patterns. Primus actually goes after your thinking. Most highly recommended.
He will make you a better thinker, lawyer, and probably, a better person. Take every class he offers before Yale or the Supreme Court scoops him up
Fantastic prof. Had him for 1L Con Law. He made me want to work harder.
Primus is the smartest person I have ever met. He is a crazy intense cold caller, but it sure keeps you on your toes. I would read, take notes, and then review my notes before class. The general consensus in my class was that he was the best professor any of us had ever had.
AMAZING professor. I agree wholeheartedly with comment #4.
Very aggressive style — don’t go in thinking that you’ll sleep through the class.
Agree with all of the above. If you don’t have him for 1L Con Law, make sure to take anything else he offers while you are here. I have taken classes with some brilliant and amazing professors here, but Prof. Primus is in a league of his own. Cannot recommend him strongly enough.
I took his Problems in Constitutional Theory seminar. He is a true genius in the field and opened my mind to deepening my ability to think about constitutional law. I think I now have quite a deep understanding of the field (as much as you can get in law school) and I have a strong understanding of the moves courts make in constitutional reasoning. He is one of the professors that offered a truly enlightening experience. If you have any interest in the field, you should absolutely take one of his classes.
Had Primus for 1L Con Law. He’s a good prof. He did a good job of teaching students how to read and synthesize cases. He went overboard with the mean-law-prof schtick at the start of the semester and veered into real nastiness at points, but he settled into a more respectful register for most of the semester.
I had Primus for Con Law in Winter 2020 when we were all remote. He definitely leans into the “hard ass law professor” thing a little too far and he chastised us during the class that we weren’t working hard enough. Once we went remote, he made a huge effort to make the class the best it could possibly be and we saw a whole new side of him.
When you take a class with him, get ready to work HARD. He expects a lot. His class made me a better student and was the one in which I learned the most by far.
DO NOT Take this professor if you can avoid it – too busy being “brilliant” to educate or work with his students. If you already know the law before you get to his class, you’ll be set. Probably one of the worst professors of all time – just because someone went to Harvard and Yale doesn’t make them a good educator.
Great professor. If you care to really know a subject, take him. He is also a master of the Socratic method.
For Constitutional Law, I agree with the positive commenters. He was fantastic. Engaging, gifted teacher, expected a lot but gave a lot in return, and I learned a ton from him.
Problems in Constitutional Theory was different. I agree with the commenter who says that, there, Prof. Primus is too busy being “brilliant” to educate or work with his students. That was my experience too. He was not available to answer questions in/after class and didn’t hold office hours. Also, word to the wise: PiCT is a 2-credit class with a 5-6 credit workload.
Pretty easily the worst Professor I’ve had in this law school. Is incredibly self obsessed and spends the whole class showing off his brilliance. Definitely has favorites in the class (usually, brilliant white men like himself) and doesn’t care that he shows it. Would absolutely not recommend taking any class with him (sorry if you’re stuck with him for conlaw)
Primus is an incredible professor. I learned so much from his 1L Con Law class and I truly think he is one of the most gifted Constitutional Lawyers in the country. His class was definitely my favorite during 1L. However, he is tough. He doesn’t give any slack and if the class is not understanding a concept, he will sometimes verbally lash out. The reason that this didn’t really affect my overall good view of him and his class is because he obviously cared about us, and was only upset because the concepts were things that we collectively should have known by that point in the semester. So fair warning to future students: you will have a wonderful experience, but you need to be fully committed and prepared ahead of class.