The most intense professor I had at McGeorge. A ton of stress but I learned more in his class that any other.

Definitely one of the hardest professors at McGeorge, but also one of the ones I learned the most from. Demands you do the work, understand what you have read, and show up prepared and ready to participate. He was also always available to explain issues if needed, & interested in students well being

hard but you learn it

Very tough teacher. Will ream your ass if not prepared. His class will monopolize your life. HOWEVER, he is a very fair grader even though his tests are ridiculously hard, and his hard ass attitude will pay off by teaching students to prepare for class and life.Will instill great analytical ability.Hated it when I was in it, GRATEFUL I took it.

While Prof. Vitiello demands the best from his students and will nail you if you're unprepared, he is also one of the best. His lectures were clear to me and he is always more than willing to go over an issue in his office. The subject, by nature, is difficult for 1Ls, but once I used it in practice, I was thankful for all of the hard work.

excellent professor, very, very knowledgable on civil procedure and criminal procedure. Highly recommend him.

Vitiello is a taskmaster. He expects you to be prepared and come with your "A" game every day. He thinks that, as a lawyer, you're assuming responsibility over the lives and fortunes of other people -- so you better come correct! The guy is brilliant, difficult, and funny. His class was brutal, but I learned more there than in any other class.

Extremely demanding class. Baptism by fire for incoming law students. If you show up unprepared and he calls on you, prepare to be destroyed. That being said, he's a pleasant man if you've earned his respect.

Definitely a polarizing figure, people either love or hate him. Basically the only true socratic method prof left on campus. I really liked him; found him challenging but fair. His class helped with the bar more than any other because i actually remembered it.

Professor Vitiello asks, and expects, a lot. If you put in the time and the work, you will become a better law student and lawyer. You should take at least one class from him while at McGeorge--you don't get the full experience otherwise!

His class is highly socratic, which works for some and not for others. If you don't mind being challenged, and can hold your own when your preconceptions are challenged then you will enjoy the class. He's very policy oriented, which works well because it serves as a great skeleton to hang the rules on. Just make sure you're prepared or you'll hang!

Sometimes unclear in class and he crams a lot of material into one semester, tons of reading, but overall, he is a quality teacher. I learned a lot about criminal law, but I would not want to take another class from him.

One of the best professors at McGeorge. Don't get me wrong, he is hard, but you leave class understanding the material. This makes studying for the final a whole lot easier. He picks one person and stays on that person the entire class even if it's obvious you didn't read, thus it is vital to be 100% prepared in EVERY class.

Professor Vitiello was by far my favorite professor this past year. You have to be prepared for every one of his classes, and all throughout first semester he was very intimidating. Nonetheless, I don't think it's possible for me to forget the most important aspects of his course because he was SO GOOD at teaching the material. Kudos!

On one hand, he's scary and hard. On the other hand, of the most recent graduating class, the half of the student that had him for Civ Pro first year made up over three quarters of the Order of the Coif, nearly the entire editorial board of both law reviews, ran nearly all of the important clubs on campus, and won nearly all the awards at grad.

The best professor ever, absolutely loved him! He is the only one at McGeorge that I know who has office hours 5 days a week; he respects his students and really cares about teaching. His class is challenging and demanding, but ... hello ... this is law school, what else do you expect? I would not change him for prof. Main or anyone else.

Vitiello is no joke. He knows his stuff and you'll know CivPro better than any other class. Get the Freer Tapes and black paperback!! Listen to the corresponding lecture before class and you will be an all-star. Vitiello sometimes hides the ball on purpose but Freer makes it pretty easy. 1st semest. mult choice comes straight from in class hypos.

An extremely gifted law professor who can use the socratic method to reach your weak spots and teach you. Demonstrates and teaches from an extreme liberal bias- a bit silly given that civ pro is really a class about rules, but he will spend that class time you paid for to decry "judicial activism" as fiction, and tear apart any Scalia opinion

Outline material before every class; no laptops allowed (but you adjust!); tests very fair; he is eager to REALLY help you (and the class) understand; very strict- no whispering to anyone, but you do learn the material from all angles; he is a little socially awkward, but that doesn't matter when he is teaching

Dreaded going to class! Is very helpful, but that doesn't make up for his major ego. Prepare yourself for public humiliation.

There is no doubt that he is probably the school's most demanding professor, but he knows what he's talking about. You'll honestly feel like you are talking to one of the nation's leading authorities in whatever class you have him for, and he probably is... It was a complete honor having him as a professor. He also cares about his students.

Vitiello is a demanding professor, but you will learn the law very well. He truly cares about his students and treats them like professionals. Work hard in preparation for this class and don't bring your laptop or EVER let your cell phone go off in class. One of the best at McGeorge.

Very demanding. One of the best teachers at McGeorge. Cares deeply about his students and the material. Be prepared for every class. Can be mildly esoteric, but it never bothered me.

Not sure where others had problems, but Vitiello is fair and consistent. Never humiliated anyone in class, and seemed genuinely interested in helping students. I enjoyed his class, even though it's not my interest, and would take another class with Vitiello. I only wish he focused on CA law, instead of crim law generally.

Vitiello takes what is otherwise a difficult and dry subject and animates it so well. Is very demanding but holds himself to high standards as well. Is super available and concerned about his students. A true gentleman and scholar.

Heard he was bad when I arrived at McGeorge, but he ended up being my favorite professor. He is demanding, but as long as you read and take notes prior to showing up to class, you'll do fine. He is very clear too, and makes a lot of jokes.

He is very tough on you in class, but the material is presented in a very clear manner. He is GREAT in office hours and very committed to helping his students suceeed.

He is passionate about his subject and relentless in getting the most out of everyone. Make sure you are prepared- he always is. You will learn a lot, but it may not be pretty.

Wonderful professor, one of the best I have ever had. Not sure about some of these other reviewers' classes, but in mine he was extremely clear and straightforward with the material and what he expected students to know.

Outstanding professor. Vitiello expects the same things out of his students that law firms and clients will expect from you after law school: Work ethic, an ability to communicate your ideas (especially in writing), and added points for intellectual curiosity.

V is a prof that u either love or hate. I LOVED him. He taught me so much more than a book could about the fundamentals of CP. He's not easy & be ready to have a lot of anxietystress before class, but remember that he genuinely cares about students. Won't like u if u are unprepared. Having V is a right of passage - socratic to the death.

The path to doing well in Vitiello's class is clear, if alot of work. Do all the assigned readings, pay attention lectures, and then go to his officer hours prepared (last one is essential). His class is very polarizing however, if you don't meet his expectations, its easy to feel lost and fall behind in class due to the pace he goes at.

Extremely difficult, but at the same time, very thorough and eases up on the grading of exams. If you hate the socratic, avoid at all costs! Most I've ever learned from one class

Class participation is very important - more so that you volunteer and do so regularly and substantially. Not only does it help with learning, but he seems to like it and doesn't call on you for the normal cold calling stuff after you volunteer for a while. Just be sure to pay attention to everything he says. Every word matters.

Vitiello takes great efforts to ensure that every student who wants to succeed has a fair opportunity to do so. Is his class easy? NO! He is fair and will work with students on how to improve.

Vitiello is both the toughest Professor I had my first semester and the most caring. If you are willing to do the heavy lifting he refers to frequently (meaning read every word in the text, supplement, and frcp) you will do great! Sometimes his lectures are a bit hard to decipher but go to his office hours and you will get it!!

Excellent class, interesting material, and a hilarious Professor! Do the reading, put in the work, go to office hours, ask questions, participate in the hypos and you will love him! Great Professor who cares tremendously about his students.

I love Professor Vitiello! He expects a lot out of his students, but the payoff is great! I learned so much from him, and he really does care a great deal about his students. Highly recommend.

Prof. V is the OG on campus. I wish every Professor were like him. He holds you accountable to know the material and does so in the student's best interest to become stellar attorneys. I learned so much from him in comparison to other classes. Be sure to come to class prepared, and you will do great.

He's what you'd expect from a law school professor who has mastered use of Socratic method. Come to class ready, he expects much from you. You may come to class believing you understand the material, but he will show you that you know very little. It's an intimidating class, but very fulfilling. If you do it right, you will be better for it.

There are mixed reviews about Professor Vitiello but I am here to tell you how great he is. Not only is he one of the best lecturers I have ever had, he is also very kind and compassionate. He can be tough but he truly only wants what is best for his students and wants to push them to be critical thinkers and quick on their feet. Best at McGeorge!

Professor Vitiello challenges you to the next level. The workload was heavy. However, I learned a TON in his class. He gets you to think strategically about the rules and the stories behind them. I found the skills he taught useful. Highly recommend if you want to be challenged; do not recommend if you don't want to work long hours into the night.

Professor Vitiello is someone who holds a wealth of knowledge in a topic that is extremely complex and difficult. He prepares the class for the reality that judges and the law in general will not be as forgiving as professors in law school. While some may not like him or find him difficult, he is very accessible and friendly outside of class.

A very tough Professor and expects a lot from students. However, he truly wants people to succeed and understand the material. Cold calls frequently and free-form. READ THE FOOTNOTES of the cases assigned and make sure to read the Notes and Questions following each case; he expects you to know those well. Fair grader and very accessible

I truly do not get the hate MV gets here. Yes, he is old-school, and will not be nice if you did not do ALL of the reading and answer ALL of his assigned questions. Yes, he hides the ball, and expects you to work for your grade. Yes, he meanders a little. BUT if you can handle that, then you're gonna learn a lot. Also very helpful in office hours.

I was very scared of being placed in his class because of all of the scary reviews. Vitiello is a fantastic professor and is such a good resource. Yes, his cold calls can be brutal, and he will call you out if you don't do your homework. He just wants you to succeed. You're in law school for a reason, and you gotta work hard in his class.