Current instructor

Alan Rubel

/5Adjusted rating
/5RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 3.67/5 from 24 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.

RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.

What students say

Original student reviews · all captured dates

LS460 · course not matched
Quality 4/5Difficulty 4/5
Pretty challenging course, but I loved it. I think that for as long as you keep up with your readings and attend lecture, you will be fine. Do not underestimate the exams, as they make up a huge part of your grade and are fairly difficult. Helps if you know a little about the Fourth and Fifth Amendment before taking this course.
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LIS 461
Quality 3/5Difficulty 2/5
I routinely forgot that this was supposed to be a class about ethics. For a class about the moral implications surrounding the use of data mining and algorithms he sure does love talking about legality. A lot of the readings are dense and long, but if you just get the jist of what they're saying and watch his online lectures, you should get an A.
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LIS 461
Quality 4/5Difficulty 3/5
His knowledge about law and related materials is really good and he does a great job of communicating that to students. He is really helpful and accessible outside of class. Overall he's a solid choice and I'd recommend you take a class with him.
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LIS 201
Quality 5/5Difficulty 2/5
Professor Rubel was by far the best professor I ever had. His lectures were super interesting and engaging and he strove to make sure everyone was engaged with and understanding of the material. Also he's just a super really approachable and clearly cares about your education. Plus 201 is an easy class that made me a better writer for sure.
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LS450 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
Alan is obviously passionate about what he teaches which makes lectures that much more enjoyable. There is a lot of reading, but he does a good job at highlighting the most important ones that will be on the exams. The exams are a timed essay, but if you've done the readings or attended lecture you will do fine. Overall great professor
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LIS 201
Quality 4/5Difficulty 1/5
The lectures are interesting, but there is no reason to attend unless you find them interesting. Your grade is based solely on papers and these weekly memos which require little to no effort. There is lots of reading which can be very dry at times. He is passionate though and is worth attending if you find it interesting.
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Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.

Classes with Alan Rubel

LEGALST 699 is a directed study course in legal studies.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

LIS 999 is an independent reading and research course where students conduct concentrated work on a self-selected subject and submit a final product.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2022: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=1 letter grades).

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2025 · limited sample

Recorded teaching history

Explore courses taught by this instructor →
Browse recorded courses
TermCourseTitle
Fall 2026LEGALST 699Directed Study
Fall 2026LIS 990Research and Thesis
Fall 2026LIS 999Independent Reading and Research

Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.

Instructor identity & provenance
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