Laura Leff is a Journalism professor at Northeastern University rated 3.0/5 by 13 students, with 4.0/5 difficulty (TRACE + RateMyProfessors + Reddit, updated July 2026).
Laura Leff professor reviews and ratings: 3.0/5 from 13 student reviews at Northeastern. TRACE + RateMyProfessor + Reddit.
Unless you are able to learn solely through hearing someone speak (on a dry topic) for 1.5 hours, do not take Law of the Press with Laura. She's a very sweet woman, but insanely boring and a little old-fashioned. Tuning out for 10 minutes can leave you clueless.JRNL3550 2016-10-31 12:29:23 +0000 UTC
BORING. A smart, qualified teacher, but it's nearly impossible to pay attention in class. Very old school brings in no visuals, just shows up and talks for the entire class. I am a committed student, but MAN, I cannot pay attention! The quizzes are also very hard, and that's after critically reading all the assignments and studying for hours...JRNL2301 2014-10-10 14:17:00 +0000 UTC
Leff, though she has her flaws (like teaching for a half hour immediately before a test), is a very good teacher. She is tough, but fair. You CANNOT BS your way through the class, and she reads every word of the case paper critically. But she'll be there for help, and it's very rewarding if you do well in her class.JRN550 2008-12-18 17:48:33 +0000 UTC
Easily the best professor I have had at NEU. has an extensive knowledge of her subject and lectures well extemporaneously. She is a tough, but fair, grader and I would recommend to anyone that they should take her class.PRESSLAW 2008-04-17 11:45:24 +0000 UTC
Horrible horrible teacher. Yeah ok she is smart, but she treats you like you are stupid just for raising your hand. Grades VERY unfairly and grades based on your previous grades in the class. It is so boring, she is so cut and dry and is not helpful at all. Worst teacher I have ever had. Dissapointing that the JRN dept. still has her teaching.LAWPRES 2006-12-07 00:06:29 +0000 UTC
I disagree with the last post... Leff is extremely knowledgable, lecture heavy and tedious in what she talks on, but she is by no means a bad teacher. The subject only becomes unclear when you drift in and out of the conversation, but if you actually pay attention it's really interesting. Tough grader, but she is approachable and friendly.LAWOFPRESS 2006-04-27 19:41:42 +0000 UTC
This is the worst class I have ever taken. It could be an interesting topic if the teacher was good but she is horrible. Not clear at all, classes are completely boring and you end up teaching youself everything if you even can. DO NOT take this class with Laurel Leff. Worst teacher I have ever had in all my years of schoolLAWOFTHEPRES 2006-04-05 17:09:49 +0000 UTC
Laurel, not Laura, is lecture heavy and tedious. She is also very unapproachable. Grades harshly for no reason. She clearly has favorites which is distressing considering the money I'm paying to go to this grad school. Let students get away with playing golf and showing up late. Not recommended.GRADSTUDY 2004-10-26 12:39:31 +0000 UTC
Laurel is amazing. She is the best teacher I've had at Nourtheastern. Discussions in her class are always really interesting. She's truly outstanding.MULTIPLE 2004-05-26 14:05:47 +0000 UTC
Boring class. I didn't learn much at all and found her lectures useless. The readings were long and not very interesting.ENTERPRISE 2004-05-25 15:58:28 +0000 UTC
Very very boring; nothing but lectures; exams are essay and impossible to study for; don't take this class if it's not requiredLAWPRESS 2004-04-07 20:25:30 +0000 UTC
lectured for too long and became very boring.NEWS 2004-02-12 12:25:53 +0000 UTC
Law of the press isn't an easy class with her, apparently Kennedy's section is much easier. She knows her stuff though. Can be a bit dry in her teaching methods and the tests/projects are pretty tough.JRN550 2008-04-29 16:08:43 +0000 UTC
Laura Leff has an average rating of 3.0/5 from 13 student reviews.
Laura Leff's classes have a difficulty rating of 4.0/5 based on student reviews.
Data updated July 2026.