Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, as part of our "Quick Tips" series, we're talking about the importance of taking time to outline or otherwise plan your bar essay answer before you start writing. In this episode, we discuss: Why should you spend time pre-writing at all? Best practices for pre-writing Different methods you can use to outline your answer How long to spend on your pre-writing process and how much detail to include in your outline Resources: Private Bar...

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, as part of our "Quick Tips" series, we're talking about time management on the bar exam. Specifically, we share tips on what to do if you run out of time when writing an essay answer. In this episode, we discuss: What happens if you run out of time on an essay or miss one completely? Fighting the urge to keep writing How to quickly wrap up your essay response and move on Time management tips that can help you avoid running out of time...

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, as part of our "Listen and Learn" series, we're talking about concurrent ownership of property. For a discussion on the related topic of present and future estates, you can check out episodes 250 and 251 of the podcast. In this episode, we discuss: Concurrent estates versus present and future estates The three major forms of concurrent ownership: Tenancy in Common Joint Tenancy Tenancy by the Entirety Sample questions illustrating...

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! In this week's episode, we have AJ Link joining us on the podcast. AJ is the president of the National Disabled Legal Professionals Association and today we're talking about accommodations and advocating for yourself in the legal profession. In this episode, we discuss: AJ's background and legal career path The mission of the National Disabled Legal Professionals Association The reasons why many students hesitate to file for accommodations for...

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! In this week's episode, we're focusing on a topic from Civil Procedure -- specifically, motions for judgment as a matter of law and motions for new trial, where the moving party is asking the court to take certain issues away from the jury. In this episode, we discuss: The two types of motions for judgment as a matter of law The standard for granting a motion for judgment as a matter of law Filing and granting motions for new trial Analyzing a...

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today we're talking about using accommodations for the bar exam due to disabilities or other conditions. In this episode, we discuss: Why accommodations are important Various types of accommodations available for the bar exam Applying for accommodations if you haven't had them in the past A step-by-step guide for securing accommodations Tips for effective use of the accommodations once you've got them Resources: Private Bar Exam Tutoring...

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, we're focusing on the basics of Criminal Law – that is, the elements of a crime. Specifically, we're going to spend some time diving into the two most important elements: causation and mens rea.  In this episode, we discuss: The four elements necessary to prove a crime The defendant's state of mind and criminal intent when they commit a crime Actual and proximate causation Two hypos from previous California bar exams Resources: ...

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today we are excited to speak with Jesse Mecham -- a personal finance expert and founder of You Need A Budget -- about ways to decrease spending and borrowing during bar prep and generally in life. In this episode, we discuss: How Jesse got into the field of budgeting and personal finance The YNAB "four-rule method" for managing money Thinking creatively when you're facing financial challenges and debt How to approach your community of family...

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today we're excited to be speaking with our guest Rebecca Petrilli from Themis Bar Review. We'll share our top 10 tips for using your bar review program to its full capacity to achieve better writing and MBE scores. Note: This episode is brought to you by Themis Bar Review – the gold standard in bar exam preparation. Right now, Themis has a special offer for Bar Exam Toolbox podcast listeners. If you sign up for their July 2024 bar review course,...

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, in an episode from our "Listen and Learn" series, we're discussing an important concept from Contract Law - consideration - which is one of the three requirements of contract formation.  In this episode, we discuss: The three requirements of contract formation What is consideration? The two ways in which consideration can be provided The situations in which there is never valid consideration Examples from previous California bar exams ...

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! In today's episode, we're discussing just how much it can cost you to sit for the bar exam, as well as some mitigation strategies to try to reduce the cost and help cover any shortfalls.  In this episode, we discuss: Researching the costs and fees associated with the bar exam in your state Choosing a bar prep course Some mitigation strategies to help reduce your expenses Pros and cons of working during bar prep Resources: Private Bar Exam...

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, as part of our "Quick Tips" series, we're talking about best habits for studying for the bar exam if you're coping with ADHD or ADD.  In this episode, we discuss: Creating a detailed study schedule Employing the Pomodoro Technique for time management Using different learning styles and strategies for memorizing the law Outlining and planning your essays and performance tests Making step-by-step attack plans Doing a quick review of the...

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, as part of our "Quick Tips" series, we're talking about best habits for studying for the bar exam while working full-time or part-time.  In this episode, we discuss: Creating a bar exam study schedule Evaluating the topics on which to spend more time When to begin studying Finding a bar review provider and/or tutor that work with your schedule Avoiding burnout during bar prep Resources: Private Bar Exam Tutoring...

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! In today's episode, we're talking about creating great bar exam study habits and ones that would be useful in your life in general. In this episode, we discuss: Learning through doing the things that make you uncomfortable Finding your learning style Why you should allow yourself to make mistakes Time-tracking your daily activities Using spaced repetition to memorize information Keeping your focus while studying Stacking new habits onto...

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, in an episode from our "Listen and Learn" series, we're discussing property intentional torts and their specific defenses.  In this episode, we discuss: A brief review of intentional torts When is a defendant liable for trespass to land? The differences between trespass to chattels and conversion  The necessity defense for property intentional torts The case Vincent v. Lake Erie Transportation Co. Two hypos from previous California bar...

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, we're diving into the second part of our discussion on present estates and future interests. In the previous episode we reviewed the default property interest, the fee simple absolute, and defeasible fees. In this episode we're covering life estates, reversions, and remainders. In this episode, we discuss: A review of the fee simple absolute Life estates Reversions and remainders Taxes and mortgage payments for a life estate Examples...

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! In this episode, we're diving into a topic from Property Law -- Present and Future Estates. In this first part of a two-part series, we discuss the default property interest, the fee simple absolute and defeasible fees, along with the corresponding future interests. Next week we'll cover life estates, reversions, and remainders. In this episode, we discuss: The definition of present estates and future interests The fee simple absolute Types of...

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, we're continuing our discussion of the NextGen Bar Exam with a few tips on what classes and skills to focus on in law school for a more seamless bar prep experience down the line. In this episode, we discuss: An overview of the NextGen Bar Exam and how it's different from the UBE The nine bodies of law tested on the NextGen Bar that require memorization Learning practical client skills through related courses and clinics Strengthening...

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today we're talking about the format and scope of the NextGen Bar Exam, which will eventually replace the UBE. The first administration of the new bar exam format is scheduled for July 2026. In this episode, we discuss: Timeline for replacing the UBE with the NextGen Bar Exam The subject matters and skills that will be tested The three question types planned for the new exam What classes to take in law school to help you be better prepared for...

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! In today's episode, we're focusing on one of the most highly-tested topics on the bar exam: Negligence. In particular, we're talking about the different ways in which factual causation can be proved. In this episode, we discuss: Review of the elements of negligence What is factual causation and the five tests that are used to prove it Analyzing two hypos from previous California bar exams Resources: "Listen and Learn" series...

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, in our "Listen and Learn" series, we're discussing the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure – more specifically Rule 15, which deals with the instances in which a party can amend their pleading. In this episode, we discuss: A quick refresh on the statute of limitations The three major circumstances under which a party is likely to seek to amend their complaint Amending a party's pleading before the statute of limitations has run out How a...

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, we're talking about memorization for the bar exam. In particular, we discuss several memorization techniques and provide examples to illustrate each one. We also talk about adapting these techniques to the different learning styles. Lastly, we go over some general memorization tips that all bar exam studiers should follow. In this episode, we discuss: Brief review of the three main types of learners How mnemonics can be used by the...

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today we're excited to have guest Gabe Teninbaum back on the podcast. He is a law professor and creator of spacedrepetition.com and we're talking with him about memorization for the bar exam.  Note: If you’re interested in checking out spacedrepetition.com for yourself, you can use the coupon code TOOLBOX15 for 15% off any product on the website. In this episode, we discuss: How Gabe become interested in helping people improve their ability to...

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, in our "Listen and Learn" series, we review the professional rules regarding the duties owed by prosecutors when bringing criminal charges. We also look at how these issues might show up on the bar by going through a question from the 2009 California exam.  In this episode, we discuss: The duties of a prosecutor during a criminal trial Issues of fairness to opposing party and counsel Analyzing a question from the July 2009 California bar...

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, as part of our "Quick Tips" series, we're talking about how to avoid running out of time on the performance test, and what to do in case that happens. In this episode, we discuss: Planning for how you're going to split up the allotted time for the PT Practical steps you can take to speed up each of the reading, planning, and writing stages How to avoid panicking, get unstuck, and write your best possible answer if you are running out of...