The Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast: Pass the Bar Exam with Less Stress

Latest Episodes:

079: Tackling an MEE Criminal Law/Procedure and Evidence Essay Feb 17, 2020

Show notes

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, we are walking through a UBE Criminal Law/Procedure and Evidence essay question from the July 2016 bar exam. This is part of our series of podcasts on how to approach Multistate Essay Examination questions.

In this episode, we discuss:

Review of the law on hearsay, the Fifth Amendment, and Miranda rights
Reading the question from the July 2016 bar exam
How identifying which facts are legally significant triggers a strong analysis
Dealing with questions involving crossover issues
How to handle rules that are invoked in the question over and over again

Resources:

Download the Transcript (https://barexamtoolbox.com/episode-79-tackling-an-mee-criminal-law-procedure-and-evidence-essay/)

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/bar-exam-toolbox-podcast-pass-bar-exam-less-stress/id1370651486) or your favorite listening app. And feel free to reach out to us directly. You can always reach us via the contact form on the Bar Exam Toolbox website (https://barexamtoolbox.com/contact-us/). Finally, if you don't want to miss anything, you can sign up for podcast updates (https://barexamtoolbox.com/get-bar-exam-toolbox-podcast-updates/)!

Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee

078: Learning through Mistakes in Bar Prep Feb 10, 2020

Show notes

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, we're discussing how our mind deals with failure, and why making mistakes can actually lead to better learning.

In this episode, we discuss:

Why being wrong when highly confident in the answer is a powerful way to absorb information
Why guessing on multiple choice questions doesn't lead to learning
A look at how kids deal with their mistakes
The concept of memory reconsolidation
Fixed versus growth mindset
Practicing by rewriting questions and quizzing yourself

Resources:

Download the Transcript (https://barexamtoolbox.com/episode-78-learning-through-mistakes-in-bar-prep/)

Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee

077: Who and What to Trust for Bar Exam Prep Feb 03, 2020

Show notes

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, we're talking about how to know who or what you can trust when preparing for the bar exam, and why it's important to go all in with an approach once you've decided to trust it.

In this episode, we discuss:

Evaluating what works best for your learning style and life situation
Where to get practice materials and feedback
Can you test a course before you purchase it?
Assessing how you're spending your study time and if it's working
Focusing on one topic at a time
Trusting the process and sticking with it through tougher days
How other people can help if you've hit a roadblock

Resources:

Download the Transcript (https://barexamtoolbox.com/episode-77-who-and-what-to-trust-for-bar-exam-prep/)

Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee

076: Tackling an MEE Con Law Essay Question Jan 27, 2020

Show notes

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, we are walking through a UBE constitutional law essay question from the July 2018 bar exam. This is part of our series of podcasts on how to approach Multistate Essay Examination questions.

In this episode, we discuss:

Do you need to cite cases when answering Con Law questions?
The Tenth Amendment and use of federal funding
Reading the Con Law question from the July 2018 bar exam
What is the best way to begin your answer?
How to create a solid rule section
The importance of working key words and phrases into your analysis
How to approach a question involving a multi-element rule

Resources:

Download the Transcript (https://barexamtoolbox.com/episode-76-tackling-an-mee-con-law-essay-question/)

Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee

075: Tackling a California Bar Exam Essay: Trusts Jan 20, 2020

Show notes

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, we are walking through the February 2016 California bar exam question on wills, trusts, and property. This is part of our series of podcasts talking about how to approach questions on the California bar exam.

In this episode, we discuss:

The law pertaining to trusts, interests in real property, and the duties of a trustee
Reading the question on trusts from the February 2016 California bar exam
Noting the legal significance of each fact in the fact pattern chronologically
Allotting enough time to outline each part of the question before you begin writing
Creating solid attack plans to help you memorize the rules

Resources:

Download the Transcript (https://barexamtoolbox.com/episode-75-tackling-a-california-bar-exam-essay-trusts/)

Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee

074: Taking a Second Bar Exam in Another State Jan 13, 2020

Show notes

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, we're talking about taking the bar in a new state, when you're already licensed elsewhere.

In this episode, we discuss:

Figuring out if it's possible to take the attorney version of the exam
What are the most efficient study methods if you've already passed once?
Evaluating what topics you should focus on
Why the passage rate for attorney applicants is not very high
How early should you start studying?
Is your job willing to make accommodations if needed?

Resources:

Download the Transcript (https://barexamtoolbox.com/episode-74-taking-a-second-bar-exam-in-another-state/)

Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee

073: How to Learn the Law Needed for the MBE Jan 06, 2020

Show notes

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, we're strategizing about how to resolve problems you're having while studying for the MBE, specifically when you're struggling with the law.

In this episode, we discuss:

How complicated is the law on the MBE?
The importance of evaluating why you are getting questions right or wrong
Doing targeted practice on areas of the law where you feel less confident
The surprising powers of handwriting
Using frequency analysis, especially if you are short on time
Resources for extra help with your studying

Resources:

Download the Transcript (https://barexamtoolbox.com/episode-73-how-to-learn-the-law-needed-for-the-mbe/)

Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee

072: Tackling a California Bar Exam Essay: Civil Procedure Dec 16, 2019

Show notes

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, we are walking through the July 2017 California bar exam question on civil procedure. This is part of our series of podcasts talking about how to approach questions on the California bar exam.

In this episode, we discuss:

The law pertaining to subject matter jurisdiction, joinder, and pleading requirements
Reading the facts in the civil procedure question from the July 2017 California bar exam
The importance of carefully reading the questions you're asked before you start your answer
How to determine what law applies in a federal court
When a civil litigant has a right to a jury trial
What is the best course of action if two conclusions are possible?

Resources:

Download the Transcript (https://barexamtoolbox.com/episode-72-tackling-a-california-bar-exam-essay-civil-procedure/)

Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee

071: Tackling an MEE Contracts Essay Question Dec 09, 2019

Show notes

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, we are walking through a UBE Contracts essay question from the July 2018 bar exam. This is part of our series of podcasts on how to approach Multistate Essay Examination questions.

In this episode, we discuss:

How to easily determine you are working with a Contracts question
Does the scope of the question fall into the UCC world or the common law world?
A review of Article 2 of the UCC and the common law of contracts
Reading the Contracts question from the July 2018 bar exam
Is a verbal promise to keep an offer to sell goods open binding when the offer is made by a non-merchant?
Tip: Glance at the questions at the end before you start reading the facts in the hypothetical

Resources:

Download the Transcript (https://barexamtoolbox.com/episode-71-tackling-an-mee-contracts-essay-question/)

Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee

070: Tackling a California Bar Exam Essay: Criminal Law and Procedure Dec 02, 2019

Show notes

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, we are walking through the February 2017 California bar exam question on criminal law and criminal procedure. This is part of our series of podcasts talking about how to approach questions on the California bar exam.

In this episode, we discuss: