The Multi-State Bar Exam, or MBE for short, is often the most dreaded portion of the bar exam. As law students and lawyers, we’re comfortable handling the ambiguities in drafting an extended analysis and pointing out every counterargument. But with multiple choice, we don’t get to make a case to the bar examiners why our answer is correct. We simply have to pick the one and only correct choice. [Read more…] about How to Learn from Your MBE Mistakes
Bar Exam Toolbox Blog
Podcast Episode 95: Listen and Learn — Promissory Estoppel
Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today’s episode is part of our “Listen and Learn” series, where we review legal concepts and use them in fact patterns. This time we’re analyzing a topic from contract law — promissory estoppel.
In this episode we discuss:
- When is a promise breakable, and when is it a contract?
- What is inadequate consideration?
- The “reasonable and detrimental actions” requirement for promissory estoppel
- Breach of contract and reliance damages
- Analyzing two questions pertaining to promissory estoppel
- How to structure the essay answer when the fact pattern contains multiple actions
Thanks for listening!
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Bar Study During Coronavirus with a Cohabiting Partner
We’ve recently heard from several bar students and their partners about how stressful the current situation is. You’ve got the Coronavirus pandemic to worry about, the uncertainty of future bar exam dates and formats, social and political unrest, plus, social distancing is stripping everyone of their normal go-to measures for self-preservation, such as getting outside and socializing. [Read more…] about Bar Study During Coronavirus with a Cohabiting Partner
What to do if your bar exam is still scheduled for July
COVID-19 continues to throw plans into flux – would-be bar examinees feel this acutely. Because each state gets to determine when and how to administer the bar exam, there is no one consistent plan this year for the test. Several states plan to administer the test as usual in July, while a number of others have rescheduled it for September or later.
The July exam administration is mere weeks away and students in the states that have not postponed it are watching the news warily. States that have previously started to reopen are rolling that back. What does that mean for the bar exam? The short answer: no one knows. It could be that the states going forward with the test in July will ultimately postpone, but this will leave many examinees in the lurch. Travel plans and logistics and study plans should be completely set by now, but those can all fall through upon the word of the powers that be.
Those are things out of your control, so let’s focus on things that are in your control. Do your best to stay flexible about any changed circumstances and, most importantly, focus on your physical and mental health. It’s normal to feel anxious in the weeks leading up to the exam, and the extra stress of pandemic caused uncertainty is likely to compound that anxiety. Do what you can to manage that.
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Creating a Workspace for a Remote Exam
Let’s all just accept that this is a very weird time in our lives. As much as we want to cry out that it’s just not fair, these once in a century circumstances have to be acknowledged. I wish I could remember what great philosopher expressed this idea, but I am a firm believer that the most successful people in life are those who have the ability to adapt and move on from obstacles placed in their paths. Rather than complain and rail against how unfair it is that you have to accept this unseen threat, figure out how to move forward and whether there are any benefits you can take advantage of that might not be available at another time. [Read more…] about Creating a Workspace for a Remote Exam
Blocked: Tips & Tricks On Keeping Your “Free Time” Free
They say those who can’t do, teach. So, I am here in an attempt to impart wisdom – or something – on the best ways to keep your mind free when you are trying to relax. We don’t need every moment of our time spent visioning flash cards, do we?
After the initial frustration of graduating only to be thrown into another stressful situation has subsided, the anxiety of the bar exam kicks in. There is no rest for the wicked. There is so much pressure surrounding the bar exam. Passing means the opportunity to actually practice law and not hear about theories from professors. So, it is natural that it would produce a lot of anxiety and take 100% of your attention. But what I have heard, and witnessed when studying myself, is that those who are 100% consumed with bar exam topics sometimes overwork themselves and end up doing the opposite of how they want to perform. You have to take some sort of break, and there are a million ideas about how to do this. But once on a break, how do we take back control of our thoughts? Well, here are approximately 5, in no particular order.
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