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

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

The Bar Exam Toolbox podcast helps bar takers pass with less stress and anxiety. Hosted by bar exam experts Lee Burgess and Alison Monahan, the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast covers a wide variety of topics, ranging from how to learn and memorize all the law you need to know for the bar exam, to how to write a passing essay, to how to get bar exam accommodations. If you're struggling with the bar exam, or work with students who are, tune in for practical strategies for bar exam success!

Episodes

September 8, 2025 15 mins

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! In this episode we explain the legal concepts of self-defense and defense of others, focusing on their importance in criminal law and in bar exam scenarios.  

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Self-defense: rules and elements
  • Imperfect self-defense
  • Defense of others: rules and elements
  • Two hypothetical scenarios from previous California bar e...
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Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! In this episode we provide practical advice for creating a personalized bar exam study schedule, taking into account accommodations, past scores, available study time, and life events. We emphasize the importance of scheduling breaks, managing unplanned interruptions, and being realistic about your commitments to ensure effective and sustainable preparation.   ...

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Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! This episode continues the discussion on criminal identification procedures, focusing on potential due process violation issues. Through analyzing a hypothetical scenario, we illustrate how courts look at the totality of the circumstances and assess whether identification procedures are unnecessarily suggestive. The episode concludes with a step-by-step approach to tackling identificati...

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Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today we're talking about the rules and timing of the different types of criminal identification procedures. Join us next week when we'll continue the discussion of this topic.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Types of criminal identifications p...
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Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! In this episode from our "Quick Tips" series, we outline three phases of the post-bar exam recovery period: immediate decompression, reengagement, and future planning. We share tips to help you reclaim your life, including taking physical rest, reconnecting with loved ones, establishing healthy routines, and planning future career steps. <...

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Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! This episode is the final in our Torts trilogy, where we're summarizing the topics from Torts we've covered in our "Listen and Learn" series. Today we're talking about strict liability and vicarious liability, and we review the key defenses - assumption of risk and comparative negligence.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Str...
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Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! How you spend the final two weeks leading up to the bar exam can make a significant difference in your performance! In this episode, we provide a strategic guide for focusing on high-yield review and mental preparation. We have broken it down into specific daily frameworks, starting with Day 14 and up to the morning of the exam.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • The normal stress respon...
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Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! We're continuing our summary of topics from Torts we've covered in our "Listen and Learn" series. Today we're discussing person-based and property-based intentional torts, as well as defamation. We also go through the defenses to intentional torts and provide a plan for answering intentional tort questions on the bar exam.

In this episode, we discuss:

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Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! This is the first of three episodes in which we summarize the topics from Torts we've covered in our "Listen and Learn" series. Today, we're focusing on negligence and its four key elements - duty, breach, causation, and damages. We have included an attack plan for exam questions on negligence, and a quick practical example.

In this episode, we discuss:

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, we're discussing the different methods a plaintiff may use to establish the second element of a negligence claim -- breach. We also talk about the "res ipsa loquitur" doctrine, and we will walk through several hypotheticals involving breach of the standard of care.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • An overview of negligence claims
  • The reasonable person standard
  • The "res ipsa loqu...
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Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! In today's episode, we're discussing torts – specifically, the intentional tort of false imprisonment and the associated defense, shopkeeper's privilege. We also go through several sample questions and apply the law to the fact patterns.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • An overview of intentional torts
  • The elements of false imprisonment
  • Hypothetical scenarios from previous California b...
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Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! This is the final installment of the summary of Criminal Law topics we've covered in our "Listen and Learn" series. Today, we're reviewing crimes against the person, the felony murder rule, and accomplice liability. We also address the complex scenarios that are likely to show up on the bar exam and offer a strategy for analyzing criminal law questions.

In this episode, we discuss:

    ...
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Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! This is the second of three episodes in which we summarize the topics from Criminal Law we've covered in our "Listen and Learn" series. Today we explore the elements of key property crimes (like larceny, robbery, embezzlement, burglary, and arson) and inchoate offenses (such as attempt, solicitation, and conspiracy). We also discuss defenses to criminal acts and offer strategies for ana...

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Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! This is the first of three episodes in which we summarize the topics from Criminal Law we've covered in our "Listen and Learn" series. We begin by reviewing the elements of a crime (actus reus, mens rea, causation, concurrence) and the various types of homicide (first-degree murder, second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter). We also cover legal defenses in ...

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Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today we're focusing on another topic from Criminal Law -- namely, accomplice liability. We're covering the three elements of establishing accomplice liability, situations where accomplice liability doesn't apply, and what defenses a person charged as an accomplice can assert. We also apply these concepts to several hypothetical scenarios.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Elements of a...
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Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today we're exploring some complex aspects of criminal law that frequently appear on exams -- the felony murder rule and causation in homicide cases. We have included an analysis of two hypothetical scenarios to illustrate these legal principles.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Review of the felony murder rule
  • Which felonies are considered inherently dangerous?
  • The death of a co-felon...
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Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! We're continuing the discussion from last week on crimes against the person. In the previous episode, we covered the basic elements of assault, battery, false imprisonment, and kidnapping, and walked through a scenario involving these crimes. Today, we'll build on that foundation by analyzing more complex hypotheticals that test the boundaries of these offenses.

In this episode, we disc...

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Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, we're discussing four crimes against the person – assault, battery, false imprisonment, and kidnapping. We'll walk through the elements of each crime and see an example which illustrates how they may appear and interact on the bar exam.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • The elements of assault, battery, false imprisonment, and kidnapping
  • Analysis of a hypothetical scenario involv...
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Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! This is the last of three episodes in which we review the substantive Civil Procedure law we've covered on the podcast. We're concluding this series by tracking how a civil lawsuit unfolds, from pleadings to judgment. 

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Starting a lawsuit: pleadings and service of process
  • Read more
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Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! This is the second of three episodes in which we review the substantive Civil Procedure law we've covered in our "Listen and Learn" series.  This time we're talking about discovery, or obtaining evidence from other parties. 

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Scope of discovery
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