ProfessorTommy.Tips

July 3 is National Compliment Your Mirror Day, a day that encourages us to practice positive affirmations. Looking in the mirror and reminding yourself, "I've prepared for this," "I can do hard things," or "I belong here," may seem a little awkward at first, but research suggests that positive affirmations can help reduce stress, improve confidence, boost motivation, and encourage more positive thinking. While affirmations are not a magic solution, they can be a helpful part

Yesterday, the United States Men's National Team advanced in the FIFA World Cup. But the victory came at a cost. Forward Folarin Balogun received a red card that many believed was undeserved. Fans questioned the decision. Commentators debated it. The U.S. coaching staff clearly disagreed with the referee's call. But none of that changed the outcome. Under FIFA's rules, the automatic one-match suspension resulting from the red card could not be appealed. Whether the referee go

When you think about preparing for the bar exam, what comes to mind? Probably things like memorizing blackletter law, completing thousands of multiple-choice questions, practicing essays and performance tests, and reviewing outlines until you can recite the elements of adverse possession or the hearsay exceptions from memory. All of those things are essential. But there's another part of bar exam preparation that almost nobody talks about. The chair. Yes, the chair. Over two

If you've followed sports headlines this week, you've probably seen the discussion surrounding Alyssa Thomas' foul on Caitlin Clark and the WNBA's subsequent one-game suspension. This post isn't about whether the officials got the call right, whether the suspension was appropriate, or who was at fault. I'll leave those debates to sports analysts. Instead, the play provides a timely opportunity to revisit one of the classic cases many first-year law students encounter in Torts

One of my former students recently asked a great question that I suspect many Legacy UBE examinees have been wondering: I know that Choice of Law is no longer tested on the Legacy UBE beginning with the July 2026 exam. Does that also mean Erie doctrine is gone? The NCBE outline lists Erie under Conflict of Laws, but [my bar review course] still teaches it in Civil Procedure. Should I keep studying it? My answer is an emphatic "YES." I would absolutely continue studying Erie d