ProfessorTommy.Tips

California has officially adopted the NextGen Uniform Bar Exam, marking a major shift in how the state will license new attorneys. This decision comes at the end of what may become one of the most consequential weeks in the recent history of California’s bar exam. Over the span of just eight days, three major developments—each significant on its own—collectively signaled the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. While details about score portability under the NextG

Civil Procedure is full of concepts that sound alike but answer very different questions. That’s one reason the subject can feel so overwhelming. I regularly see two related mistakes on Civil Procedure essays. Sometimes students use the wrong terminology. Other times, they stop their analysis before it’s complete. The frustrating part is that both mistakes are entirely avoidable once you understand what each concept is actually asking. If you can separate joinder from subject

"Great kid, don't get cocky." — Han Solo, Star Wars: A New Hope It's one of the most memorable lines in Star Wars. Luke Skywalker has just helped Han Solo and others escape the Death Star. Moments later, he excitedly celebrates after shooting down a pursuing TIE fighter. Han Solo offers congratulations but also a reminder. Success is exciting. Success is motivating. But success can also create a false sense of security. That's a lesson every bar examinee should remember this

Bar examinees spend months learning how to think like lawyers. They memorize legal rules, practice hundreds of multiple-choice questions, write essays under timed conditions, and refine their analytical skills. Yet there is one part of exam preparation that almost no one discusses because it seems too ordinary to matter. Posture. It is easy to dismiss posture as something your parents or elementary school teachers reminded you about. But modern research in ergonomics, physiol

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