ProfessorTommy.Tips

The X-Files is coming back. And while a new generation of FBI agents may soon be investigating unexplained phenomena, one of the show's most recognizable phrases offers a valuable lesson for students preparing for the bar exam: "I Want to Believe." Those four words appeared on the famous UFO poster hanging in Fox Mulder's office. They also captured the fundamental tension between the show's two main characters. Mulder was willing to believe in extraordinary explanations. His

Recently, I decided to get back into collecting trading cards. Like many people who collected cards growing up, I remember the excitement of opening packs, discovering favorite players, and hoping to find something special. But the hobby has changed quite a bit since I last collected. There are now countless parallels, autographs, numbered cards, and other variations that make collecting both exciting and, at times, a little overwhelming. As I've been rediscovering the hobby,

Exactly one year ago, on Oct. 10, 2025, WNBA star Angel Reese posted three simple words on social media: “manifesting the finals>>>” At the time, Reese was coming off her second WNBA season with the Chicago Sky. Her team hadn't made the playoffs, much less the WNBA Finals. But Reese had a goal. She put it into words and shared it with the world. Fast forward 364 days. On Oct. 9, 2026, Reese helped the Atlanta Dream defeat the New York Liberty to advance to the WNBA Finals. Sh

LeBron James was talking about basketball. But he might as well have been talking about the bar exam. At media day yesterday, James used oatmeal to explain what it takes to become great. “You just put the oatmeal in the bowl, you put the water in and throw it in the microwave and a minute and a half. You got something to eat. You're ready to go.” That's fine if you want oatmeal. It's not how you become great at something. James continued: “If you want to do something special,

The first full week of the NFL season is nearly in the books, and there are already plenty of storylines. There were surprising performances, surprising results, and the usual reminder that everything we thought we knew in August can change once teams actually start playing games. But perhaps no team's outlook changed more dramatically than that of the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams entered the season as the betting favorite to win the Super Bowl. After an offseason in which they

This week, I completed my 2,500th Peloton ride. That’s a lot of time on a bike that goes absolutely nowhere. But reaching 2,500 rides got me thinking about something that has very little to do with exercise and a lot to do with succeeding in law school and preparing for the bar exam. I didn't get to 2,500 because I had 2,500 great workouts. Some rides were long. Some were short. Some were hard. Some were easy. There were days when I felt great and wanted to push myself, and p

The bar exam is over. Whatever you're feeling right now—relief, exhaustion, uncertainty, or all of the above—it's completely understandable. I was grateful to record this message for the ABA, and I hope it resonates with everyone who just finished this journey.

"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

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

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