Libsyn Directory

327: Facts and Fears Around the Integrated Question Sets (IQSs) on the NextGen Bar Exam

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

Release Date: 09/29/2025

338: Studying for the Bar During the Holiday Season

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

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! We've made it to another holiday season, which means joy, good food, family, and friends. However, for those studying for the bar exam, it can also bring a lot of stress as you try to manage bar prep and family commitments. Today, we're sharing some ways to think about bar study during the holiday season. In this episode, we discuss: Creating a study schedule Setting boundaries with family and friends, and handling tough questions Allowing yourself to take real time off How to ask for help if you need to Avoiding social media and comparisons...

337: Listen and Learn -- Will Revocation

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

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! In this episode, we explain the ways in which a validly executed will can be revoked (by a subsequent document, by a physical act, and by operation of law), and analyze examples illustrating these concepts. In this episode, we discuss: The requirements for a valid will Revocation by a subsequent document Revocation by a physical act Revocation by operation of law Doctrine of dependent relative revocation A few hypotheticals and examples Resources: If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on () or...

336: Listen and Learn -- Will Formation and Execution

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

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! In this episode, we explain the five requirements for a valid will, and analyze two hypotheticals to illustrate how courts determine validity. In this episode, we discuss: The basics of will formation The five elements of a valid will What is a holographic will? The "harmless error" rule Two hypotheticals from previous California bar exams Resources: If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on () or your favorite listening app. And feel free to reach out to us directly. You can always reach us via...

335: How Is the NextGen Changing the Legacy UBE?

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

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today we're discussing how the rollout of the NextGen UBE in July 2026 will also bring significant changes to the Legacy UBE, including the removal of certain subjects from the MEE and a shift in focus for the MPT. In this episode, we discuss: Timeline for the NextGen UBE and Legacy UBE Major changes in the Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) Preparing for the Multistate Performance Test (MPT) Potential changes in the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) Deciding when to take the bar exam Resources: If you enjoy the...

334: Listen and Learn -- Strict Liability: Animals and Dangerous Activities (Part 2)

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

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! This is Part 2 of a two-part series on strict liability as it relates to animals (both wild and domestic), as well as certain super dangerous activities. In this episode, we discuss: Strict liability for abnormally dangerous activities Strict liability for keeping wild and domestic animals Two hypothetical scenarios illustrating the above concepts Resources: If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on () or your favorite listening app. And feel free to reach out to us directly. You can always...

333: Listen and Learn -- Strict Liability: Animals and Dangerous Activities (Part 1)

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

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! This is Part 1 of a two-part series on strict liability as it relates to animals (both wild and domestic), as well as certain super dangerous activities. Join us next week for the second episode on this topic. In this episode, we discuss: Overview of strict liability in torts What activities are considered abnormally dangerous? Strict liability as it relates to keeping wild and domestic animals A fact pattern from the February 2008 California bar exam Resources: If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or...

332: Mastering Bar Exam Multiple-Choice Questions (w/Chris Fromm from Themis)

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

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, we're speaking with Chris Fromm - National Director of Curriculum and Assessment at Themis Bar Review - about strategies for tackling multiple-choice questions on the bar exam, including the upcoming NextGen format. We discuss how to manage your time effectively, leverage practice tools, and seek support during the challenging bar prep period. Note: This episode is sponsored by – the gold standard in bar exam preparation. With this special promotion, you can save $1,000 on any 2026 Themis Bar Review course using the code...

331: Should You Take the Legacy UBE or Wait Until the NextGen UBE?

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

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! In this episode, we explore whether law students should take the current Legacy UBE or wait for the upcoming NextGen UBE. We take a look at the timing and the strategic considerations, and help you figure out which path makes sense for your specific situation. In this episode, we discuss: Timeline of jurisdictions adopting the NextGen UBE Who should take the Legacy UBE now? Who might benefit from waiting for the NextGen UBE? A few case study scenarios Resources: If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on ...

330: NextGen UBE: Let's Walk Through an Integrated Question Set (IQS) Together

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

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! In this episode, we're continuing our discussion of the NextGen UBE. We've created an integrated question set (IQS) similar to the ones that will appear on the NextGen bar exam, using a sample scenario involving a shoplifting incident and subsequent legal analysis. We discuss the structure of these new question sets, review relevant statutes, and work through multiple-choice and short-answer questions to illustrate the reasoning and factual investigation required. In this episode, we discuss: Overview of integrated question sets A read-through of...

329: Listen and Learn -- Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress (Torts)

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

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! This episode explains the concept of negligent infliction of emotional distress (NIED) in tort law, outlining the four specific situations in which a plaintiff can recover for emotional harm caused by another's negligence. In this episode, we discuss: A review of the elements of negligence The four situations in which NIED claims are valid Negligent versus intentional infliction of emotional distress Hypotheticals and examples illustrating NIED Resources: If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on ()...

More Episodes

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! This episode discusses the upcoming NextGen bar exam, highlighting major changes such as the introduction of integrated question sets (IQSs) and a shift toward testing legal skills alongside knowledge. We share students' concerns about the unfamiliar format, time management challenges, and the need for new study strategies.

In this episode, we discuss:

Overview of the NextGen bar exam format
Integrated question sets: What will they contain?
The introduction of a partial credit grading system
Lee and Alison's initial reactions to the IQSs
Common student fears around the new bar exam format, and our suggested solutions

Resources:

Download the Transcript
(https://barexamtoolbox.com/episode-327-facts-and-fears-around-the-integrated-question-sets-on-the-nextgen-bar-exam/)

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/bar-exam-toolbox-podcast-pass-bar-exam-less-stress/id1370651486) or your favorite listening app. And feel free to reach out to us directly. You can always reach us via the contact form on the Bar Exam Toolbox website (https://barexamtoolbox.com/contact-us/). Finally, if you don't want to miss anything, you can sign up for podcast updates (https://barexamtoolbox.com/get-bar-exam-toolbox-podcast-updates/)!

Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee

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