Podcast
Bar Exam and Chill
Hosted by Bar Exam and Chill · EN
Conquer the Bar Exam without the burnout.
If you’re tired of overly dry lectures, and want the key rules and elements drilled down on real past exams, welcome to Bar Exam & Chill. Hosted by a licensed attorney who’s navigated and passed both the California and UBE bar exams, this podcast is designed to help you master the "heavy lifting" of the exam in a way that actually sticks. After practicing for years, I recently moved from California to a UBE jurisdiction and to my horror I was forced to take the bar exam again. I did not want to pay for the overly expensive bar exam prep courses, so I self studied using AI and the available podcast resources. However, no podcast was quite what I was looking for and the experience was somewhat miserable. When I took the California bar exam I relied on Barbri and passed the first time. But for the UBE bar exam I was able to achieve a score that is passing in every single UBE jurisdiction state without a prep course. I want to bring this ability to you, without the feel of dry law school outlines that make you want to... not be a lawyer.
In these episodes, I dive deep into actual past essay hypos (California as well as UBE past exams - the test and jurisdiction is noted in each title for your convenience). I don't just read the hypo; we are going to attack it together and break down high yield legal concepts in plain English. We’ll walk through the facts, identify the trap-doors, and drill the critical rule elements you must memorize so they become second nature by exam day. Repetition of the rule elements and some relaxed vibes are coming your way. I will also provide some general study strategies and tips, including AI prompt ideas, that allowed me to pass the bar exam without expensive prep materials. This is the podcast that I was searching for but it didn't quite exist yet.
What you can expect:
• Detailed Essay Walkthroughs: Step-by-step analysis of real exam questions including essay structure and fact highlighting with application.
• Rule Element Drilling: Precision-focused reviews of core MBE and Essay topics. This is the key for passing on exam day, we will be drilling down on the key rule elements you need to have down cold so you can reproduce them come bar exam time. Repetition of the exact elements is clutch here.
• Strategic Insights: Pointers on how to approach the graders and maximize your points.
I know the feeling of being in your shoes, and I don't envy where you are right now. My goal is to help those suffering the existential dread of confronting the Bar Exam. I'll be keeping it as fun as is reasonably possible given the reality of the subject matter at hand. Whether you’re commuting, at the gym, or just need a break from the library, grab a coffee (or your favorite "chill" beverage) and let's get you licensed.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Salsa, Secrets, and the Non-Merchant Merchant: UBE February 2017 Contracts Deep Dive
2w ago00:07:55Tap to summarizeWe have some big news! Bar Exam and Chill has officially launched a Patreon. If you’ve been getting value from these breakdowns, consider supporting us at: 👉 https://www.patreon.com/cw/BarExamandChillWhat’s on the Patreon?Comprehensive Outlines: We are selling 70+ page master outlines for both the California Bar and the UBE, covering all tested topics.Exclusive Content: While we will continue to release free episodes covering past essays within the 7 MBE topics, all other subjects (Business Associations, Secured Transactions, Community Property, etc.) will now be released exclusively for paid subscribers on Patreon.Episode SummaryA professional cook wants to buy a massive stash of tomatoes from her amateur gardener neighbor for a potential salsa business. The gardener signs a paper promising to sell his entire summer crop for $25/bushel and explicitly promises to keep the offer open for 14 days.But then, a better deal walks by. A farmers' market proprietor offers $35/bushel, and the gardener accepts. When the cook calls back on Day 9 to accept the original deal, the gardener blunts her: "I already sold them to someone else." Is he bound to the cook?Key Takeaways & Brain Dumps1. The Battle of the Law: UCC vs. Common LawThe Rule: UCC Article 2 applies to the sale of goods (movable things at the time of identification, including growing crops). Common law handles services and real estate.The Application: Tomatoes are physical, crunchy, and very movable. Even though they are still growing in the dirt, they count as crops/goods. UCC governs.2. The "Firm Offer" IllusionThe Trap: Students see a signed writing promising to keep an offer open for 14 days and automatically scream "UCC Firm Offer Rule!" * The Reality: Under UCC § 2-205, a firm offer requires three things: a signed writing, explicit assurance of irrevocability, and the offeror must be a merchant.The Catch: Our gardener is a backyard amateur who gives veggies to relatives. He has zero business experience. He is not a merchant. Because there was also no money exchanged (consideration) to create a common law option contract, that 14-day promise was completely non-binding. The offer was fully revocable.3. The Speed Race: Revocation vs. AcceptanceThe Rule: A revocable offer can be axed at any time before acceptance, and it’s effective the second it is communicated to the offeree.The Application: The cook called to accept, but before she could get the magic words out, the gardener intercepted her: "I can't sell them to you." That direct communication killed the offer instantly. The cook trying to accept afterhearing that was legally shouting into the void.The Final VerdictNo. The gardener is not bound. Because he wasn't a merchant and received no consideration, his offer was revocable. He successfully killed the deal a split second before the cook tried to accept it.Enjoyed this breakdown? Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to Bar Exam and Chill wherever you get your podcasts. Happy studying!
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The Toxic Torts of DishWay: Aluminum, Residue, and Risk-Utility (Don't Eat the TidePod) CA Torts Hypo July 2023 Exam
May 1100:16:30Tap to summarizeWe have some big news! Bar Exam and Chill has officially launched a Patreon. If you’ve been getting value from these breakdowns, consider supporting us at: 👉 https://www.patreon.com/cw/BarExamandChillWhat’s on the Patreon?Comprehensive Outlines: We are selling 70+ page master outlines for both the California Bar and the UBE, covering all tested topics.Exclusive Content: While we will continue to release free episodes covering past essays within the 7 MBE topics, all other subjects (Business Associations, Secured Transactions, Community Property, etc.) will now be released exclusively for paid subscribers on Patreon.Single Product Sales: You can also purchase the outlines as a one-time product to support the show and streamline your study sessions.Episode OverviewIn this episode, we dive into the July 2023 California Bar Exam, focusing on Torts Question 2. We explore a classic Products Liability scenario where a "revolutionary" new cleaning agent turns a standard kitchen chore into a medical emergency.Key Discussion Points1. Strict Products Liability (The Big Three)Commercial Supplier: Why DishWay fits the bill (and why the "casual seller" distinction matters).The Missing Manufacturing Defect: The facts gave us a "freebie" here—no flaws in the process means we move straight to design and warning.Design Defect (The California Dual Test):Consumer Expectation Test: Would a reasonable person expect their "clean" pot to poison them? (Spoiler: No).Risk-Utility Test: Balancing "power cleaning" against "hospitalization." Does a slightly shinier pot justify a toxic residue?Information Defect (Failure to Warn): Even if they didn't know about the aluminum reaction, should they have? We discuss the "Expert Manufacturer" standard and the duty to test common materials.2. Negligence: Conduct vs. ProductUnlike SPL (which looks at the product), Negligence looks at DishWay’s behavior.The Breach: Is it "reasonably prudent" to launch a chemical cleaner without testing it on aluminum—one of the most common surfaces in a kitchen?3. Warranty Land: Express vs. ImpliedImplied Warranty of Merchantability: Is the product fit for its ordinary purpose? If the "clean" dish makes you sick, it fails the basic job description.Express Warranty & The "Puffery" Trap: We distinguish between "Most Powerful" (likely puffery) and "Safe Product" (a specific affirmation of fact).The "Bar Exam Pro-Tip" SectionCausation Checklist: Always address "But-for" and "Proximate Cause" separately to pick up those easy formatting points.The Aluminum Factor: Note how the facts specified it was "not detectable to the eye"—this is your gold mine for proving the danger wasn't "open and obvious."Damages: Remember, Torts requires physical harm. Paul’s hospitalization is the "ticket to entry" for his recovery.
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Kidnappers, Closets, and Cocaine: The Feb 2018 CA Criminal Law Essay
May 1000:18:28Tap to summarizeWe have some big news! Bar Exam and Chill has officially launched a Patreon. If you’ve been getting value from these breakdowns, consider supporting us at: 👉 https://www.patreon.com/cw/BarExamandChillWhat’s on the Patreon?Comprehensive Outlines: We are selling 70+ page master outlines for both the California Bar and the UBE, covering all tested topics.Exclusive Content: While we will continue to release free episodes covering past essays within the 7 MBE topics, all other subjects (Business Associations, Secured Transactions, Community Property, etc.) will now be released exclusively for paid subscribers on Patreon.Single Product Sales: You can also purchase the outlines as a one-time product to support the show and streamline your study sessions.Episode SummaryIn this episode, we dive deep into the February 2018 California Criminal Law and Procedure essay question. This prompt is a masterclass in Fourth Amendment analysis, specifically focusing on the scope of warrantless searches, the "plain view" doctrine, and the distinction between "mere preparation" and "substantial steps" in attempt crimes.Key Discussion Points1. The Fourth Amendment Entry: Consent vs. ExigencyStanding: Don has a reasonable expectation of privacy in his own home.The "Consent" Trap: Don did not voluntarily consent. Stepping aside after an officer says, "I am searching your home whether you want me to or not," is considered mere acquiescence to lawful authority.Exigent Circumstances: The search is likely justified by the "emergency aid" doctrine because a child’s life was reasonably believed to be at stake.2. The Evidence Breakdown (The "Suitcase" Rule)The legality of the evidence depends entirely on whether the item was found in a place where a 4-year-old child could actually hide.The Bomb (Admissible): Found in a closet. A child fits in a closet. Once the closet was open, the bomb was in Plain View.The Cocaine (Suppressed): Found in a medicine cabinet. A child does not fit in a medicine cabinet. Opening it exceeded the scope of the search.The Map (Suppressed): Found in a sealed envelope under the bed. While looking under the bed was legal (a child fits there), opening a flat envelope was not. The map's incriminating nature was not "immediately apparent."3. Attempted Kidnapping: The "Substantial Step" TestIntent: Clear evidence from a reliable informant (Ike).The Overt Act: This is where the prosecution’s case falls apart. Planning and highlighting a map constitute mere preparation. Don never left his house or approached the victim. Under the law, he hadn't crossed the line into a criminal "attempt."Don’t forget to check out the Patreon for the full 70-page California Outlines and exclusive breakdowns of non-MBE topics!
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The Arsonist’s Admission: Hearsay, Non-Hearsay and Confrontation on the UBE October 2020 Exam MEE 2 (Evidence)
May 600:25:11Tap to summarizeEpisode OverviewIn this episode, we break down a complex criminal arson case involving three distinct evidentiary hurdles. We analyze why a defendant’s own "risky" phone call gets into evidence, why a waiter’s shady offer stays out, and why a dead investigator’s report creates a constitutional crisis for the prosecution. This is a masterclass in distinguishing between 801(d) exclusions, 804(b) exceptions, and the Confrontation Clause.Podcast Show NotesI. IntroductionThe Scenario: A restaurant owner is charged with arson. The business was failing, and the fire looks suspicious.The Evidence Checklist: 1. The Bartender’s testimony (Owner’s phone call). 2. The Bartender’s testimony (Waiter’s statement). 3. The Arson Investigator’s written report (with a surrogate expert).II. Segment 1: The "Risky" Phone Call (Party Admissions)The Statement: “I’ll do whatever it takes to get back some money...”The Rule: FRE 801(d)(2)(A) – Statements by an Opposing Party.Key Takeaway: It’s not hearsay at all. It’s a statement made by the defendant and offered against him.Verdict: Admissible. This is the "low-hanging fruit" of the question—never call it an "exception"; it’s an exclusion.III. Segment 2: The Waiter’s Offer (Hearsay & Unavailability)The Statement: “Count me in... I’ve recently done that sort of thing.”The Conflict: The waiter is overseas (unavailable).Analysis:Co-Conspirator (801(d)(2)(E)): Was there a proven conspiracy? Was it "in furtherance"? Statement Against Interest (804(b)(3)): Since the waiter is unavailable, this is the best bet, BUT in criminal cases, statements that implicate the accused need "corroborating circumstances." Is there enough here to trust the waiter? IV. Segment 3: The Arson Report (The Constitutional Wall)Hearsay Problem: FRE 803(8) (Public Records) has a major "police exception." In criminal cases, matters observed by law enforcement (like an arson investigator) are excluded to prevent "prosecution by paper."The Constitutional Problem: The Sixth Amendment Confrontation Clause.Testimonial Evidence: The report was made specifically for prosecution.The Crawford Rule: You can't admit testimonial hearsay unless the declarant is unavailable and the defendant had a prior chance to cross-examine.Surrogate Testimony: Bringing in a "substitute" expert who didn't write the report doesn't fix the constitutional violation (Bullcoming doctrine).Verdict: Inadmissible on both hearsay and constitutional grounds.V. Conclusion & Pro-TipsBar Exam Tip: When you see a police report in a criminal MEE, your "Confrontation Clause" alarm should go off immediately.Legal Disclaimer: This overview is for educational purposes and is intended to assist with bar exam preparation or general legal discussion. It does not constitute legal advice.
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The "Bar" Exam Favorite: Signs, Statutes, and Specially Manufactured Goods - UBE Contracts Hypo July 2024 Exam
May 500:20:15Tap to summarizeEpisode OverviewIn this episode, we break down the July 2024 Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) Contracts Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) question. This hypo focuses on a custom-made neon sign, a $5,000 price tag, and a surprise substitute manufacturer. We explore the nuances of UCC Article 2, the Statute of Frauds, and the often-misunderstood rules of delegation.Key Discussion PointsGoverning Law: Why the UCC?Defining "Goods" under UCC § 2-105.Why a custom-built sign is a good, not a service.Formation: The Oral AgreementThe "Essential Terms" for the UCC (Quantity is King).How mutual assent and consideration were established during a simple meeting.The Statute of Frauds (SOF) & The "Custom" ExceptionThe $500 rule (UCC § 2-201).The 3-Part Test for Specially Manufactured Goods:Is it custom for the buyer?Is it unsellable to others?Has "substantial beginning" occurred?Why the "unique name of the store" makes this an open-and-shut case for the manufacturer.Delegation of Duties: Art vs. IndustryThe general rule: Most duties are delegable.The "Substantial Interest" Exception: When can you insist on the original party?The "Price vs. Skill" Factor: If you hired them because they were cheap (low advertised prices), you usually can’t claim you hired them for their "unique artistic genius."Conforming performance: Why the store owner must pay if the sign is perfect.Key Takeaways for Bar ExamineesDon't overthink "Art": In the UCC world, if it can be measured against objective specifications, it’s usually delegable.Repudiation Timing: The Specially Manufactured Goods exception requires the manufacturer to start before the buyer cancels.The "Writing" isn't always required: Learn the exceptions to the SOF cold—they are the most tested areas in Contracts MEEs.Relevant Statute CitationsUCC § 2-105: Definitions (Goods).UCC § 2-201: Statute of Frauds & Specially Manufactured Goods.UCC § 2-210: Delegation of Performance; Assignment of Rights.
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Procedural Pitfalls & Sovereign Shields: The July 2016 California ConLaw Hypo
May 400:33:16Tap to summarizeEpisode OverviewIn this episode, we dive deep into the July 2016 California Bar Exam’s Constitutional Law question. We break down the complex intersection of employment rights and state sovereignty, exploring why some plaintiffs get their day in court while others are left at the gates. Whether you're a law student or a bar prep survivor, this IRAC-style breakdown simplifies the "Property vs. Liberty" debate and the nuances of the Eleventh Amendment.Show Notes & Key Takeaways1. The Termination of a "Probationary" TeacherThe Core Question: Does being fired without a hearing violate Procedural Due Process?The "Property Interest" Hurdle: We discuss why "for-cause" employment is the gold standard for constitutional protection, and why Paige’s status as a probationary employee meant she had no "legitimate claim of entitlement" to her job.The Liberty Interest: Why being fired isn't enough to claim a liberty violation—you need the "stigma-plus" (public, defamatory charges) which was missing here.2. Standing: Who Can Actually Sue?Bob vs. Paige: A lesson in "Injury in Fact."Mootness: Paige’s claim was dead on arrival because the city already paid her back. No injury, no case.Redressability: Bob, on the other hand, is still losing 10% of his paycheck—making him the perfect plaintiff for injunctive relief.3. The Eleventh Amendment: The State's "Get Out of Jail Free" CardSuing the State: Why you almost never sue "State X" directly in federal court (Sovereign Immunity).The Ex Parte Young Workaround: We explain the "legal fiction" that allows you to sue the Attorney General for an injunction, but stops you from reaching into the state’s wallet for damages.Featured Rules & ConceptsProcedural Due Process: Notice and Hearing requirements.Article III Standing: Injury, Causation, and Redressability.The Eleventh Amendment: State immunity and the exceptions (Waiver, Abrogation, and Ex Parte Young).Closing Thought"In the eyes of the Constitution, a probationary contract is often just a 'unilateral expectation.' If you want a hearing, you better have a property interest first."
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Hearsay and Hospital Bills: Diving into Federal Evidence on the California February 2017 Bar Exam
May 300:18:18Tap to summarizeEpisode OverviewIn this episode, we break down a classic Evidence fact pattern from the February 2017 California Bar Exam. We analyze the "Russian Doll" nature of hearsay in medical records, the power of vicarious admissions by employees, and the strict public policy wall that protects offers to pay medical expenses.Segment 1: The Paper Trail (Hospital Intake Forms)The Big Concept: Hearsay within Hearsay.The "Outer Shell": The record itself. Under FRE 803(6), a business record is admissible if there was a business duty to record it. Since Nurse Nellie recorded it as "standard procedure," the form passes the first test.The "Inner Statement": Pete’s actual words. Pete has no "business duty" to the hospital, so we need a separate exception.The Key Exception: FRE 803(4). Statements of past/present symptoms or the general cause of injury are admissible if pertinent to treatment.Note: Saying "my head hit the windshield" helps a doctor check for a concussion (Admissible). Saying "The pizza guy is a jerk" does not help treatment (Inadmissible).Segment 2: The Smoking Gun (Employee Admissions)The Big Concept: Vicarious Opposing Party Statements.The Rule: FRE 801(d)(2)(D).Why it works here: Erin is an employee of Donna’s Pizza. She made the statement while she was still employed and while she was doing her job (driving the van).The "Bar Exam" Distinction: In Federal court, this is Non-Hearsay (an exemption), not a hearsay exception. It is admitted as substantive evidence to prove she actually ran the red light.Segment 3: The "Good Samaritan" Trap (Medical Expenses)The Big Concept: Public Policy Exclusions.The Rule: FRE 409. Evidence of promising to pay medical expenses is inadmissible to prove liability.The Trap: Unlike Settlement Negotiations (FRE 408), the rule for Medical Expenses (FRE 409) is "thin-skinned."It does not have a built-in exception for impeachment.You cannot "bootstrap" the evidence. If the evidence is barred by 409, you can't force the witness to talk about it on cross-examination just to call them a liar in rebuttal.The Verdict: The court blew it on this one. Donna’s statement should have been excluded to protect the public policy of encouraging people to help the injured.Key Takeaways for the Bar ExamAlways check for "Hearsay within Hearsay" in medical and police reports.Admissions by employees count against the employer if they are "within the scope" of the job.FRE 409 protects the offer to pay.
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The Rule Against Perpetuities and Easements Nightmare: California July 2024 Bar Exam Hypo Breakdown
May 200:26:52Tap to summarizeEpisode OverviewIn this episode, we break down the absolute beast that was the July 2024 California Bar Exam Property essay. We’re talking about the nightmare fuel of the Rule Against Perpetuities, the nuance of Defeasible Fees, and why Easements are the ultimate "neighbor from hell" scenarios.The Cheat Sheet: Key Concepts Discussed1. The Ownership Jungle: Fee Simples & Future InterestsFee Simple Absolute: The gold standard. You own it, no strings attached.Fee Simple Subject to Executory Interest: The "shifty" one. Ownership ends automatically if a condition is met, and the property goes to a third party (not the original grantor).Shifting Executory Interest: This is the specific future interest held by that third party. It "shifts" the interest from one grantee to another.2. The RAP Trap (Rule Against Perpetuities)"No interest is good unless it must vest, if at all, not later than 21 years after some life in being at the creation of the interest."The Vibe: If there is any mathematical possibility that an interest could vest more than 21 years after everyone currently alive dies, the interest is void.Application: In this hypo, we look at how those executory interests often get nuked by RAP, leaving the first person with a Fee Simple Absolute (or a Determinable fee, depending on the language).3. Easements: How to Get There from HereWe broke down the five ways to find an easement on the Bar:Express Easement: It’s in writing (Statute of Frauds applies!).Implied by Prior Use: 1. Common ownership. 2. Used before the land was split. 3. Use was apparent and continuous. 4. Reasonably necessary for enjoyment.Easement by Necessity: Usually involves landlocked parcels. If you can't get to the road, you get a path.Prescriptive Easement: Basically "Adverse Possession Light."Open, Notorious, Continuous, and Hostile for the statutory period (5 years in CA). Note: You don't need exclusive use here—you just need to use it like you own it.The "Bar Exam & Chill" Pro-TipsDon't Panic on RAP: Even if you can't do the math, state the rule, identify the "measuring life," and take a swing. The graders want to see the analysis, not just the "correct" answer.Easement Checklist: When you see a property line on an essay, run the "PING" acronym (Prescription, Implication, Necessity, Grant/Express).
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The Heroin, The Handoff, and The Handheld: Breaking Down the CA July 2021 Bar Exam Crim Pro Hypo
May 100:31:08Tap to summarizeEpisode SummaryIn this episode, I break down Question 4 from the July 2021 California Bar Exam. This is a quintessential Criminal Procedure "race-horse" essay covering everything from ambiguous Miranda invocations to the cutting-edge rules regarding cell phone searches under Riley. If you want to know how to navigate the "Fruit of the Poisonous Tree" without getting lost in the weeds, this is the episode for you.What’s Inside:The Miranda Ambiguity: We look at David’s statement, "I am not sure if I need a lawyer or not," and discuss why "maybe" doesn't stop an interrogation.The Digital Privacy Shield: A deep dive into why Officer Baker’s "peek" at a text message violated the Fourth Amendment, even during a valid traffic stop.The Automobile Exception vs. SILA: Why the 30 pounds of heroin in the trunk became "poisonous fruit." We clarify why an arrest for a traffic violation doesn't give police a "free pass" to your trunk.Reasonable Suspicion and Probable Cause: Analyzing how the standards intersect with the kind of stop.Key Rules Covered:Davis v. U.S.: The standard for unambiguous invocation of counsel.Riley v. California: The warrant requirement for cell phone data.The Gant Rule: The limitations of searching a vehicle incident to arrest.Fruit of the Poisonous Tree: How one illegal click can tank an entire drug bust.
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The Cheesecake Slip: July 2021 Torts Negligence UBE Bar Hypo Breakdown
Apr 2900:34:21Tap to summarizeOverviewIn this episode, I deep-dive into a high-yield Torts essay from the July 2021 Uniform Bar Exam. We follow the chaotic trail of a six-year-old boy, a supermarket aisle, and a dropped piece of cheesecake to unpack the layers of liability, duty, and post-accident contribution.Key Topics Covered1. The Tripartite Classification of Entrants I break down how to categorize a plaintiff to determine the duty of care owed by a land possessor:Invitees: Why the boy qualifies (business purpose).Licensees: Social guests and the "known danger" rule.Trespassers: Distinguishing between unknown and known/anticipated trespassers (and why it matters for "death-dealing" traps).2. Standard of Care: The Exceptions The "Reasonable Person" isn't always the standard. I discuss:Minors: The subjective-objective hybrid test for a six-year-old (age, intelligence, and experience).Physical Disability: How the law adjusts for physical limitations (must act as a reasonably prudent person with that same disability).3. The Negligence Prima Facie Case A refresher on the "Big Four" in the context of the cheesecake catastrophe:Duty & Breach: Did the store fail to clean up in a reasonable timeframe?Causation: Analyzing "But-for" cause and the scope of liability (Proximate Cause).Damages: Pure economic loss vs. physical injury.4. The Rescuer Rule "Danger invites rescue." I explain why a rescuer can recover from the party who created the peril, provided the rescue wasn't performed recklessly.5. Sharing the Burden: Joint & Several Liability When multiple parties are at fault, who pays?Joint and Several Liability: Why the plaintiff can collect the full amount from any one defendant.Contribution: How a defendant who paid more than their fair share can "sue back" to balance the books based on relative degrees of fault.Key Takeaway"Bar examiners love to mix 'Status on Land' with 'Standard of Care.' If you can identify exactly who the person is when they walk through the door and how their age or physical condition modifies the duty, you’ve already won half the battle."Don't forget to subscribe for more Bar Exam post-mortems and legal theory breakdowns!
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