Becoming Counsel

A supplier gets hit with a strike. A customer starts to panic. A phone call changes everything — but does it change it in time?

In this episode, we break down a bar-exam-style Contracts fact pattern the same way a top scorer would work through it on exam day: starting with the threshold question of whether a valid contract even exists, then moving into three of the most commonly tested UCC doctrines — demanding adequate assurances of performance (UCC § 2-609), anticipatory repudiation (UCC § 2-610), and retraction of repudiation (UCC § 2-611). We walk the full IRAC for each issue, flag the exact spot where bar takers lose points, and close with two habits that'll help your rule statements hold up under grading.

Whether you're studying for the MEE, brushing up on 1L Contracts, or just like watching a legal puzzle get solved piece by piece, this one's for you.

Want more? Grab The Law Student's Guide to Contract Law And The Law Student's Guide to Law School Essays

This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Listening to this episode does not create an attorney-client relationship. Always consult a licensed attorney regarding your specific legal situation.

In this episode, we walk through how to break down a contract law essay question the way a law student — and a bar grader — actually needs to. We take an original hypothetical built around a promise made after a rescue, and use it to unpack two classic contract theories: why past consideration can sink a contract formation argument, and why promissory estoppel often becomes the stronger path to recovery. Along the way, we cover the exact rule language, element-by-element analysis, and structure that separates a passing essay from a strong one.

Whether you're a 1L building your foundation in Contracts or a bar student sharpening your essay technique, this episode gives you a repeatable framework for spotting issues, stating rules precisely, and applying facts the way graders want to see.

Grab the books mentioned in this episode:

• The Law Student's Guide to Law School Essays

• The Law Student's Guide to Contract Law

Follow Becoming Counsel for more breakdowns of law school and bar exam essay questions, one doctrine at a time.

This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Listening to this episode does not create an attorney-client relationship. Always consult a licensed attorney regarding your specific legal situation.

Contracts is one of the most heavily tested subjects on the bar exam — and one of the most misunderstood.

In this episode of Becoming Counsel, we break Contracts down from the ground up, focusing on structure instead of memorization. Rather than racing through rules, this episode explains how contracts actually work and how courts decide which promises become legally enforceable.

We cover:

• What a contract really is and why most promises aren’t enforceable

• Common law vs. the UCC and why identifying the governing law comes first

• Contract formation: offer, acceptance, and consideration

• When promises are enforced without consideration

• The Statute of Frauds and when a writing is required

• Performance, breach, and common excuses for non-performance

• Remedies and what “enforcement” actually means

This episode is designed for:

• Law students looking to understand Contracts conceptually

• Bar takers who want a clear framework they can apply on exams

• Future lawyers who want to think structurally about legal problems

📘 Study resources:
If you’re looking for clear, exam-focused outlines to go along with this episode, you can find my Contracts outline and other bar prep materials in my Etsy shop:
👉 Becoming Counsel on Etsy - https://www.etsy.com/shop/BecomingCounsel
You can also find additional resources, episodes, and updates at my website:
👉 becomingcounsel.com

Civil Procedure often feels like the most confusing subject in law school and bar prep — not because it’s hard, but because it’s everywhere.

In this episode, we break Civil Procedure down at a high level, focusing on how the system actually works instead of memorizing disconnected rules. You’ll learn why Civil Procedure is really about power — who has authority over a case, who can be forced into court, where lawsuits can be filed, how cases move forward, and when they finally end.

We walk through the full life of a civil lawsuit, from subject-matter jurisdiction and personal jurisdiction to venue, pleadings, discovery, summary judgment, trial, and preclusion, using clear explanations and intuitive examples that make the rules finally click. This episode is designed to give you the map of Civil Procedure, so the details you learn later actually make sense.

If you’re studying for the bar and want structured, exam-ready outlines, you can find Civil Procedure (and other bar subject) outlines in the Becoming Counsel Etsy shop here:
👉 Outlines & Study Guides: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BecomingCounsel?ref=dashboard-header

For more episodes, long-form explanations, bar prep strategy, and additional resources, visit the Becoming Counsel website:
👉 Website: https://becomingcounsel.com/

Contracts on the MBE can feel overwhelming — unless you understand the structure.
In this episode of Becoming Counsel, we break down Contracts from the ground up, starting with governing law and moving step-by-step through formation, enforceability, performance, breach, and remedies. Instead of memorizing rules, you’ll learn why the doctrines exist, how they fit together, and when they matter on the bar exam.

This episode covers common law vs. the UCC, offer and acceptance, consideration and promissory estoppel, the Statute of Frauds, contract interpretation, performance and breach, damages, and third-party issues — all explained clearly with examples and exam-style hypotheticals. It’s designed as a single, high-yield overview for bar takers who want to think like the examiners, not just recite black-letter law.

📘 Law school & bar exam outlines:
Find my full collection of Contracts and MBE-focused outlines on Etsy:

https://becomingcounsel.etsy.com
Read more bar exam and law school content on the Becoming Counsel blog:
https://becomingcounsel.com/

In this quick episode, I clear up a common question about my path before law school. I actually applied while working as a management consultant — then became a Director of Technology before starting law school. I also share why I’m updating and releasing my class outlines: to give law students a simple, streamlined supplement for studying. These aren’t replacements for your coursework — the key is still knowing what your professor emphasizes. But my outlines can give you a roadmap so you feel more confident going into class and exams.

What if you could cut your law school tuition to zero — without a perfect GPA or LSAT score?
In this episode, I share exactly how I went from two weeks of LSAT prep to multiple scholarship offers, including a full ride. You’ll hear how my 3.5 GPA, 155 LSAT, master’s degree, and 10 years as a Senior Management Consultant became my secret weapons — and how one school literally increased their offer when they heard about my full-ride deal from another.
We’ll cover:

• The types of law school scholarships and which ones are worth chasing

• How to identify the LSAT score that unlocks major funding

• Ways to leverage your unique background to stand out

• My exact negotiation approach that made schools compete for me

• The fine print that can make or break your award

If you’re planning to apply to law school, this is your playbook for getting the most money possible — and maybe even paying nothing at all.

Why would someone already working as a Director of Tech — making good money, married, and planning to have kids — decide to go to law school?

In this episode, I share the personal stories behind my decision to pursue a law degree part-time while working full-time and raising a family. From the legacy of a mentor who used the law to help families save their homes, to the realization that tech success wasn’t enough to feel fulfilled, this episode unpacks the “why” behind the hustle.

You’ll hear:

• The story of the mentor who planted the seed

• Why life delayed — but never erased — the dream of becoming a lawyer

• How I earned a full scholarship to law school using a strategic approach

• What to expect from this podcast going forward

This podcast is for anyone who's ever thought, "Is it too late for me to go to law school?" Spoiler: It’s not.

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