Looking for a smart way to maximize your bar exam study time, especially on the go? Welcome to Study for the Bar in Your Car!
Created by Angela, an LLM law student who feels like she's been studying forever, this podcast is designed to provide actual bar study content in an audio format. Tired of not finding resources for studying while driving or traveling
In this deep dive episode, your study companion focuses squarely on a foundational area critical for bar success: Civil Procedure. Think of this episode like a roadmap, covering the journey from where a case starts right through to the final appeal. Using Angela's fantastic and super helpful materials, the podcast dives into the core principles you absolutely need for your bar prep toolkit.
Get ready to explore essential concepts such as:
- Jurisdiction: Understanding both Personal Jurisdiction (does the court have power over the parties, including the crucial minimum contacts and purposeful availment concepts, as well as tag jurisdiction) and Subject Matter Jurisdiction (does the court have authority to hear the type of case). Angela's notes stress the difference – you can waive objections to personal jurisdiction if not raised early, but subject matter jurisdiction can be challenged anytime.
- Service of Process
- Venue:
- What Law Applies? This crucial question brings you to the Erie doctrine, super important especially in diversity cases. The core rule: federal courts apply state substantive law and federal procedural law.
- Pre-Trial Procedures: This is where a lot of the action is. Dive into the Pleadings (complaint, answer, Rule 11 ethical duties),
- Pre-Trial Conferences (Rule 16) for scheduling and trial streamlining and Emergency Relief like TROs and preliminary injunctions.
- Trial: Focusing on Jury Trials, the Seventh Amendment right (generally for money damages/legal remedies), demanding a jury, voir dire (jury selection, including challenges and the Batson rule), jury size and unanimity, and properly objecting to jury instructions.
- Motions: Covering key motions like motions to dismiss (Rule 12(b)), summary judgment (when there's no genuine dispute of material fact), judgment as a matter of law (JMOL)
- Judgments & Post-Trial Motions: Learn about default judgments, motions for a new trial (grounds like legal error or weight of evidence),
- Appeals: Understand the final judgment rule (generally only appealing after the case is over). Learn about interlocutory appeal exceptions for certain important non-final orders.
This episode provides a clear, efficient overview, hitting the need-to-know areas without getting you totally bogged down. It's designed to help you keep asking the core questions as you study, understanding how the rules fit together and apply in different situations – the skill the bar exam tests.
If you want to contact Angela about the podcast, you can reach her at podcast@studyforthebarinyourcar.com
Listen now and let Study for the Bar in Your Car help you navigate Civil Procedure!
