Bar Exam (Next Generation) Quiz: Frame The Research Questions

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Frame The Research QuestionsQuestion 1 of 12

PhotoShare, an online photo-editing service, revised its terms of service to add an arbitration clause and a class-action waiver. The changes were posted on the website with a banner stating: "By continuing to use PhotoShare, you agree to the updated Terms." Priya continued using the service for several months but never clicked "I agree." After a data breach, Priya sued PhotoShare in court. PhotoShare moved to compel arbitration. The associate must identify what research is needed to respond to the motion.

Which research question is most important to answer?

Did PhotoShare provide adequate notice of the revised terms to make Priya's continued use an enforceable manifestation of assent to arbitration?

Is a data-breach claim within the scope of an arbitration clause in an online service's terms of use?

Does the Federal Arbitration Act require courts to enforce all arbitration agreements, including online agreements, absent a contract defense?

What damages can Priya recover for the data breach if the arbitration clause is held unenforceable?

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Bar Exam (Next Generation) Quiz

Bar Exam (Next Generation) Quiz: Frame The Research Questions

Practice Frame The Research Questions in Bar Exam (Next Generation) with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Frame The Research Questions, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for Bar Exam (Next Generation).

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

All questions

Question 1

Which research question is most important to answer?

Did PhotoShare provide adequate notice of the revised terms to make Priya's continued use an enforceable manifestation of assent to arbitration? (correct answer)
Is a data-breach claim within the scope of an arbitration clause in an online service's terms of use?
Does the Federal Arbitration Act require courts to enforce all arbitration agreements, including online agreements, absent a contract defense?
What damages can Priya recover for the data breach if the arbitration clause is held unenforceable?

Explanation: When you see a motion to compel arbitration, start with the threshold question: did the parties actually agree to arbitrate? The Federal Arbitration Act favors enforcement, but it only applies to a valid agreement. Here, PhotoShare changed its terms by posting a banner and treating continued use as acceptance—a classic "browsewrap" modification. Priya never clicked "I agree," so the central dispute is whether that notice was adequate and whether her continued use manifested assent. That research is dispositive because if no enforceable agreement exists, the arbitration clause never takes effect. Researching whether a data-breach claim falls within the scope of the arbitration clause is premature: scope matters only after you conclude the agreement itself binds Priya. Likewise, studying whether the FAA requires courts to enforce online arbitration agreements states a general rule but does not resolve the fact-specific validity of this browsewrap modification; the FAA still yields to ordinary contract defenses like lack of assent. And researching what damages Priya could recover for the breach is irrelevant to arbitrability—that question belongs to a merits analysis, not to whether the court or arbitrator hears the case. Remember: when a question asks which research is "most important," find the issue that determines the outcome and depends on the facts. The trap is skipping straight to the clause's scope or the FAA's policy, forgetting to verify the contract itself was formed.

Question 2

Victor, a delivery driver for Rapid Delivery, was involved in a collision with a pedestrian while driving a Rapid Delivery van during his lunch break. He had driven the van to a restaurant, eaten lunch, and was driving back to his delivery route when the collision occurred. Rapid Delivery's employee handbook prohibits personal use of company vans, but Victor's supervisor knew he regularly used the van to get lunch and did not object. The pedestrian wants to sue both Victor and Rapid Delivery. The associate must identify what research is needed to evaluate the claim against Rapid Delivery.

Which research question is most directly relevant to whether Rapid Delivery may be held liable for Victor's negligence?

Is a delivery driver acting within the scope of employment when he is returning from a personal lunch break in a company vehicle to resume his delivery route? (correct answer)
Did Victor breach a duty of care to the pedestrian by failing to keep a proper lookout while driving the van?
Is an employer liable for punitive damages when it negligently hires a driver with a history of traffic violations?
Does the pedestrian's comparative fault reduce the amount of damages recoverable from Rapid Delivery if the driver is found liable?

Explanation: Whenever you see an employer-defendant in a car-crash case, your first question is not whether the driver was careless—it is whether the employer can be vicariously liable. Under respondeat superior, an employer is liable for an employee's torts committed within the scope of employment. So the most directly relevant research is whether Victor, though on a personal lunch break, was acting within the scope when returning to his delivery route in the company van. The handbook ban matters, but the supervisor's knowledge may show permission or course of employment; returning to work after a personal errand can still be within scope if the employee had resumed furthering the employer's business. Researching whether Victor breached a duty of care is about his own negligence, not Rapid Delivery's liability; even a clear breach would not implicate the employer if Victor was outside the scope. Research on punitive damages for negligent hiring is irrelevant because this claim is vicarious liability for a collision, and there are no facts about Victor's hiring history or traffic violations. Research on the pedestrian's comparative fault would only reduce damages after liability is established, so it cannot answer the threshold question of whether Rapid Delivery is liable at all. Study tip: break tort claims into components. For employer liability, always research scope of employment first; driver negligence and damages only matter after that. Look for facts about permission, control, and whether the conduct furthered the employer's business.

Question 3

Claire worked as a sales director for Medco in State A, where she signed a noncompetition agreement with a clause selecting State A law. She later moved to State B and now works for a competitor in State B. Medco has threatened to sue. State B has a statute declaring noncompetition agreements unenforceable, while State A generally enforces them. Medco's lawyer says the choice-of-law clause controls. Claire asks whether the threat is credible. An associate must identify the legal research questions.

Which research question should the associate investigate first?

Is a noncompetition agreement an unreasonable restraint of trade under State A common law when it has no geographic limit?
What standard would a State B court use to determine whether a noncompetition agreement is enforceable?
Would State B public policy override the agreement's State A choice-of-law clause when Claire now works in State B? (correct answer)
What equitable and monetary remedies may an employer obtain against a former employee who breaches a noncompetition agreement?

Explanation: Whenever a contract has a choice-of-law clause and the dispute touches another state with a conflicting statute, think conflict of laws first, not the merits of the contract. The threshold issue is whether a court in State B—where Claire now works and where suit is likely—would honor the parties' selection of State A law. State B's statute declaring noncompetition agreements unenforceable may reflect a fundamental public policy, and courts generally will not apply chosen law that violates the forum's strong public policy. So the associate should first investigate whether State B public policy overrides the agreement's State A choice-of-law clause. That question determines which state's law applies at all. The other research questions are premature or secondary. Asking whether the noncompete is an unreasonable restraint under State A common law assumes State A law controls before resolving the choice-of-law issue. Asking what standard a State B court would use to determine enforceability is an eventual step, but only if State B law actually applies. Asking what equitable and monetary remedies may be available assumes enforceability and a breach, both of which come much later. On choice-of-law questions, separate "which law applies?" from "what does that law say?" Research the choice-of-law and public-policy issue first, and you will know which substantive rules to examine next.

Question 4

An artist created a mural for a public library. The mural includes a recognizable reproduction of a famous photographer's image of a city skyline, but the artist changed the colors, added cartoon figures, and placed the image in a dreamlike background. The photographer demanded that the mural be removed and threatened a copyright infringement suit. The artist wants to know whether she can keep the mural. The firm must identify the research questions.

Which research question is most directly relevant to the artist's ability to keep the mural?

Was the photographer's skyline image sufficiently original and creative to qualify for copyright protection?
Does the public library's display of the mural constitute a public display or performance of the copyrighted photograph?
Is the artist's use of the photograph a fair use when the mural transforms the image and is displayed in a public library? (correct answer)
What actual damages and profits can the photographer prove if the mural remains in place and is not removed?

Explanation: In a copyright dispute over a mural based on a photograph, the central issue is whether the artist can invoke a defense to infringement. That defense is fair use. So when you see a question about copying someone else's work in a new context, ask first: could this be a transformative fair use? Here, the artist's ability to keep the mural depends on whether her use of the photographer's image is fair use. The mural changes the photo's colors, adds cartoon figures, and places it in a dreamlike background—all facts that support a transformative purpose. Whether the mural is displayed in a public library also matters because fair use considers the nature of the use and its potential effect on the market for the original photograph. This is the question that would actually decide the artist's right to keep the mural. The other choices are less directly relevant. Asking whether the photograph was sufficiently original and creative goes to whether copyright protection exists at all, but the photographer's famous image likely qualifies, and fair use would still be needed. Asking whether the library's display is a public display or performance addresses one exclusive right, but it does not resolve whether the copying itself is excused. And asking what damages and profits the photographer can prove concerns remedies after infringement, not whether the artist can keep the mural in the first place. Study tip: when asked which research question is "most directly relevant," choose the question that would resolve the defendant's liability, not one that merely supports a preliminary point or measures a remedy. Fair use is the classic make-or-break defense for transformative artworks.

Question 5

Acme Builders agreed in writing to replace the roof on Dana's house. The contract stated: "Any suit arising out of this agreement must be commenced within one year of substantial completion." The roof was completed sixteen months ago. Last month, after heavy rain, Dana discovered that a flashing detail had been installed improperly and that water had been seeping into the wall cavity for months. Dana wants to sue Acme for the cost of repairs. A supervising attorney asks you to identify the research questions that must be answered before the firm can advise Dana.

Which research question is most important to answer first?

What is the applicable statute of limitations for a breach-of-contract claim arising out of a residential construction contract in this jurisdiction?
Will a contractual one-year suit limitation be enforced when the defect was latent and not reasonably discoverable until after the one-year period expired? (correct answer)
Did Acme's use of an improper flashing detail constitute a breach of the contractual duty to perform in a workmanlike manner?
What damages may Dana recover for the cost of repairing the roof and the water damage to the wall cavity?

Explanation: Whenever you see a timing question in a contracts dispute, separate the procedural bars from the merits. Here, the contract itself created a one-year suit limitation, and the roof was completed sixteen months ago. The most urgent issue is whether that contractual limitation even applies when the defect was hidden until after the year expired. That is a question of enforceability—courts often scrutinize shortened limitation periods, especially for latent defects, and may toll the period until discovery or refuse to enforce the clause as unconscionable. Until that is resolved, you do not know whether Dana can sue at all. The applicable statute of limitations is a relevant backup question, but it comes second: if the contractual clause is valid and bars the suit, the default statute never gets reached. The improper flashing detail and workmanlike manner question goes to the merits of the breach, not to whether the suit is timely. And damages for repair costs and water damage are also premature—you only calculate remedies after establishing both liability and a viable claim. Each distractor is a later step in the analysis, not the threshold question. Study tip: when a question asks which research question to answer first, look for the issue that could dispose of the entire case before you reach the merits. Procedural bars—statutes of limitation, contractual suit deadlines, notice requirements—usually come first.

Question 6

A physician was employed by a medical practice in State A under an agreement containing a non-compete clause that prohibits her, for two years after termination, from practicing medicine within 25 miles of any practice office. Last month the practice terminated her after she reported to the state medical board that a senior partner may have been billing for medically unnecessary tests. She has received an offer from a clinic located 20 miles from one of the practice's offices. The practice has threatened to enforce the non-compete. The attorney asks a new associate to research the enforceability of the clause.

Which of the following is the best research question for the associate to use to begin that research?

Does the medical practice have a protectable business interest in preventing the physician from practicing at a competing clinic 20 miles away?
Under State A law, is a two-year, 25-mile non-compete clause in a physician employment agreement reasonable in duration and geographic scope?
Did the physician's report to the state medical board constitute protected activity under State A's whistleblower statute?
Under State A law, is a physician's non-compete clause enforceable when the physician was terminated after reporting suspected improper billing to the state medical board? (correct answer)

Explanation: When you are asked to pick the best research question, think of it as framing the ultimate legal issue: it should incorporate the key facts that may change the outcome and be broad enough to let the researcher find the governing rule. Here, the noncompete's enforceability may depend on why the physician was terminated—she reported suspected improper billing, which could implicate a public-policy or whistleblower exception. The best question asks: "Under State A law, is a physician's non-compete clause enforceable when the physician was terminated after reporting suspected improper billing to the state medical board?" That captures the central dispute and allows research into both the reasonableness of the clause and any exception based on the physician's protected report. The wrong choices are too narrow or off-point. Asking whether the practice has a "protectable business interest in preventing the physician from practicing at a competing clinic 20 miles away" addresses only one element of noncompete analysis and omits the termination/reporting context. Asking whether a "two-year, 25-mile non-compete clause" is reasonable is also only part of the enforceability test—it assumes reasonableness is the only issue. Asking whether the report "constituted protected activity under State A's whistleblower statute" is a useful sub-question, but it does not directly ask whether the noncompete is enforceable; it would be research you might do after identifying the enforceability issue. Remember: a strong research question frames the ultimate issue with the key facts, not just one element or a side issue.

Question 7

A former sales executive in State A wants to sue her former employer for an unpaid bonus. Her employment agreement provides: "Any action arising out of this agreement must be commenced within one year after the date the claim accrues." On January 15, 2025, her supervisor promised in writing that she would receive a bonus for her 2024 work, to be paid by December 31, 2025. She was laid off on March 1, 2025, and did not receive the bonus. She first consulted a lawyer in July 2026. The employer says the claim accrued on January 15, 2025, when the promise was made; the employee says it accrued no earlier than December 31, 2025, when payment was due. The attorney asks a paralegal to research whether the lawsuit is timely.

Which research question is most directly relevant to determining whether the lawsuit is timely?

Does a former coworker's July 2026 statement that other executives had received similar bonuses constitute a new promise that restarts or extends the contractual limitations period?
Did the former employee actually know, or should she have known, by March 1, 2025, that the employer would not pay the bonus despite the written promise?
Does a one-year limitations clause in an employment agreement apply to a claim that the employee did not discover until after the clause's one-year period expired?
Under State A law, when does a claim for an unpaid bonus accrue if the employer promised in writing to pay the bonus by a date certain and the employee was later terminated before that date? (correct answer)

Explanation: This question tests how a contractual limitations period is triggered. Before researching exceptions, you must know when the claim accrued, because the one-year clock runs from accrual. The most directly relevant research question is therefore whether, under State A law, a claim for an unpaid bonus accrues when the written promise was made, when payment was due, or at some other point (such as termination). That answer determines whether the July 2026 filing is timely: if accrual occurred on January 15, 2025, the one-year period ended in January 2026, making the suit late; if accrual occurred on December 31, 2025, the suit in July 2026 is within one year. The former coworker's July 2026 statement about similar bonuses is not directly relevant because a statement about other executives' bonuses is not a new promise to this employee, and the threshold question is still when the original claim accrued. The employee's actual knowledge by March 1, 2025, might inform a discovery rule, but for a contract claim with a date-certain payment, accrual usually depends on breach, not subjective knowledge. The question about a limitations clause applying to a claim discovered after the period expired also misses the primary issue: the clause applies by its terms; the dispute is whether the one-year period has started. Study tip: on limitations questions, first identify what event starts the clock—here, accrual of the claim—before considering tolling, waiver, or new promises.

Question 8

A client operates a used bookstore in State A under a commercial lease that states only: "Tenant may not assign this Lease without Landlord's prior written consent." The client has found a buyer who plans to operate a café in the space. The landlord refused consent, explaining that the café would compete with a coffee shop already in the shopping center. The client wants to know whether she can assign the lease despite the landlord's refusal. An associate is asked to begin legal research.

Which of the following is the best research question for the associate to pursue first?

Under State A law, what standard governs a commercial landlord's decision to withhold consent to an assignment when the lease contains a consent clause but no express standard for consent? (correct answer)
Was the landlord's refusal to consent unreasonable in light of the fact that a café would increase foot traffic at the shopping center?
Does a lease provision requiring a commercial tenant to obtain the landlord's written consent before assigning the lease violate public policy?
What damages could the client recover if she assigns the lease without the landlord's consent and the landlord then sues for breach of the lease?

Explanation: When you see a question about lease assignments, the threshold issue is always whether the tenant has the right to assign at all—and under what conditions. Here the lease contains a standard "no assignment without prior written consent" clause, but it says nothing about the standard the landlord must apply. In many jurisdictions, a commercial landlord's consent may be withheld only if the refusal is reasonable, while other states still allow a landlord to withhold consent arbitrarily. The associate's first job, therefore, is to determine which rule State A follows. Asking, "Under State A law, what standard governs a commercial landlord's decision to withhold consent…" targets exactly that controlling legal question. That is the best research question. The choice asking whether the landlord's refusal was "unreasonable in light of the fact that a café would increase foot traffic" puts the cart before the horse: you cannot evaluate reasonableness until you know whether State A imposes a reasonableness standard at all. The choice asking whether the consent clause "violate[s] public policy" is a trap because such clauses are generally valid and enforceable; the issue is the standard for withholding consent, not the clause's validity. The choice asking what "damages" the client could recover is premature—damages matter only if the client is allowed to assign or already breached, so that research should wait until the consent standard is settled. On bar-prep research questions, first find the governing rule, then apply it to the facts.

Question 9

A guest slipped and was injured on ice in the parking lot of an apartment complex. The landlord's employees had plowed the lot after a storm but did not salt the area near the guest's car. The lease requires tenants to keep walkways clear. The guest wants to sue the landlord. The associate must identify the legal research needed to evaluate the claim.

Which research question is most likely to determine whether the landlord is liable?

Under the lease, did the tenants assume the duty to remove ice from the parking lot as between themselves and the landlord?
Does a landlord owe a duty to a tenant's guest to remove natural accumulations of ice from a common area, and is the landlord's partial plowing relevant to that duty? (correct answer)
Was the guest contributorily negligent in walking across an icy parking lot when the ice was visible and obvious?
What damages may a guest recover for a slip-and-fall injury against a landlord who failed to salt a common area?

Explanation: Whenever you see a landlord-tenant slip-and-fall question, start by asking who controlled the area and what duty that control creates. Here, the parking lot is a common area, so the critical issue is whether the landlord owes the guest a duty regarding natural ice and whether the landlord's partial plowing changed that duty. That research question directly addresses the legal standard: landlords generally must keep common areas safe, but many jurisdictions treat natural accumulations of ice differently, and a voluntary undertaking like plowing can create or expand liability if done negligently. The "tenants assumed the duty under the lease" choice misses the point because a lease allocation between landlord and tenants does not erase duties the landlord owes to third parties like guests, especially in common areas. The "guest contributorily negligent" choice raises a possible defense, but it only matters after a duty and breach are established; visible ice alone does not answer whether the landlord is liable. The "damages" choice is premature—you must resolve liability before measuring recovery. The best research path is therefore the duty question with the partial-plowing detail, because that fact could turn a natural-accumulation no-duty rule into a negligent-undertaking claim. On the exam, when premises liability appears, identify the plaintiff's status, the possession/control of the land, and whether any voluntary conduct created the duty—that order will keep you from getting distracted by leases, defenses, or damages.

Question 10

An inventor who lives in State A entered into a manufacturing agreement with a company headquartered in State B. The agreement states: "This agreement is governed by the laws of State B." The manufacturer hired a State C trucking company to deliver a prototype to the inventor's home in State A. During delivery in State A, the prototype was destroyed when the truck caught fire. The inventor plans to sue the manufacturer for breach of contract and the trucking company for negligence in federal court in State A, alleging diversity jurisdiction. Before evaluating the merits, the attorney needs to know which law applies to each claim.

Which of the following is the best research question for the attorney to answer first?

Does the contract's governing-law clause apply to the trucking company's tort liability even though the trucking company was not a party to the manufacturing agreement?
Under federal common law, which law will a federal court sitting in State A apply to the contract and tort claims when the parties are diverse and the contract has a governing-law clause?
What are the elements of the negligence claim against the trucking company under State A law for the destruction of the prototype during delivery?
Under the choice-of-law rules that a federal court sitting in State A would apply, which law governs the contract and tort claims, and does the governing-law clause affect the tort claim? (correct answer)

Explanation: When a federal court hears a case under diversity jurisdiction, it does not apply a uniform federal choice-of-law regime. Under the Erie doctrine and Klaxon, a federal court sitting in State A must apply the choice-of-law rules that a State A court would apply. So before asking what the contract says or what negligence law requires, you need to know which state's substantive law governs each claim under State A's choice-of-law rules. The best first question is therefore the one asking: under the choice-of-law rules a federal court sitting in State A would apply, which law governs the contract and tort claims, and does the governing-law clause affect the tort claim? The question about whether the governing-law clause applies to the trucking company is too narrow and premature: you first need to know how State A's choice-of-law framework treats contractual choice-of-law clauses and tort claims against non-parties. The option asking for federal common law is a trap: Klaxon forbids federal courts in diversity from using federal common law to choose state law. The option asking for the elements of negligence under State A law assumes State A law already applies, but that is exactly what you have not yet determined. The governing-law clause may choose State B law for the contract, but the tort claim against the trucking company is a separate claim by a non-party, so its governing law must be analyzed independently. Remember: in diversity, "which law applies" is answered first by the forum state's choice-of-law rules, not by federal common law or by the merits of the claim.

Question 11

Jewel, a buyer in State B, purchased a scarf advertised as "100% silk" from Silk Road Imports, a company with its only store and warehouse in State A. The sale was completed through Silk Road's website, and the scarf was shipped to Jewel in State B. The scarf is actually rayon. Silk Road has no employees, property, or offices in State B, and this is its only sale to a State B customer. Jewel wants to sue Silk Road in State B state court. The supervising attorney asks what legal research is needed before deciding where to file suit.

Which research question is most important to answer before deciding where to file suit?

Does Silk Road's Internet sale and shipment of a single item into State B satisfy the requirements for personal jurisdiction over Silk Road in State B? (correct answer)
Under State B law, does an advertisement describing a scarf as "100% silk" create an express warranty in the sale of goods?
What damages are available to a buyer for fraudulent misrepresentation when a product is not as advertised?
Was Jewel's reliance on the advertisement reasonable under the circumstances and a cause of her purchase?

Explanation: Whenever you see a dispute with parties from different states and a question about where suit may be filed, personal jurisdiction is the gateway issue. A court cannot reach the merits or award damages unless it has power over the defendant. Here, Silk Road isa State A company with no presence in State B, so jurisdiction can only be specific, based on the internet sale and shipment into State B. The most urgent research is whether those contacts satisfy State B's long-arm statute and the due process minimum-contacts test, focusing on purposeful availment and whether Jewel's claim arises from that single contact. If jurisdiction is lacking, a State B court cannot hear the case at all. The other choices go to the merits, not the forum. The express-warranty question asks whether the advertisement created a warranty—that is a claim element, not a prerequisite to jurisdiction. Damages for fraudulent misrepresentation concern what relief Jewel could recover if she wins, not whether State B can hale Silk Road into court. And whether Jewel's reliance was reasonable is another fraud element, relevant to proving the claim but irrelevant to choosing the forum. Those substantive state-law issues would be researched only after a court with jurisdiction and venue is selected. Remember: before choosing a forum, analyze jurisdiction first. A lawsuit filed in a court without personal jurisdiction is vulnerable to dismissal, wasting time and expense. When you see"where to file" or"does the court have power over this defendant," think minimum contacts, long-arm statute, and purposeful availment—not the merits.

Question 12

A police officer stopped Maria because the car's registration had expired. After checking the registration and issuing a written warning, the officer returned Maria's documents but told her to remain in the car until a drug dog arrived. The dog arrived eight minutes later, alerted, and the officer found cocaine in the trunk. Maria was charged with possession. She moves to suppress the cocaine. Her attorney needs to know whether the officer's actions violated the Fourth Amendment.

Which research question is most important to answer on the suppression motion?

Did the eight-minute delay for the dog to arrive make the stop unreasonable under the totality of the circumstances?
May an officer, after the purpose of a traffic stop is completed, detain a driver for a dog sniff without reasonable suspicion? (correct answer)
Does a drug dog's alert on the exterior of a car give an officer probable cause to search the trunk?
Was the initial stop for an expired registration justified at its inception as a lawful traffic stop?

Explanation: When you see a traffic-stop search question, the central Fourth Amendment concern is time and mission: a traffic stop must end once its purpose is complete, unless the officer has independent justification to keep the driver there. Here, the officer finished the registration check and issued the warning, so the mission was over. The most important question is whether he could then detain Maria for a dog sniff without reasonable suspicion. Under Rodriguez v. United States, the answer is no: prolonging a stop for a dog sniff is a separate seizure requiring reasonable suspicion, and absent that, the later cocaine is fruit of the poisonous tree. The eight-minute delay is tempting because it sounds like a "totality of circumstances" reasonableness question, but the length of the delay is not the core problem. Even a very short extension after the stop's purpose is completed is unlawful without reasonable suspicion. The drug dog's alert on the car would ordinarily give probable cause to search the trunk, but that alert occurred only because of the unlawful detention, so it cannot rescue the search. And the initial stop for expired registration was plainly justified at its inception; the defect is what happened after the warning, not before. On the exam, remember the "mission" rule: once the officer returns documents and the traffic purpose ends, any continued detention needs its own lawful justification—especially a dog sniff.