One of my clearest memories from my first year of law school is walking through Central Park on a crisp October Friday, looking at the leaves changing colors and thinking about nothing. Sounds great, right? Well, I was only there because I’d had a total meltdown earlier in the day (think suddenly sobbing in a meeting), and a 2L friend insisted I take the rest of the day off to avoid a complete nervous breakdown. (You can read that whole story here.) [Read more…] about Surviving the October Freakout
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Podcast Episode 417: Listen and Learn — Authentication of Evidence
Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, as part of our “Listen and Learn” series, we’re discussing the rules around authentication of evidence, which comes into play when you’re dealing with physical or documentary evidence.
In this episode we discuss:
- Physical vs. testimonial evidence
- How the different types of physical/documentary evidence are authenticated
- Items that are considered self-authenticating
- Analyzing four hypos from previous California bar exams
Thanks for listening!
[Read more…] about Podcast Episode 417: Listen and Learn — Authentication of Evidence
A Reading List for Introverts in Law School
Do unexpected phone calls rattle you? Do you hate the idea of talking in front of a group of strangers (or worse, just one or two strangers)? Do you need time to recharge after interacting with people? If you answered yes to these questions, you are likely an introvert (or at least introvert adjacent). For the introvert, the law library part and journal part of law school may sound great, but the Socratic method part and the networking part might sound terrible. If you are the bold introvert that has decided to embark on the law school journey, here is a reading list to support you, motivate you, and give you hope. Enjoy! [Read more…] about A Reading List for Introverts in Law School
Podcast Episode 416: Listen and Learn — Service of Process (Civ Pro)
Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, as part of our “Listen and Learn” series, we’re talking about service of process – a subject that sometimes sneaks into Civil Procedure exam questions. We’ll discuss the general service of process rules under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, as well as the California-specific rules.
In this episode we discuss:
- Serving a summons and complaint to individuals in the United States and in foreign countries under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
- Serving a corporation or other non-individual
- Substitute service of process under the California rules
- Two hypos illustrating service of process issues
Thanks for listening!
[Read more…] about Podcast Episode 416: Listen and Learn — Service of Process (Civ Pro)
Consistency in Law School
Consistency is key in most things in order to see success.
Sometimes, we can become consistent about unproductive things such as worrying, cramming, or comparing ourselves to others. In law school, there can be pressure to always get things right. Remember that perfection is an impossible standard, especially for a law student in the process of learning.
Shifting from perfection, comparison and self-sabotage to small, but consistent steps, you can make tremendous improvement and see results. [Read more…] about Consistency in Law School
Podcast Episode 415: Bad Ideas for Job Hunting (w/Sadie Jones)
Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we’re talking to ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones about job hunting practices that are typically not great ideas and aren’t going to help you secure a job.
In this episode we discuss:
- What is the perfect length for a resume?
- How to cut down your writing sample for the purposes of job searching
- Should you include an addendum with your application documents to explain a bad grade?
- Deciding which of your previous jobs to include on your resume
- Are thank-you notes a good or bad idea?
- Is it acceptable to reach out to potential employers via cold calls or emails?
Thanks for listening!
[Read more…] about Podcast Episode 415: Bad Ideas for Job Hunting (w/Sadie Jones)