The Law School Toolbox podcast is an entertaining, useful weekly show which can help you make the most of your law school experience. You can always access current podcast episodes on the website or on Apple Podcasts and many other streaming services. And you’ll find a full archive in the Law School Toolbox podcast archive.
Enjoy!
Developing a Good Law School Mindset
- Podcast Episode 1: Mindset - The Key to Success in Law School? Everyone is going to encounter challenges in law school, and in life – what matters is how you react to the road bumps. Do you have a fixed mindset or do you see challenges as an opportunity to learn and grow? Hear our thoughts on mindset in this episode.
- Podcast Episode 63: Dealing with Self-Sabotaging Behavior in Law School In this podcast, we talk about something lots of law students deal with - self-sabotaging behavior. If you start your day with the best of intentions, but get nothing done by the time it's over, tune in! You're definitely not alone.
- Podcast Episode 64: Developing Grit in Law School This podcast will discuss grit - that quality that lets you get back up and carry on after you've been knocked down. And, every law student is probably going to get knocked down a time or two!
- Podcast Episode 81: Building Emotional Intelligence Today we’re talking about something that’s not discussed all that often in law school, which is emotional intelligence. This is an important piece of the puzzle for happiness and success in your law career and in life.
- Podcast Episode 100: 100th Anniversary Countdown! Our Most Popular (And Underrated) Episode Want to listen to our podcast but wondering where to start? Or already a fan and want to know what our favorites are? Here is a discussion of our most popular episodes, plus Lee and Alison's favorite, but underappreciated episodes.
- Podcast Episode 110: Revisiting Mindset Our very first podcast was on mindset, specifically discussing fixed mindset vs. growth mindset. New information seems to suggest that focusing too much on grit and mindset might actually be harmful for learning. So, what’s the deal??
- Podcast Episode 113: Life as a First-Generation College and Law Student (With Shirlene Armstrong) If you're considering law school, but would be the first in your family to do so, this podcast is for you! Shirlene Armstrong is talking about her experience, including some of the particular challenges she encountered as a first-generation law student.
- Podcast Episode 149: Saving Money in Law School Today we’re talking about getting your finances in order for (and during) law school, because this can be a very challenging aspect of the law school experience.
- Podcast Episode 202: Book Club - Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation Today’s episode is part of our Book Club series, and we’re discussing some key takeaways from the book Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation, by Dan Siegel.
- Podcast Episode 210: Using Mindfulness Practices as a Law Student We’re discussing how mindfulness practices can positively influence your brain and help you perform at your best by combating procrastination, worry, anxiety, anger, and sleep issues.
- Podcast Episode 228: Boosting Your Confidence (w/Guest Kate McGuiness) We welcomed guest Kate McGuinness — author of the book Confidence Lost / Confidence Found: How to Reclaim the Unstoppable You — to talk about the importance of feeling confident in yourself and your abilities.
- Podcast Episode 230: Learning Through Mistakes in Law School We dive into some intriguing research on how we learn from failures and making mistakes.
- Podcast Episode 235: Maintaining Motivation in the Second Semester We’re talking about the reasons why it’s a struggle to stay motivated in the second semester, and things you can do to get your focus back.
- Podcast Episode 300: Anniversary Episode! Listener Questions We Hear Frequently In our milestone 300th episode today, we reflect on things that we’ve learned over the years from doing the podcast and working with students, and we answer some listener question on topics that commonly show up.
- Podcast Episode 322: Keeping Motivation Strong Throughout Your 3L Year This episode is based on a listener’s question on how to deal with the unique challenges of 3L year, such as finding the motivation to study, balancing different responsibilities, and dealing with anxieties over bar exam prep and student loans.
- Podcast Episode 408: The Online Law School Experience (w/Sarah Covington) We have Sarah Covington, one of the authors of Digitally Remastered: Modern Law School, with us to talk about the book and the online law school experience.
- Podcast Episode 456: Top 10 Tips for Getting Ready for Your 3L Year We share 10 things to consider in preparation for your final year of law school and taking the bar exam.
- Podcast Episode 468: Playing the Role of You (w/Pam Sherman) We’re joined by Pam Sherman, who is a leadership consultant, actor, author, and recovering lawyer, to talk about playing the role of YOU in your career and in life.
- Podcast Episode 470: Tips for Neurodivergent Law Students (w/Heather Varanini and Rebecca Petrilli) We have two special guests today, talking about how neurodivergent students can reach their full potential in law school. We’re speaking with Heather Varanini, Director of Academic Achievement and Adjunct Professor at Golden Gate University School of Law in San Francisco, and Rebecca Petrilli, Director of Marketing Content Strategy at Themis Bar Review. Note: This episode is sponsored by Themis Bar Review – the gold standard in bar exam preparation. Right now, Themis has a special offer for Law School Toolbox podcast listeners. Any Themis course, whether you’re sitting for the bar in 2025, 2026, or 2027, is at the cost of $1,695 with the promo code LAWSCHOOLTB1200. (This offer is valid until November 15th, 2024.)
- Podcast Episode 505: Breaking ADHD Barriers with the Help of AI (w/Lindsay Scola) We have sleep and productivity expert Lindsay Scola back on the podcast to talk about her new book, AI for ADHD. Lindsay recounts her experiences with undiagnosed ADHD and narcolepsy, and shares how AI tools like ChatGPT help her manage ADHD symptoms and boost productivity.
Effective Time and Life Management
- Podcast Episode 7: Time and Life Management Basics In this episode we’re doing a deep dive into a critically important topic — time and life management! If you’re an over-stressed law student or young lawyer, this is a can’t miss episode.
- Podcast Episode 35: What Extracurricular Activities Matter in Law School Today we are discussing extracurricular activities in law school. You may be tempted to focus exclusively on studying and maintaining your grades, but extracurricular activities can help break up the monotony of law school and bolster your resume for the future.
- Podcast Episode 76: Making the Most of Your Law School Winter Break Today, as finals wind down, we’re talking about what you can do over winter break to improve your law school (and legal career) experience. Don’t worry, a lot of it is fun! Not just more work – you’ve done enough for now. Winter break is a time to recuperate, but we do have a few suggestions!
- Podcast Episode 95: Top 1L Questions: Time and Life Management Law school requires a lot of time, but so do other important areas of your life. Find out how to fit everything in without having a breakdown!
- Podcast Episode 130: How to Make Difficult Decisions in Law School We’re talking about how to go about making difficult decisions in law school. We’ll talk about some of these dilemmas specifically, and offer suggestions for how to approach your decision-making process.
- Podcast Episode 134: Strategies For Maximum Personal Productivity Today, we’re sharing personal productivity tips you can use to organize your life and get everything done. Working effectively is important in every aspect of your life, not just in law school. In this podcast, we talk about different systems, strategies, and considerations you can explore to create a productivity plan that works for you.
- Podcast Episode 169: Setting Your Priorities in Law School We’re talking about setting your priorities in law school when you’re overwhelmed by your to-do list.
- Podcast Episode 178: Resolutions For a New Year (And a New Semester) We’re talking about resolutions we suggest for the new year and new semester.
- Podcast Episode 208: Using Technology Effectively in Law School We’re talking about choosing the right hardware and software tools to streamline your life, and keep you organized in law school.
- Podcast Episode 367: Tech Tools You Can Use to Streamline Your Life We’re excited to talk about some tech tools that will help you streamline your life, both in law school and beyond.
- Podcast Episode 432: Creating New Habits and Optimizing Time Management We’re talking about starting the new year with a focus on better time management. We discuss how working on small, attainable goals can produce some big changes in the long run.
- Podcast Episode 436: Improving Executive Functioning Skills as a Law Student This episode is on the topic of executive functioning skills for law students and new lawyers, in relation to staying organized, managing time effectively, and also studying and working smart.
- Podcast Episode 522: Is Social Media Destroying Our Ability to Focus? Today we're talking about a topic we've been thinking about a lot recently – whether social media is destroying our ability to focus.
- Podcast Episode 528: Optimizing Sleep and Productivity in Law School (w/Lindsay Scola) Lee Burgess and Lindsay Scola explore the critical connection between sleep and productivity, especially for students and professionals.
- Podcast Episode 548: A Week in the Life of a Successful 1L – What You Actually Do Hour by Hour In this episode, we discuss time management strategies for first-year law students, walking through a detailed weekday schedule.
- Podcast Episode 552: Too Much Reading, Not Enough Time? Tips for Overloaded Weeks in Law School This episode covers law school survival strategies for when you're overwhelmed and behind on the material.
Dealing with Problems and Getting Help
- Podcast Episode 14: Avoiding Disasters In Law School We will be honest with you, disasters in law school are inevitable. It's not a question of "if" disasters will happen, but "when." In today's episode, Alison and Lee share some of their own personal disasters in law school and discuss other situations that you might encounter and how to prepare for them.
- Podcast Episode 15: The October Freakout October is the time in law school where reality begins to set in. Don't flip out! Take our advice to get through the October Freakout so you can have a productive rest of the semester.
- Podcast Episode 29: Handling Pressure in Law School (Guest Dr. Hank Weisinger) One of the biggest challenges law students face is how to handle pressure in law school. In this podcast, the New York Times bestselling author of "Performing Under Pressure: The Science of Doing Your Best When it Matters Most" and renowned pressure expert, Dr. Hank Weisinger, is here to talk about handling the pressure of law school.
- Podcast Episode 72: Seeking Accommodations in Law School and on the Bar Exam (with Dr. Jared Maloff) Today we’re talking with Dr. Jared Maloff, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Beverly Hills, California, about helping students get testing accommodations for tests such as the LSAT, law school exams, and the California Bar Exam (to name a few). If you’re struggling in law school or with the bar exam or know that you have a learning disorder, listen in to find out what accommodations are available, and how to request them.
- Podcast Episode 88: Self-Care Tips for Keeping Your Mojo in Law School Law school is stressful enough on a good day, and, with everything going on in the world, global anxiety is at an all-time high. This combo is leading to a lot of stressed out, anxious law students! If this is you, we’ve got some strategies and advice to keep things from spinning out of control.
- Podcast Episode 123: Mental Health in Law School and the Legal Profession (With Sarah Weinstein) Today, we are talking about a very serious and important topic: mental health in the legal profession. The staggering statistics and heartbreaking stories of depression, substance abuse, and even suicide in law schools and in our legal profession have raised our concerns and the concerns of others. Because of this, we have reached out to attorney-turned-executive consultant and licensed psychotherapist, Sarah Weinstein, to talk about this topic.
- Podcast Episode 236: Coping with COVID-19 in Law School We’re sharing some ideas for ways to cope with the challenges that COVID-19 poses for law schools and life in general.
- Podcast Episode 437: Quick Tips - Succeeding in Law School with ADHD We’re sharing specific tips for students coping with ADHD, in relation to managing the law school workload, studying, and preparing for exams.
- Podcast Episode 502: Protecting Your Mental Health in Law School (w/Angela Corbett) We’re speaking to guest Angela Corbett — a licensed clinical social worker and a certified addictions professional — about maintaining mental health in law school. We discuss the impact of chronic stress, the importance of support systems and self-care, and recognizing when to seek professional help.
How to Be a Happy Lawyer
- Podcast Episode 10: Why are Lawyers so Unhappy? Today we are trying to answer an important question: Are lawyers actually more unhappy than other professionals, or do they just like to complain a lot?
- Podcast Episode 59: Conquering Loneliness in Law School This podcast focuses on something that comes up for a lot of new and seasoned law students - being lonely or feeling isolated in law school.
- Podcast Episode 82: The Happy Lawyer Project (with Okeoma Moronu) Today we’re talking with Okeoma Moronu, a BigLaw mid-level associate and creator of The Happy Lawyer Project. Are you a law student wondering if you can be happy as a lawyer? Are you a lawyer looking for happiness? It’s really not impossible. Tune in for fresh ideas!
- Podcast Episode 109: Life as a Woman Entrepreneur With Meg Keene of A Practical Wedding In this podcast we talk about the path to entrepreneurship, challenges of running a business as a woman and mother, not to mention the challenges faced by the partner of a law student/lawyer! Tune in to hear more from Meg Keene.
- Podcast Episode 135: Leaving the Law (with Casey Berman) Today, we’re excited to be talking with Casey Berman, founder of Leave Law Behind, about why some attorneys are unhappy and what they can do to shift to a non-legal career.
- Podcast Episode 182: Navigating Motherhood in the Legal Profession (w/ Jennifer Warren) We’re talking to Jennifer Warren about the realities of motherhood, and parenthood in general, in the legal profession.
- Podcast Episode 186: Book Club: Becoming, By Michelle Obama We’re kicking off a new series: The Law School Toolbox Book Club. This is a chance for us to chat with you about the books we’re reading and why you might want to check them out. Today we’re talking about Becoming, by Michelle Obama.
- Podcast Episode 194: You Don't Want to Be a Lawyer - What Now? We’re talking about what to do if you’re graduating (or have graduated) from law school, and you find yourself without a job, not wanting to practice law, and not sure how to figure out what to do next!
- Podcast Episode 223: 1L Year at Harvard Law (w/Guest Carla Luna) We welcomed guest Carla Luna — currently a 2L at Harvard — to discuss adjusting to law school as a 1L, and the different activities and programs available to Harvard Law students.
- Podcast Episode 227: Thriving as a First-Generation Law Student We’re talking with Hafsa Mansoor — one of the creators of FirstGenJD — about thriving in law school as a first-generation law student.
- Podcast Episode 264: Mid-Semester Check-in In a Virtual Law School Environment Mid-semester is quickly approaching, and it’s best to start preparing early. Today, we’re talking about some issues that law students may be experiencing during this time, with the added challenges of being in a virtual or a hybrid school environment.
- Podcast Episode 427: A Discussion with Author Jessica Elefante on the Power of Influence in the Digital Age we’re excited to have Jessica Elefante – the author of Raising Hell, Living Well – on the podcast with us to discuss influence, choices, and managing our digital lives.
Law School Characters and Relationships
- Podcast Episode 51: The Characters You'll Meet in Law School Today we’ve got an entertaining topic – the eccentric characters you'll meet in law school, along with some tips on law school etiquette (if you don’t want to find yourself on this list in the future).
- Podcast Episode 107: How to Build Positive Relationships in Law School Today we’re talking about building relationships in law school with everyone from professors to classmates and potential employers. Of course grades are important, but building relationships can not only make your law school experience more pleasant, it can open doors of opportunity in the future.
- Podcast Episode 148: Handling Toxic Behavior in Law School Today we’re talking about handling toxicity in law school – whether it’s bad behavior from your classmates or overbearing expectations from other people, including your parents, professors, friends, or even yourself.
- Podcast Episode 150: A Conversation with Visla Rudiger, A Transgender Attorney Today, we’re talking with Visla Rudiger, a transgender attorney, about her experiences in the legal profession — at work, in court, and more.
- Podcast Episode 366: How Can Parents Help Their Kids in Law School? We’re sharing our suggestions for ways parents can help their kids in law school, keeping the balance of being supportive without being overbearing.
Money and Financial Planning
- Podcast Episode 96: How to Rapidly Pay Off Law School Debt (With Guest Financial Panther) Are your law school debts (or the thought of incurring them) weighing on your mind? The founder of Financial Panther discusses how law students and young lawyers can make smart financial decisions.
- Podcast Episode 294: Money Talk (w/Carrie Friedberg) We’re discussing a topic that almost everyone has to focus on at one point or another – money! Join us as we talk through debt, savings, investments, and retirement planning with our special guest Carrie Friedberg – a certified financial coach, financial behavior specialist, and founder of SF Money Coach.
- Podcast Episode 361: Student Loan Repayment (w/Derek Brainard of AccessLex Institute) We’re excited to have Derek Brainard, National Director of Financial Education at AccessLex Institute, talking with us about everyone’s favorite topic – student loans!
- Podcast Episode 363: Real-Life Estate Planning (w/Marina Modlin) We have Marina Modlin, founder of Modlin Legal, with us to share some real-life estate planning advice.
- Podcast Episode 383: Talking About Money with Jesse Mecham, Founder of You Need a Budget We’re excited to have the founder of You Need A Budget, Jesse Mecham, on the podcast to talk about all things money.
- Podcast Episode 550: Financial Planning for Law Students and Young Lawyers (w/Alexandra Sandberg) In this episode, Lee and financial advisor Alexandra Sandberg discuss financial planning for law school graduates and early-career attorneys.
Wellness, Balance, and Personal Growth
- Podcast Episode 191: Wisdom 2.0 - What We Learned About Relationships We are talking about what we earned about relationships at the Wisdom 2.0 conference we attended in March.
- Podcast Episode 199: Balancing Parenthood and a Demanding Job (w/Molly Bowen) We’re chatting with special guest Molly Bowen — lawyer and author of the children’s book, Mommy Lawyer — about the challenges involved in balancing parenthood and a career (and how to explain a demanding job to your kids).
- Podcast Episode 200: The Most Surprising Thing We've Learned About Success In our special 200th episode, we are focusing on the importance of developing “soft skills” that seem like they wouldn’t matter that much (in law school and in life), but turn out to be really critical for success and happiness.
- Podcast Episode 212: Bouncing Back From a Major Mistake we’re talking about how to bounce back after making a significant mistake — one of those school, career, or personal screw ups that sometimes can be a major headache — and what steps to take to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
- Podcast Episode 225: Sustainable Living and Emergency Preparedness (w/Friday Apaliski) We chatted with special guest Friday Apaliski — the Sustainability Concierge — about things you can do that will put you in harmony with the environment, if you are wondering where to start on the road to living “greener.”
- Podcast Episode 277: Fair Play: A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do we’re excited to have Eve Rodsky on the podcast, who is an attorney and author of the book Fair Play. Through her research, she has developed a system for life-changing communication between partners, so that women can reclaim some of their time and live to their fullest potential.
- Podcast Episode 381: Find Your Unicorn Space: Reclaim Your Creative Life in a Too-Busy World (w/Eve Rodsky) We have attorney and author Eve Rodsky back with us to discuss, amongst other things, her latest book, Find Your Unicorn Space.
- Podcast Episode 445: Best Practices for Getting Accommodations in Law School We’re excited to welcome Haley Miller and Laura Derbonne, who are the co-presidents of The National Disabled Law Students Association, to talk about accommodations and advocating for yourself.
- Podcast Episode 472: Creativity, Goal Setting, and Personal Growth (w/Anne Ditmeyer) We’re excited to have Anne Ditmeyer – the author of Override! What If There Was Another Way? – joining us to talk about creativity, goal setting, personal growth, and following your own path in life.
- Podcast Episode 476: Executive Functioning Skills for Law Students with ADHD (w/Emily Haan) We have ADHD and executive function coach Emily Haan with us to talk about some techniques students can use to be successful in law school.
- Podcast Episode 479: Workplace Wellness (w/Carolyn Thayer-Azoff) We’re talking with workplace mental health and well-being strategist Carolyn Thayer-Azoff about setting yourself up for sustainable workplace success.
- Podcast Episode 498: Tips for Better Rest with Sleep Expert Lindsay Scola (Part 1) We’re excited to talk to sleep and productivity expert Lindsay Scola. In this first part of a two-part conversation, we discuss why sleep is important and what can mess it up, and next week we’ll look at some common (and less common) sleep disorders. If you’re struggling to get the sleep you need to perform at your best, don’t miss these episodes!
- Podcast Episode 499: Tips for Better Rest with Sleep Expert Lindsay Scola (Part 2) This is the second part of our conversation with sleep and productivity expert Lindsay Scola. In last week’s episode, we discussed why sleep is important and what can mess it up, and today we look at some common (and less common) sleep disorders. If you’re struggling to get the sleep you need to perform at your best, don’t miss these episodes!
- Podcast Episode 525: Being an Adult (w/Julie Lythcott-Haims) Today, author and educator Julie Lythcott-Haims discusses with Lee the complexities of becoming an adult and taking responsibility for oneself.
Style and Personal Presence
- Podcast Episode 211: Putting Together a Capsule Wardrobe as a Law Student We’re talking about the idea of a capsule wardrobe, or how to choose staple pieces that will give you the versatility to easily create different outfits.
- Podcast Episode 457: Essential Wardrobe Tips for Law Students and Lawyers (w/Jenny Eversole of Style Space) We’re excited to have style expert and founder of Style Space Jenny Eversole with us to talk about what to wear as a law student and lawyer.
- Podcast Episode 469: The Power of Professional Style: A Conversation with Alison Bruhn and Delia Folk We have fashion experts Alison Bruhn and Delia Folk – creators of The Style That Binds Us – here with us to talk about professional style for law students and lawyers.
- Podcast Episode 478: Quick Tips - LinkedIn Best Practices for Law Students In our “Quick Tips” series, we provide a guide for law students to optimize their LinkedIn profile, which is an important part of professional networking.
The Profession and the Wider World
- Podcast Episode 31: Why is it So Horrible to be a Woman Lawyer? This week we are talking about something very near and dear to our hearts - being a woman in the legal profession. Are we really still having this same tired conversation about women in the workplace? Yes, yes we are.
- Podcast Episode 32: Four Years of Business Lessons - Happy Birthday! Listen to what we have learned after 4 years of Law School Toolbox!
- Podcast Episode 83: Lawyers in Action - The Airport Immigration Crisis We talk with several volunteer lawyers who sprung into action at airports around the country, helping people caught up in the chaos that ensued after President Trump issued his executive order on immigration. Tune in to hear what the situation was like on the ground, and how lawyers and law students can get involved to help.
- Podcast Episode 229: Combining Law School and Military Service (w/Guest Steven Arango) We have special guest Steven Arango with us — a Marine officer and lawyer — to talk about how he combined his military career with the law, as well as offer some useful tips on getting a clerkship and being published.
- Podcast Episode 231: Our Experience Working at the Polls on Election Day We’re talking about something a bit different — our experiences as poll workers. Yes, Lee and Alison both worked at a polling station in the last election! It’s a unique experience, and one you might even be interested in trying out.
- Podcast Episode 252: Navigating the Law School Landscape in Light of COVID-19 (w/Anna Ivey) We’re talking with admissions consultant Anna Ivey about what could change for incoming 1Ls this year because of COVID-19 concerns, and how the pandemic might impact the future of law school admissions.
- Podcast Episode 269: Improving Communication When Wearing a Mask (w/Cathlyn Melvin) We’re talking with 1L student, freelance writer, and editor Cathlyn Melvin about some techniques for projecting your voice in class — a particularly relevant issue these days when everyone has to wear a mask.
- Podcast Episode 276: The Undocumented Lawyer - A Sneak Peek with Directors Chris Temple and Zach Ingrasci We are excited to have two special guests on the show — filmmaker team Chris Temple and Zach Ingrasci. Every film they produce is accompanied by an impact campaign to create measurable outcomes. Today, we’re discussing their 2020 documentary short The Undocumented Lawyer, which portrays the struggles immigrants go through when coming to the United States.
- Podcast Episode 279: Legal Trends in 2020 and Going Forward (w/George Psiharis of Clio) We’re excited to talk to George Psiharis, COO at Clio. Join us as we discuss some intriguing trends from Clio’s annual Legal Trends Report.
- Podcast Episode 387: Breaking Diversity Barriers (w/Jason Parker from Canamac Productions) We’re excited to have Jason Parker, Managing Producer at Canamac Productions with us to talk about their unique approach to creating engaging and interactive programming around diversity for schools, businesses, and civic organizations.
- Podcast Episode 425: Exploring the Legal Tech Ecosystem (w/Colin Levy) We’re talking with Colin Levy — author of the book The Legal Tech Ecosystem — about what’s new and exciting in the field of legal technology, and how AI might change the future of law practice.
- Podcast Episode 430: The PaxtonAI Founders Talk About Their AI Legal Assistant We’re excited to be talking with Mike Ulin and Tanguy Chau — creators of PaxtonAI — about the AI legal assistant they’ve developed.
- Podcast Episode 449: Implications of AI for the Legal Profession (w/Kevin Surace) We have tech innovator and entrepreneur Kevin Surace with us to talk about how the legal profession is evolving in the age of AI.
- Podcast Episode 467: Surviving Migration in the Age of Technology (w/Petra Molnar) We’re excited to have lawyer, anthropologist, and author Petra Molnar with us to talk about her new book, The Walls Have Eyes: Surviving Migration in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.
- Podcast Episode 480: Ethical Uses of AI in Law School (w/Professor Susan Tanner) We’re speaking with Susan Tanner, Assistant Professor of Law at the University of Louisville. We explore different practical uses of AI by law students, some of which are beneficial and some that might be problematic.
- Podcast Episode 518: Will Past Poor Decisions Derail Your Legal Career? (w/Susan Stone and Kristina Supler) Alison is speaking with Susan Stone and Kristina Supler from KJK’s Student & Athlete Defense Group about ways poor decisions in the past might (or might not) derail your law school and bar exam journey.