Law School Toolbox Podcast

Not sure what you’re looking for? Here’s the complete list of all podcast episodes. (If you’d rather browse by topic, check out the Law School Toolbox podcast archive.)

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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 2: Why is Law School Hard? Today, we’re talking about why law school is hard! Not to scare you, but to provide context and alert you to some of the challenges you might face. Forewarned is forearmed. And remember, a challenge – seen the right way – is just an opportunity for growth and learning.
Podcast Episode 3: Mastering the On-Campus Interviewing (OCI) Process In this episode, we talk about improving your resume and cover letter, how to figure out what firms to bid on in OCI, how the process typically works, and more!
Podcast Episode 4: Callback Tips for BigLaw Summer Associate Positions Today, we’re discussing the next step in the on campus interview process – callback interviews. Topics covered include what are firms looking for in a callback, advice on scheduling interviews, and more!
Podcast Episode 5: Maintaining Authenticity in the Legal Profession Today, we’re talking about a very important topic – how to stay true to yourself and live with integrity as a law student and as a lawyer.
Podcast Episode 6: Lessons Learned About Learning Today we’re excited to be discussing one of our very favorite topics – Learning! Enjoy our discussion on topics including how children approach learning, and what can we learn from them, how learning another language is like going to law school, and more!
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 8: Law School 101 for 1Ls (What NOT to Do) If you’re a 1L, this is the episode for you. We’re going to talk about the top five things law students consistently screw up their first year, so you can avoid doing any of them.
Podcast Episode 9: How To Raise Your Grades as a 2L or 3L If you are a 2L or 3L who’s struggled in law school, this episode is for you. Today we’re talking about how to overcome a 1L year that was less than stellar and raise your grades for the rest of your tenure in law school.
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 11: Legal Writing 101 What is it about the term Legal Writing that makes law students cringe? In this episode we talk about what makes legal writing so difficult, and how you can improve your writing skills, and more!
Podcast Episode 12: Resume and Cover Letter Basics Are your resume and cover letter ready to send out today? The truth is you should write your resume now to avoid having to rush and create one when an opportunity presents itself. Today we are discussing resume and cover letter basics for law students.
Podcast Episode 13: What Do Lawyers Argue About? In this podcast we are talking about one important facet of the law school experience -- learning to argue like a lawyer. From class to court, it's all basically the same.
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 16: Study Strategies for Different Learning Styles in Law School Studying in law school is not one-size fits all. Each student learns in a different way. The key is to recognize the type of learner you are and use that information to optimize your study style -- for YOU. Find out what kind of learner you are in this podcast!
Podcast Episode 17: Where To Get Help in Law School Are you struggling with certain things in law school? We have all been there. When you need help, it's critical to find the "right" resources to help you (and won't make you need even more help!). If you're not sure who to turn to for help, or what resources are available, tune in.
Podcast Episode 18: Using Supplements Effectively in Law School Whether you are in your first or final year of law school, you should be using supplements. Want to find out more about what supplements can do for you and how can you use them effectively? Listen in!
Podcast Episode 19: Conquering Different Types of Law School Exams Not all law school exams are created equal. Different schools will use different types of exams and your professors can do whatever they want! Tune in for our advice on the best strategy for every type of law school exam.
Podcast Episode 20: The Exam Countdown - One Month and Counting! When you're counting the time to your first exam in weeks, rather than months, lots of law students start to panic. If you've got law school exams coming up, tune into this podcast!
Podcast Episode 21: What is Your Professor Looking for on Exams? In law school, you spend a lot of time preparing for exams. What most students don't spend time much on is putting yourself in your professor's shoes and focusing on what he or she is looking for in an exam answer. That's what this episode is about!
Podcast Episode 22: Take an Exam with Us In today's episode, we're doing things a bit differently. We've talked about how to study for a law exam, but today we are going to take an exam with you.
Podcast Episode 23: Law School Exam Day Tips Are exams looming on the horizon? In today's episode, we're dishing out some law school exam day tips.
Podcast Episode 24: Job Search Basics for 1Ls Although it's only December, today we're looking ahead to the summer. We know a lot of you may be stressing out about this so we've got some useful tips and information about the basics of a 1L job search.
Podcast Episode 25: How to Behave Like a Professional in the Legal Workplace Although it seems like it should be common sense, you'd be surprised by how many law students struggle with professionalism when they arrive at their first law job. Now is the time to make a good first impression at your legal job and we have some advice to help you out!
Podcast Episode 26: Thinking Ahead to Get Ready For the Bar Exam The fact that you are a 1L or 2L doesn't mean that you can't be thinking ahead to bar exam preparation. It's important to keep bar prep on your radar throughout law school, so you will be ready when the big day arrives. Here are some tips for preparing successfully, whatever year you are!
Podcast Episode 27: Job Interview Basics Are you interviewing for a legal job? Whether you are interviewing for your first summer job, or one that will (hopefully) be more permanent, we have tips for many different types of interviews and situations.
Podcast Episode 28: Dealing With Bad Law School Grades Chances are, you've received at least some of your first semester law school grades by now. The reality is that most students didn't do as well as they hoped. Don't panic - this isn't the end of your legal career. You have plenty of time to turn things around. In this podcast we talk about how!
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 30: Visual Learning for Law Students (Guest Kipp Mueller) Today we are joined by Kipp Mueller, Columbia Law grad and the co-founder and CEO of SketchyLaw, an online education company which teaches legal rules using multi-modal learning. He and Lee talk about how different types of learning can help law students and the science behind it.
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 33: Top 10 Tips for Law School Success After reflecting on what we've learned from working with hundreds of law students over the past four years, we've compiled our top 10 tips to help you be a successful and happy law student. Enjoy!
Podcast Episode 34: Which Law School Should You Go To? In this episode, we discuss one of the most important decisions you will make as a lawyer - which law school to go to.
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 36: Your Mid-Semester Law School Reality Check Time for a mid-semester reality check! Second semester is interesting in law school because you're in a different position than you were last semester. It's time to get real. But don't stress! Here is your (helpful) mid-semester reality check.
Podcast Episode 37: Surviving Law School Moot Court Today we are talking about how to find success during law school Moot Court. This can be a stressful experience for any law student, especially those with a fear of public speaking.
Podcast Episode 38: Can You Really Afford Law School? If you're thinking about taking out law school loans, or you already have, this one is for you! Today's episode is about a very important topic: financial considerations before, during, and after law school.
Podcast Episode 39: Battling Test Anxiety in Law School and on the Bar Exam Today we’re talking about everyone’s favorite topic – test anxiety. Okay, not really anyone’s favorite topic, but a very important one because so many law students deal with test anxiety in law school and on the bar exam. Listen to our tips here!
Podcast Episode 40: Preparing for Your First Semester of Law School In this podcast we talk about what incoming law school students should be doing or thinking about this summer to get ready for law school (if anything!).
Podcast Episode 41: Avoiding Law School Exam Disasters In this podcast we're talking about avoiding exam disasters, even when you're not as prepared as you might want to be. It's not too late to pull things together, but there's no time to waste!
Podcast Episode 42: Acing the Law Review Write-On Competition In this podcast we are discussing the Law Review write-on competition and why you should (or shouldn't) participate. We've also got tips for success, should you decide you want to do it.
Podcast Episode 43: Getting Mentally Prepared to Start Law School In this podcast we discuss how to get mentally prepared for the challenges of starting law school. These challenges might be academic in nature, or more personal. Luckily, there are techniques you can use on any type of challenge to ensure you’re moving forward and keeping things under control.
Podcast Episode 44: How to Get a Judicial Clerkship Judicial clerkships are high sought after positions for law students. Today we are talking with special guest, Fairuz Abdullah, Associate Director of Public Interest Programs and Judicial Clerkships in the office of career and professional development at UC Hastings, about how to get a judicial clerkship!
Podcast Episode 45: Writing Effectively in Your Summer Legal Job In this podcast we are talking about writing effectively in a summer legal job. Joining us as a guest is Doretta McGinnis, who has taught Legal Writing for many years and is now a Law School Toolbox tutor.
Podcast Episode 46: 4 Myths About the LSAT from Expert Nathan Fox In this podcast we are talking about some surprising LSAT myths with Nathan Fox, founder of Fox LSAT.
Podcast Episode 47: The Top Five Bar Exam Study Mistakes (Sponsored by Adaptibar) In this podcast we're discussing the top five mistakes students consistently make when preparing for the bar exam, with special guest Ariel Salzer. Ariel is one of our most experienced bar exam tutors, so we’re very excited to have her here today to give us a rundown of the biggest mistakes she sees students making – so you can avoid them!
Podcast Episode 48: Our Top Bar Exam Essay Writing Tips (With Guest Ariel Salzer) Today we have one of our most experienced bar tutors, Ariel Salzer, here with us to talk about the essay portion of the bar exam.
Podcast Episode 49: Will Law School Be a Disaster? (With Jeremy Blachman and Cameron Stracher) Today, we're talking with Jeremy Blachman and Cameron Stracher, authors of "The Curve," a new novel set in a sinking ship of a law school. It addresses a number of critical issues in legal education today (and might make some people think twice about signing up to pay full tuition at a low-ranked law school offering limited job prospects!).
Podcast Episode 50: How to Ace the Bar Exam Performance Test (with Doretta McGinnis) In this podcast we are focusing on the bar exam performance test. Joining Lee is guest Doretta McGinnis, a legal writing expert who happens to be one of our law school and bar exam tutors.
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 52: Bar Exam Tips for Mastering the MBE In this episode we’re talking about how to conquer the bar exam, specifically the MBE. Don’t let the MBE prevent you from passing the bar exam -- we’ve got some strategies for success!
Podcast Episode 53: Acing Oral Arguments in Law School (with guest Megan Canty) We'll discuss the role of the oral arguments and Moot Court in legal education, with special guest Megan Canty. Megan is a law school tutor with the Law School Toolbox and she is also Director of Academic Success and Bar Exam Preparation at Wayne State University Law School.
Podcast Episode 54: How to Evaluate Your Summer Legal Job Experience We will talk about about how to evaluate your summer legal job experience, and how to make sure you leave on good terms. As your summer law job is drawing to a close, here are some ways to ensure you learn as much as you can from the experience.
Podcast Episode 55: An Overview of BigLaw On-Campus Interviewing (OCI) We will discuss BigLaw OCI, or on-campus interviewing. This is the annual rite of passage where thousands of law students try to secure BigLaw summer associate positions for the next summer. In this episode, we talk at a high level about all of the aspects of OCI, and you can listen to our earlier OCI episodes for a deeper dive into the specifics of callbacks and initial interviews.
Podcast Episode 56: Getting off to a Smart Start in Law School This podcast will discuss how to study smart in law school so you can stay on top of your workload and do as well as possible academically, without undue stress and strain.
Podcast Episode 57: Tips for Surviving Law School Orientation Today, we’re talking about law school Orientation. If you’re getting ready to start law school, tune in!
Podcast Episode 58: Non-Profit Law and Social Entrepreneurship (with Guest Adrian Tirtanadi of Bayview Hunters Point Community Legal) We will discuss doing good works with Adrian Tirtanadi, founder of Bayview Hunters Point Community Legal, a non-profit legal startup in San Francisco. This is a great episode for anyone who is interested in how access to legal services can change a community and for everyone interested in entrepreneurial non-profit or public interest law.
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 60: 5 Tips for Surviving the First Month of Law School Today, we’re talking about 5 things to focus on academically in the first month of law school, to set yourself up for success later on. If you’re just starting law school, this episode is for you!
Podcast Episode 61: Making the Most of Your 2L and 3L Years of Law School Today we’re talking about what 2Ls and 3Ls need to be thinking about as they get into the swing of the later years of law school. If you want to make the most of your final years of law school, tune in.
Podcast Episode 62: Surviving the Socratic method in Law School Classes This podcast tackles the Socratic Method and law school classes more generally. If you're intimidated by class, tune in for tips on surviving (even if you're unprepared).
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 65: How to Make a Useful Law School Outline Today we’re talking about making outlines and other study aids, which are important in helping you make sense of everything you’re learning in law school. This episode is based on a question we got from a 1L listener.
Podcast Episode 66: Tips for a Successful Law School Internship or Externship Today we’re talking about how to have a successful law school internship or externship experience. For most law students, these jobs are their first experiences in the legal workplace (or maybe in any professional workplace). Be sure you’re behaving like a responsible professional, and you’ll set yourself up for success in any internship or externship!
Podcast Episode 67: Mid-Semester Law School To-Do List This episode addresses running through your mid-semester to-do list to ensure you’re where you need to be before it’s too late. Mid-semester is the time when reality sets in for most law students. Whatever is going on – midterms, sniffles, boredom – it’s time to focus on the end goal and get serious about preparation.
Podcast Episode 68: Top 10 Legal Research and Writing Disasters to Avoid Almost every 1L in the country will take some sort of legal research and writing class. Today, we’re discussing the top ten LRW disasters we see again and again, so you can avoid them!
Podcast Episode 69: Building the 21st Century Lawyer This podcast deals with a panel discussion about what it takes to succeed as a 21st-Century lawyer. In this discussion, we dive into the characteristics of successful lawyers in today’s legal workplace and talk about how to gain those skills and traits while still in law school.
Podcast Episode 70: How to Decide What Type of Law to Practice Today, we’re talking about how to figure out what type of law to practice. There are more options than most people realize, so listen if you want some suggestions for finding something that uses your unique skills, interests, and background to set yourself apart from the pack.
Podcast Episode 71: Soft Skills You Need to Develop to be a Successful Attorney It shouldn’t be shocking to learn that law school doesn’t totally prepare you to be a successful lawyer. Sure, you learn useful skills like legal writing and legal analysis, but building a practice (and a book of business) requires other skills. Some law schools are getting better at offering opportunities for students to gain these skills, but ultimately it’s up to you to make sure you’re fully ready to practice. Tune in to find out which soft skills are important and how to develop them.
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 73: What to Do if You Failed the Bar Exam (with Guest Ariel Salzer) Today we’re talking about a difficult reality – what happens when you don’t pass the bar exam. Ariel Salzer, one of our bar exam tutors, is here with Lee to share some advice.
Podcast Episode 74: Should You Go to Law School? Today we are talking about a very important topic — who should go to law school? People have a variety of reasons for going to law school, but the real question is — should YOU go? We’ll help you figure that out.
Podcast Episode 75: Learn about Structured Negotiation and Disability Rights Law (with Lainey Feingold) Today, we’re excited to have attorney and author Lainey Feingold here with us. She is a long-time disability rights lawyer and developed a technique called Structured Negotiation that is the subject of her book, “Structured Negotiation: A Winning Alternative to Lawsuits,” which was recently published by the ABA. Structure Negotiation has been used with well-known organizations including major banks, Walmart, the city of San Francisco, and Major League Baseball to address accessibility issues in physical and virtual environments, outside of court.
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 77: How to Get Great Letters of Recommendation for Anything Today we’re talking about how to get great letters of recommendation, whether you need them to apply to law school, get a job or clerkship, or for some other purpose as a law student.
Podcast Episode 78: Advice for First-Time Bar Exam Takers Today we’re sharing advice for first-time bar exam takers, to ensure you can take the test once and pass. Even if you’re still in law school, and the bar exam is years away, it’s never too early to get informed and chart a course for success, so tune in.
Podcast Episode 79: Making the Most of Your Second Semester in Law School Today, we’re talking about making the most of your second semester of law school. By now, you probably have some or all of your grades back, so this is a good time to take stock of where you are and make any changes necessary to get the most out of your second semester.
Podcast Episode 80: Bar Exam 101 - An Introduction Today, we’re talking about the basics of the bar exam. This episode might send shudders down your spine if you’re a 3L looking to take the bar exam next summer, or perhaps you’re thinking, “Hey, I’m a 1L. Why should I be worrying about this so early?”
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 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 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 84: Using Rules Effectively in Legal Writing (With Guest Jason Jones) Today, we’re talking with Law School Toolbox tutor (and former law professor) Jason Jones about a very important aspect of law school exam success – using legal rules.
Podcast Episode 85: Surviving as a Summer Associate and New Firm Lawyer (with Grover Cleveland) We talk with Grover Cleveland, a Seattle lawyer and speaker and the author of the bestselling career advice book for new lawyers, Swimming Lessons for Baby Sharks: The Essential Guide to Thriving as a New Lawyer. We discuss how to survive as a summer associate and a new associate!
Podcast Episode 86: Resources for Aspiring Entrepreneurs Today, we’re taking a little bit of a detour to talk about entrepreneurship. Or, maybe it’s not such a detour, given the number of lawyers who end up creating solo practices or small firms, or who leave the law entirely to start new businesses!
Podcast Episode 87: Affordable Bar Prep & Social Entrepreneurship (w/ Chris Henjum of Esqyr.com) We’re talking with Chris J. Henjum, an attorney and social entrepreneur, about providing credible, affordable test prep (starting with the bar exam).
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 89: The Leap From Undergrad to Law School (With Keri Clapp) Today, we’re talking with Keri Clapp, professor and tutor for the Law School Toolbox and Bar Exam Toolbox, about important considerations to keep in mind as you make the transition from undergrad to law school. Keri, who teaches at both the undergraduate and law school levels, offers her unique perspective on the key differences so you'll know what’s in store in law school.
Podcast Episode 90: Getting Ready for the July 2017 Bar Exam (With Ariel Salzer) Today, we’re talking with Ariel Salzer, tutor for the Law School Toolbox and Bar Exam Toolbox, about the upcoming July 2017 bar exam season! Change is in the air, especially with the new California bar exam format and new MBE scoring rules, so your strategy might shift a bit. But one thing remains constant: you can’t get through any bar exam without deliberate, focused, and practical studying—and a lot of it.
Podcast Episode 91: From Lawyer to Entrepreneur to Mayor! During our talk, Rachel Hundley doesn't just offer some great practical tips for being active in your local community, she also provides an inspiring example of someone who felt a calling and pursued it—more than once, undeterred by various obstacles—where there’s a will, there’s a way!
Podcast Episode 92: Top 1L Questions: The Money Edition Today, we’re answering the top questions we get from incoming 1Ls and we’re talking about the bottom line: money. Listen for suggestions about factoring finances into your decisions, negotiating scholarships, budgeting, getting loans, and seeking alternate sources of income.
Podcast Episode 93: Top 1L Questions: Academic Concerns There are many things about law school that inherently make law school intimidating, unfamiliar territory. Tune in for some tips on preparing yourself mentally for what to expect so you go into your 1L year with a strategy for success.
Podcast Episode 94: How to Succeed at Your Summer Legal Job (With Sara O'Connor) Summer law jobs can come with a lot of pressure, and you want to make a good impression and set yourself up for success. Tune in for a preview of life as a summer associate or intern, along with tips for getting the most out of the experience (including a job offer).
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 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 97: The Future of the LSAT (With Nathan Fox) The founder of Fox LSAT is here to talk about the future of the LSAT, including some upcoming changes, and how you can use your LSAT study process to make important decisions about your future!
Podcast Episode 98: Top 1L Questions: Non-Traditional Law Students Are you nervous about going to law school with an unconventional background? We have some tips that might help you feel more comfortable!
Podcast Episode 99: What Law Schools Should Be Teaching, and Aren't (With Mark Cohen) Are you wondering what you should be demanding from your legal education? Mark Cohen has a unique perspective on the legal profession that could help you figure it out!
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 101: Preparing for a Career in Public Interest Law (With Ashley Matthews of Equal Justice Works) Public interest is a competitive field to break into, and it comes with its own unique set of challenges. If you’ve decided you want to pursue a career in public interest law, this episode is a must-listen!
Podcast Episode 102: How to Read Cases and Prepare for Class in Law School Believe it or not, there actually is a "right" way to prepare for law school classes. This podcast will give you some valuable tips to make sure you're getting the most out of your study time.
Podcast Episode 103: Setting Yourself Up to Be a Mock Trial Rockstar (With Sara O'Connor) Are you interested in learning more about mock trial, either as a class or a competition team? This is the podcast episode for you!
Podcast Episode 104: Law School Essentials - What to Buy (And Not to Buy) Beforehand Are you gearing up to start law school? Listen for a discussion of law school must-haves, as well as some ways to save time and money as you plan your shopping.
Podcast Episode 105: OCI Basics With an Ex-BigLaw Recruiter There are many steps to the OCI process, and it can be energetically draining, so we’re discussing what you can expect, and how you can put your best foot forward with an experienced BigLaw recruiter. If you’re planning to participate in your school’s OCI program, tune in!
Podcast Episode 106: How to Go to Office Hours and Make It Worth Your Time Developing good relationships with your professors will not only have a positive effect on your law school success, but may prove to be valuable for years to follow. So tune in, and learn to love office hours!
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 108: Handling Summer Associate Offers (With an Ex-BigLaw Recruiter) Today, we’re talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter, Sadie Jones, about the process of getting, or not getting, an offer at the end of your time as a summer associate. Tune in for some great information on how to end your summer successfully and navigate the offer process thoughtfully and respectfully.
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 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 111: Resumes and Cover Letters (with an Ex-BigLaw Recruiter) Concerned about your job applications? Our podcast guest has reviewed thousands of legal resumes in her life and is here to answer some frequently asked questions on the dos and don’ts of resume and cover letter preparation.
Podcast Episode 112: Managing Distractions in Law School From technology, to analysis paralysis, to life’s ongoing drama, there are a million things you can turn your attention to at any given moment. Learn to master distractions in law school and you’ll have greater success, not only academically, but in your law career and in life as well.
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 114: Law School Networking 101 Networking can cause a lot of anxiety, but it doesn't have to! Whether you're an introvert or an extrovert, this episode can help you take a new approach to building your professional network.
Podcast Episode 115: Tips for Settling into Law School Settling back into law school after your first month can be difficult, even if you're a 2L or a 3L. In this podcast we talk about making sure that you're making proper adjustments and taking good care of yourself through this stressful time.
Podcast Episode 116: Life as a Small Firm Associate (With Jeremy Richter) In this episode we're talking to a practicing attorney about life as a young associate. If you're trying to figure out what you might be able to expect in your first few years after law school, this is the podcast for you!
Podcast Episode 117: Surviving Law School Midterms Law school midterms are becoming more and more common, especially for 1Ls. Tune in to listen to a discussion of what you need to know about law school midterms.
Podcast Episode 118: Learn About Animal Law With Pamela Hart at ALDF Interested in animal law? Or even just in pursuing a public interest career? Listen here for advice from Pamela Hart, Director of the Animal Law Program at the Animal Legal Defense Fund.
Podcast Episode 119: Navigating the Law School Application Process (With Admission Logic) Are you thinking about applying to law school? Listen for information about how to approach your law school (and LLM!) applications.
Podcast Episode 120: Preparing for the 1L Job Hunt (With Ex-BigLaw Recruiter Sadie Jones) If you're a 1L getting ready for your job hunt, this is the podcast for you! We talk about how to prepare and apply, and what types of jobs will be best for your future.
Podcast Episode 121: Alternative Options for Bar Exam Preparation As we often discuss, not everyone learns the same way. That said, why should we expect the same bar prep course to work for everyone? Tune in to learn more about your options for bar prep!
Podcast Episode 122: How to Transfer Law Schools (With Mihal Ansik) Are you unhappy with your law school? Or wondering whether you can do better? Tune in for information about why and how you might want to try transferring to another law school after your 1L year.
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 124: Don't Be a Jerk at Work We’re talking about how not to be a jerk in your legal office environment. True or not, lawyers have a terrible reputation when it comes to being nice and considerate in the office. Lawyers are often thought to be jerks to other lawyers, as well as staff. Why is that? How true is it? How do you avoid being “that” person?
Podcast Episode 125: Maintaining a Professional Profile in the Digital Age We discuss how to maintain a professional profile in the digital age where so much of your life is online, for better or worse. If you want to maintain a professional image, it is important to be mindful of what you’re posting, where you’re posting it, who can see it (intentionally or unintentionally), and other activities that might put you at risk.
Podcast Episode 126: How To Get People to Help With Your Job Search We’re talking about how to get people to help you with your job search and how to keep them happy when they do help. We’ll talk about the different people you can reach out to, and how to approach them based on the strength of your relationship.
Podcast Episode 127: Avoid These Resume No-Gos Wondering what to do -- and what not to do -- on your resume? Tune in to hear ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones talk about things to avoid doing on your resume.
Podcast Episode 128: Regrouping and Dealing with Grades Second Semester We’re talking about taking stock, regrouping, and a few resolutions you might want to consider for the new school year. The first few weeks of the spring semester are a great time to evaluate what worked for you – and what didn’t work – last semester.
Podcast Episode 129: Self-Care During Bar Exam Prep We’re talking about something that’s incredibly important for everyone who’s preparing for the bar exam, which is self-care. Because, let’s face it, studying for the bar exam is stressful and, actually, so is legal practice. So, working on self-care during the bar exam study period is one thing that will probably help you pass and also help you in your career later.
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 131: Thinking Ahead About the Future We’re talking about the future and long-term goal setting in law school. It’s never too early to start thinking about what you might want your life to look like in the future, and to make the personal and career choices most likely to make that future a reality, or at least a possibility.
Podcast Episode 132: What's BigLaw Really Like (w/Sadie Jones)? We’re talking about what it’s actually like to work in BigLaw, with ex-BigLaw recruiter, Sadie Jones. It’s generally accepted that in BigLaw, you’re expected to bill a ton of hours and work long nights in exchange for a hefty paycheck, but is that all there is to it? Learn more of the nuanced ins-and-outs of life working in a large law firm.
Podcast Episode 133: Being Strategic About Your Legal Career (w/Liz Stone) We’re talking with legal recruiter Liz Stone, of Stone Legal Search, about ways to proactively manage your career from law school onwards. We discuss decisions to make early on to help ensure job satisfaction and how to best position yourself for a mid-career move.
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 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 136: How to Attack Multiple Choice Questions on Law School Exams Today, we’re talking about how to attack multiple choice questions on a law school exam – something we’re seeing a lot more of these days!
Podcast Episode 137: How to Handle Difficult Workplace Situations Today, we are talking about how to handle difficult situations at work.
Podcast Episode 138: Top Ten Public Speaking Tips (w/Jennifer Warren) We're talking about our top ten tips for tackling public speaking.
Podcast Episode 139: How to Issue Spot an Exam Question (w/Live Example) Today, we’re doing a live issue spotting exercise on a real exam question, to show you how to use the facts to identify legal issues. This is exactly what you need to do on exam day, so tune in!
Podcast Episode 140: OCI Strategy (w/Sadie Jones) We’re talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones about OCI strategy. If you’re not sure how or where to bid, what to put on your resume, or how to explain tricky parts of your background, this is the episode for you!
Podcast Episode 141: Experiential Learning (w/Allison Pincus) Today, we’re talking with Law School Toolbox tutor Allison Pincus about experiential learning opportunities in law school and why you should make sure you’re engaging in some of them.
Podcast Episode 142: Owning Your Career (w/Whittney Beard) We’re talking with Whittney Beard, an ex-lawyer and career coach at Orrick, about how to really own and direct your career, even as a young lawyer.
Podcast Episode 143: Understanding Work Assignments (w/Sadie Jones) We’re talking again with ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones about how to make sure you’re getting the information you need to do a good job on any work assignment.
Podcast Episode 144: Tips for Auditory Learners For the next three episodes, we’re talking about different approaches to law school learning, starting with strategies for auditory learners. There are different ways to study using each of the learning styles we’ll discuss over the next three episodes of the podcast, so you can try different things and see how to study most effectively for your exams.
Podcast Episode 145: Tips for Kinesthetic Learners We’re continuing our series on strategies for different learning styles, with tips for kinesthetic learners.
Podcast Episode 146: Tips for Visual Learners Today we’re back for the last episode in our series on different learning styles to talk about study tips for visual learners in law school.
Podcast Episode 147: Top Summer Associate Mistakes and How to Fix Them (w/Sadie Jones) Today we’re talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter, Sadie Jones, about the top mistakes summer associates make — so you can avoid making them, or fix them if you happen to make them.
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 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 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 151: Our Top 10 Podcast Episodes for Incoming 1Ls Today we’re counting down our top ten episodes for incoming 1Ls. This list is good listening for anyone, but especially for those getting ready to start law school in the fall. If law school’s coming up soon, here are some episodes we recommend you check out!
Podcast Episode 152: Top OCI Mistakes To Avoid (w/Sadie Jones) Today, we’re talking with Sadie Jones, an ex-BigLaw recruiter, about the top OCI mistakes to avoid – from the actual on-campus interviews through the callback process.
Podcast Episode 153: Working For Gun Violence Prevention (w/Allison Anderman) We’re talking about public policy work and gun violence prevention with Allison Anderman, the managing attorney at the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
Podcast Episode 154: Building a Better Law Practice (w/ Jeremy Richter) Today we’re excited to welcome back Jeremy Richter, attorney and author of the new book, Building A Better Law Practice, recently published by the ABA. He has some practical tips for young lawyers to help you build a successful and satisfying law practice.
Podcast Episode 155: Top Callback Mistakes to Avoid (w/Sadie Jones) Today we’re continuing our series of “What not to do” episodes with ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones, and we’re talking about callback interviews.
Podcast Episode 156: Our Top 10 Academic Podcast Episodes Today, we’re doing a recap of our top 10 academic episodes, plus a few bonus ones. These aren’t necessarily the most popular episodes, but the ones we think are the most useful!
Podcast Episode 157: Handling OCI Offers (w/Sadie Jones) We’re talking about OCI offers and how to handle them with ex-BigLaw recruiter, Sadie Jones.
Podcast Episode 158: What To Wear (And Not To Wear) Today we’re talking about law school fashion. What to wear (and maybe what not to wear) to law school classes, job interviews, and other law school events.
Podcast Episode 159: The Secret Life of Law Firms (w/Sadie Jones) We’re talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones about the secret life of large law firms. If you think you want to work in a large law firm someday, don’t miss this episode as we dive into the unique culture of BigLaw.
Podcast Episode 160: Top 10 Podcast Episodes For Surviving Law School We’re recapping our top 10 law school survival episodes.
Podcast Episode 161: Should You Use a Laptop in Law School Classes? We’re talking about using laptops and other technology in law school – when to use them and when to leave them at home – because this is not as straightforward as it might seem.
Podcast Episode 162: Professional Development Strategies For Young Lawyers We’re talking about professional development for new lawyers with former BigLaw recruiter, Sadie Jones. Find out how to take control of your career development, from the earliest days of your career.
Podcast Episode 163: Common Legal Essay Analysis Problems and How to Solve Them We’re talking about some common problems that we see in the analysis section of legal essays, whether from 1Ls or all the way to the bar exam. Conveniently, we have some suggestions for solving these problems!
Podcast Episode 164: No Offer After OCI? Here's What To Do (w/Sadie Jones) We’re talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter, Sadie Jones, about what to do if OCI didn’t go as planned, and you didn’t end up with a summer associate offer for your 2L summer.
Podcast Episode 165: What is an Elevator Pitch and Do You Need One? Today we’re talking about elevator pitches and whether you need one as a law student. Spoiler alert: Yes, you do!
Podcast Episode 166: How to Frame Your Job Search Story (w/Sadie Jones) We're talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter, Sadie Jones, joins us to talk about how to frame your job search story. You may be thinking that you don’t have a story, but we all have a story!
Podcast Episode 167: Do You Have to Join a Study Group in Law School? We’re talking about law school study groups and how to make the most of them (or if it’s okay to skip them entirely).
Podcast Episode 168: How to Handle Rejection Professionally (w/Sadie Jones) We're talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter, Sadie Jones, about ways to handle rejection in a professional manner.
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 170: Let's Talk About the Bluebook Today we’re talking about the Bluebook. You might be wondering, can there actually be an entire episode of this podcast just about the Bluebook? Oh, yes, there can be.
Podcast Episode 171: Building the 21st Century Casebook (w/Vikram Savkar) Today we’re excited to be talking with Vikram Savkar, vice president and general manager of the education and training business for Wolters Kluwer Legal and Regulatory US, one of the largest publishers of legal casebooks, supplements, and other law related materials in the world, about how law school casebooks are changing in the digital era.
Podcast Episode 172: Tackling Common Exam Prep Scenarios Today we’re talking about some typical exam prep scenarios that you might find yourself tackling.
Podcast Episode 173: Frequently Asked Questions About Resumes and Cover Letters (w/Sadie Jones) Today we’re excited to have ex-recruiter Sadie Jones with us to talk about the most common questions we’ve been getting about resumes and cover letters.
Podcast Episode 174: The LSAT Is Going Digital! Thoughts From LSAT Expert Nathan Fox We’re talking with Nathan Fox, LSAT expert and founder of Fox LSAT, about some changes coming soon to the LSAT.
Podcast Episode 175: Top Interview Questions With Ex-BigLaw Recruiter Sadie Jones We’re excited to have ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones with us to discuss the most common questions we get about job interviewing as a law student.
Podcast Episode 176: Talking About Judicial Clerkships with Kelsey Russell Today, we’re talking with Kelsey Russell, a writer for the Law School Toolbox and a recent federal judicial clerk, about clerkships.
Podcast Episode 177: Real Talk About Student Loan Debt (w/ Financial Expert Travis Hornsby) We’re talking with Travis Hornsby, founder and CEO of Student Loan Planner, about everyone’s favorite topic, law school debt.
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 179: What To Do If You Still Don't Have a Summer Job We’re talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones about what to do if you don’t have a summer job yet.
Podcast Episode 180: How to Write a Great Seminar Paper or Journal Note We’re talking about setting yourself up to write a great seminar paper or journal note.
Podcast Episode 181: Negotiating a Job Offer (w/Ex-BigLaw Recruiter Sadie Jones) We’re excited to be talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones about negotiating job offers.
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 183: Changing Course in the Job Hunt (w/Ex-BigLaw Recruiter Sadie Jones) We’re talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter, Sadie Jones, about when and how to change direction in your job search.
Podcast Episode 184: Handling Law School Finances (w/ Lyssa Thaden of AccessLex) We’re talking with Lyssa Thaden of AccessLex Institute, a non-profit which works to increase accessibility and affordability for law students, about student loans and other financial topics.
Podcast Episode 185: Thinking About the 2L Job Search as a 1L (w/Ex-BigLaw Recruiter Sadie Jones) We’re talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones about how to start thinking about your 2L job search when you’re still a 1L.
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 187: Thinking On Your Feet in Class Discussions and Other Public Speaking Opportunities We’re talking about thinking on your feet when you’re on the spot.
Podcast Episode 188: How to Make People Hate You at Work (w/Ex-BigLaw Recruiter Sadie Jones) We’re talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter, Sadie Jones, about how to make people hate you at work, so that, basically, you can avoid doing these things.
Podcast Episode 189: Making Class Time Productive in Law School We’re talking about what to focus on in class so that you can get the most out of the experience.
Podcast Episode 190: How to Pass the Interview Happy Hour Test (w/Ex-BigLaw Recruiter Sadie Jones) We’re talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones about how to pass the dreaded interview “happy hour test.”
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 192: On Exam Scenarios We’re talking about some challenging scenarios you might encounter on law school exams.
Podcast Episode 193: Books to Read Before Law School We’re talking about books related to the legal system that you might want to read during the summer before starting law school. These books are interesting, and you might even learn something in the process!
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 195: What To Do the Summer Before Law School We’re talking about what to do (and what not to do) over the summer to prepare for your 1L year.
Podcast Episode 196: Memorization Techniques For Law Students We’re talking about some creative, evidence-based ideas for remembering the material required for your law school exams.
Podcast Episode 197: Career Advice From Lawyer & Author Rachel Gezerseh We’re talking with Rachel Gezerseh about how to find a legal job you’ll actually like, and how to break into BigLaw if that’s what you’re looking for.
Podcast Episode 198: Pre-1L Life Logistics We’re talking about ways to minimize the hassle of moving and handling other life logistics as you get ready to start law school.
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 201: Fashion Law & Men's Fashion (w/Douglas Hand) We chatted with Douglas Hand — an attorney, author, and podcast host — about his book The Laws of Style, working as a fashion lawyer, and “what to wear” tips for men in the legal profession.
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 203: Job Search Q&A (w/Ex-BigLaw Recruiter Sadie Jones) We’re talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter, Sadie Jones, about some of the most common issues and questions we see in the law student job search.
Podcast Episode 204: Advice For Incoming Foreign LLM Students We’re talking about LLM programs, focusing on foreign students who don’t have a JD and are doing an LLM as their first exposure to the US legal system.
Podcast Episode 205: Navigating Interviews as a Non-Traditional Law Student We chatted with ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones to get some interview tips for non-traditional law students who are trying to start a legal career.
Podcast Episode 206: The Most Surprising Things About 1L Year We’re sharing some unexpected things we experienced when we started as 1Ls, so you can adjust to law school culture faster.
Podcast Episode 207: Navigating Networking Events as a Law Student We’re talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones about networking nuts and bolts – what you need to know to feel comfortable mingling with strangers at cocktail parties, formal dinners, and more.
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 209: Job Hunting in a City Where You're Not in Law School We’re here with ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones to discuss the ins and outs of job searches involving moving to another city from where you attend (or attended) law school.
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 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 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 213: Why Practice is So Important in Law School We talked about the importance of doing practice questions and getting feedback on your writing in preparation for exams.
Podcast Episode 214: Handling an Extensive Job Search Outside of OCI We’re talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones about how to find a job if you struck out at OCI, or never tried it to begin with.
Podcast Episode 215: Listen and Learn - The Commerce Clause We’re introducing a new series of podcast episodes called “Listen and Learn,” where we’re going to review substantive areas of the law and apply some of that law to facts. In this episode, we’re talking about the Commerce Clause.
Podcast Episode 216: How Do You Know When You Need Extra Help in Law School We’re discussing some warning signs suggesting you might need extra help in law school, and talk about why seeking help is a sign of strength and not a weakness.
Podcast Episode 217: Choosing a Law School (with Dr. Shirag Shemmassian) We talked with Dr. Shirag Shemmassian about the process of deciding which law schools to apply to, and choosing the one to attend.
Podcast Episode 218: Listen and Learn - Supplemental Jurisdiction (Civ Pro) This is the second episode in our “Listen and Learn” series, where we review legal concepts and apply them to fact patterns. We’re talking about civil procedure — in particular, supplemental jurisdiction.
Podcast Episode 219: Mastering People Skills For Success as an Attorney (w/Stephanie Hanna) We talked with special guest Stephanie Hanna — Founder of The Other 85 — about mastering the non-substantive skills that make up 85% of career success for lawyers.
Podcast Episode 219: Making Sense of the Law at Mid-Semester We’re talking about how to start putting together the material you’ve covered so far, and making sense of it, so you can apply it on an exam.
Podcast Episode 220: More on Accommodations in Law School (w/Elizabeth Knox) We’re welcoming back disability consultant Elizabeth Knox to discuss the process of applying for accommodations in law school to level the playing field in cases of disability, pregnancy, anxiety, and other
Podcast Episode 221: Our Top 5 Last-Minute Exam Tips We’re sharing our top 5 last-minute exam tips that will help you see the big picture and fill in some of the details of law school exam prep.
Podcast Episode 222: Using Winter Break to Advance Your Career We’re welcoming back ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones to talk about how to use winter break productively to move your career forward, make new connections, take care of personal chores, and of course, get some rest.
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 224: Taking Ownership of Your Career (w/Sadie Jones) We are welcoming back ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones to discuss how much responsibility you should take for your future career — starting as a law student — and what resources are available to help.
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 226: Bouncing Back Second Semester in Law School We’re talking about formulating a new action plan for the second semester if things didn’t go your way in the first semester.
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 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 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 230: Learning Through Mistakes in Law School We dive into some intriguing research on how we learn from failures and making mistakes.
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 232: Finding a 1L Summer Job in the Spring (w/Sadie Jones) We have ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones back with us to talk about the process of finding a 1L summer job in the spring.
Podcast Episode 233: Starting a Small Law Firm (w/guest Stephanie Everett of Lawyerist) We’re talking with guest Stephanie Everett — President at Lawyerist and co-author of the recent book The Small Firm Roadmap — about the process of starting and growing a law practice.
Podcast Episode 234: How Will Transferring Law Schools Impact the Job Search? (w/Sadie Jones) We have ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones here with us to talk about the career aspects of transferring law schools.
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 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 237: Handling Resume and Cover Letter Difficulties (w/Sadie Jones) We’re excited to have former BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones back with us to talk about difficulties you might be wondering how to handle on your resume and cover letter.
Podcast Episode 238: Pass/Fail Grading in the Time of COVID-19 We’re talking about what different law schools are doing about grades in light of the COVID-19 new reality.
Podcast Episode 239: Looking to History to Assess the Impact of COVID-19 on the Legal Job Market We’re welcoming back Sadie Jones to talk about the impact the coronavirus might have on the legal job market, based on some historical context.
Podcast Episode 240: Transitioning to Open Book Take-Home Exams We’re talking about how to make a smooth transition to open book and take-home exams, since law schools are likely to use them this semester.
Podcast Episode 241: Tips for Virtual Job Interviews We’re talking with guest Sadie Jones about best practices when it comes to handling virtual job interviews, which you may be experiencing more frequently for the foreseeable future.
Podcast Episode 242: COVID-19 Considerations for (Potentially) Incoming 1Ls We’re talking about how potential 1Ls can think through whether to start law school in the fall, given the current uncertainty due to COVID-19.
Podcast Episode 243: Pushing OCI Back to the Winter of 2021 (w/Sadie Jones) We’re talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones about on-campus interviewing moving to the winter of 2021, rather than being held in the summer, as it typically has been.
Podcast Episode 244: Listen and Learn - Negligence Per Se This is another episode in our “Listen and Learn” series, where we review legal concepts and apply them to fact patterns. Today, we’re talking about negligence per se.
Podcast Episode 245: Listen and Learn - Promissory Estoppel This is another episode in our “Listen and Learn” series, where we review legal concepts and apply them to fact patterns. Today, we’re talking about promissory estoppel.
Podcast Episode 246: Influence of the LSAT on the Law School Admission Process (with Shirag Shemmassian) We have special guest Dr. Shirag Shemmassian of Shemmassian Academic Consulting back with us to talk about how the LSAT’s influence over the admission process has changed recently and why some schools are now accepting the GRE.
Podcast Episode 247: Mastering Behavioral Interviews (w/Sadie Jones) We’re talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones about what behavioral interviews are and how you can prepare to handle them if you encounter one.
Podcast Episode 248: Listen and Learn - Introduction to Homicide This is another episode in our “Listen and Learn” series, where we review legal concepts and apply them to fact patterns. Today, we’re talking about homicide.
Podcast Episode 249: Changes to the LSAT Due to COVID-19 (with Steve Schwartz) We’re chatting with guest Steve Schwartz — founder of the LSAT Blog — about changes happening to the LSAT because of COVID-19.
Podcast Episode 250: A Recap of Our Favorite Career-Related Episodes For our 250th episode milestone, we have special guest Sadie Jones helping us review our favorite career-related podcasts.
Podcast Episode 251: Best Practices for Virtual Summer Jobs (w/Sadie Jones) We have ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones with us to talk about working from home in a summer legal job, which is a common scenario given the current pandemic.
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 253: Networking in Quarantine (w/Sadie Jones) We’re combining two hot topics — networking and the coronavirus — and discussing with ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones how to stay on the radar of potential employers over the next several months, until Winter OCI begins.
Podcast Episode 254: Starting Law School Successfully During a Pandemic We’re unpacking some of the “standard” topics when it comes to getting ready to start law school, and we’ll also look at how the coronavirus is affecting incoming students’ plans this year.
Podcast Episode 255: The Dos and Dont's of Writing Samples (w/Sadie Jones) We have ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones with us to talk about preparing a great writing sample, which you might need when applying for a law job, a clerkship, or an internship/externship.
Podcast Episode 256: Tips for Applying to Law School (w/Anna Ivey) We have admissions consultant Anna Ivey back with us to talk about the expectations and reality of the law school application process.
Podcast Episode 257: Listen and Learn - The "Reasonable Person" Standard This is another episode in our “Listen and Learn” series, where we review legal concepts and apply them to fact patterns. Today, we’re talking about the “reasonable person” standard in Negligence.
Podcast Episode 258: Law Clerks for Diversity (w/Guest Danielle Barondess) We’re excited to be talking with Danielle Barondess — one of the creators of Law Clerks for Diversity — about the clerkship application process and working to increase diversity in the federal judiciary.
Podcast Episode 259: Listen and Learn - Relevance in Evidence We have another episode in our “Listen and Learn” series. This time we’re focusing on relevance — a very commonly tested Evidence topic.
Podcast Episode 260: Career Implications of the COVID-19 Crisis (w/Sadie Jones) We’re talking with guest Sadie Jones about the implications of the coronavirus on the legal job market. We’re looking at several common concerns, such as cancelled jobs, lay-offs, and diminished networking opportunities.
Podcast Episode 261: Listen and Learn - The Basics of Hearsay This episode is part of our “Listen and Learn” series, where we review legal concepts and apply them to fact patterns. Today, we’re covering a commonly tested topic from Evidence, and that is hearsay.
Podcast Episode 262: Researching Law Firms (w/Sadie Jones) We’re talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones about the best resources to turn to for law firm research, and what information to consider when applying for summer associate positions.
Podcast Episode 263: Listen and Learn - Subject Matter Jurisdiction This is another episode in our “Listen and Learn” series, where we review legal concepts and apply them to fact patterns. Today, we’re focusing on subject matter jurisdiction from Civil Procedure.
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 265: Listen and Learn - Constructive Eviction This is another installment of our “Listen and Learn” series, where we review legal concepts and apply them to fact patterns. This time we’re talking about a topic from Real Property, and that’s constructive eviction.
Podcast Episode 266: Preparing for Virtual OCI (w/Sadie Jones) We have ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones back with us to talk about how the OCI process will be different this year and what to do to prepare for upcoming virtual interviews.
Podcast Episode 267: Listen and Learn - UCC 2-207 ("The Battle of the Forms") As part of our “Listen and Learn” series, we’re discussing Section 2-207 of the Uniform Commercial Code. Join us for a review on why this section is called “The Battle of the Forms” and how it applies between merchants and non-merchants.
Podcast Episode 268: How to Best Use the Reading Week in Law School This episode is based on a listener’s question on how to use the reading period effectively. Assuming you’re getting the traditional reading week this semester, we have some tips on what to do (and what not to do) to maximize its use.
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 270: Looking for Legal Jobs over Winter Break (w/Sadie Jones) We’re chatting with our consultant on career-related issues, Sadie Jones, about advancing your legal career this winter break, which is going to require a slightly different approach than usual, due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.
Podcast Episode 271: Listen and Learn - Hearsay Exceptions: Present Sense Impression and State of Mind As part of our “Listen and Learn” series, we take a look at the differences between two highly-tested hearsay exceptions: present sense impression and state of mind.
Podcast Episode 272: Listen and Learn - The Statute of Frauds (Contract Law) In an episode from our “Listen and Learn” series, we take a look at the Statute of Frauds, or the types of situations that are susceptible to fraud and therefore require a written and signed contract.
Podcast Episode 273: Transferring Law Schools (w/Tiffany Lo) We’re talking with guest Tiffany Lo, one of our writers who transferred law schools after her 1L year. She is going to share her experience of the transfer process, including communicating with professors, fitting in at the new school, and the impact of transferring on job opportunities.
Podcast Episode 274: Winter OCI Update (w/Sadie Jones) We have ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones back with us to talk about how the traditional OCI process (including interviews, callbacks, and offers) has changed this year because of the pandemic.
Podcast Episode 275: Handling First-Semester Grades in a Pandemic It’s the time of year when law students get back their first-semester grades. In today’s episode, we look at how you can learn from your grades (whether good or bad), and how to develop a plan to up your game next semester.
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 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 278: Questions to Ask (and Avoid Asking) in Legal Job Interviews (w/Sadie Jones) We have ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones back with us to talk about questions you should, and shouldn’t ask, in a job interview setting.
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 280: Listen and Learn - Piercing the Corporate Veil We have another episode in our “Listen and Learn” series, where we review a substantive area of the law and apply that law to fact patterns. This time we’re looking at piercing the corporate veil, which is a commonly-tested issue in Corporations and LLC essays.
Podcast Episode 281: Listen and Learn - Character Evidence We’re talking about the Federal Rules of Evidence, and how to apply the rules of character evidence to both civil and criminal case hypos.
Podcast Episode 282: Listen and Learn - Duty of Loyalty (Corporations) We’re talking about the duty of loyalty owed by directors and officers of a corporation, and the main types of conduct they are prohibited to engage in.
Podcast Episode 283: Dealing with Interview and Workplace Mistakes (w/Sadie Jones) We have our career consultant Sadie Jones back with us to share tips about dealing with mistakes in the workplace and during the job application process.
Podcast Episode 284: How to Frame Non-Academic Aspects of the Job Hunt We have ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones with us to talk about all of the non-academic aspects of the job hunt — in other words, what legal employers are looking at, besides just grades.
Podcast Episode 285: Listen and Learn - First Amendment (Content-Neutral Restrictions) We’re discussing a popular exam topic from Constitutional Law — the First Amendment. In particular, we’re looking at when, where, and how the government can regulate speech through content-neutral time, place, and manner restrictions.
Podcast Episode 286: Preparing to Take the Bar Exam in COVID Times We are discussing strategies for optimal preparation for the 2021 or 2022 bar, whether you choose to sit in a state with an in-person exam, or decide to take it online.
Podcast Episode 287: Learning From a Non-Ideal Summer Experience (w/Sadie Jones) We’re talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones about what you can learn from a summer job that maybe wasn’t your first choice, or that seems like a great fit but ends up less than ideal once you start working.
Podcast Episode 288: Listen and Learn - Assault and Battery (Torts) We’re discussing the elements of two intentional torts – namely, assault and battery. We also cover specific scenarios demonstrating when these torts can occur.
Podcast Episode 289: Starting Law School in 2021 We are talking about getting ready to start law school this year, and specifically, how to frame it for yourself during a time affected by pandemic restrictions.
Podcast Episode 290: Listen and Learn - Privilege Against Self-Incrimination and Miranda Rights We’re focusing on criminal procedure, specifically two constitutional protections afforded to accused persons by the 5th Amendment – the privilege against self-incrimination, and Miranda rights.
Podcast Episode 291: People You Should Get to Know at any Legal Job (w/Sadie Jones) We’re talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones about getting to know the people that will help you get your work done when you start a legal job.
Podcast Episode 292: Listen and Learn - The Erie Doctrine (Civ Pro) We’re discussing an issue related to civil procedure — the Erie Doctrine. We look at a step-by-step approach for answering questions in this area of the law when they show up on an essay or in a multiple choice question.
Podcast Episode 293: Preparing for a 2021 Summer Law Job We have ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones with us to talk about how virtual summer jobs went last year and what to think about if you’re going to be working this summer.
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 295: Listen and Learn - Due Process and Equal Protection (Con Law) As part of our “Listen and Learn” series, we’re talking about an important area of Constitutional Law — the Fourteenth Amendment. Specifically, we take a look at procedural due process, substantive due process, and equal protection.
Podcast Episode 296: Listen and Learn - Hearsay Exceptions: Government and Business Records We cover two hearsay exceptions — government/public records and business records. You can find more on the topic of hearsay and related exceptions in episodes 261 and 271.
Podcast Episode 297: The 3L Job Hunt Process (w/Sadie Jones) We’re discussing the ins and outs of the 3L job market with our guest Sadie Jones. We take a look at recruiting in BigLaw firms, as well as government and public interest organizations and in-house options at smaller firms.
Podcast Episode 298: Listen and Learn - The Dormant Commerce Clause From our “Listen and Learn” series, we’re focusing on the Dormant Commerce Clause, also known as the Negative Commerce Clause. We previously discussed the Commerce Clause in episode 215.
Podcast Episode 299: Law School Activities for Long-Term Career Prospects (w/Sadie Jones) We’re excited to have ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones with us to talk about what matters in law school, long term, for your career.
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 301: Listen and Learn - The Confrontation Clause In our “Listen and Learn” series, we take a look at the Confrontation Clause. Confrontation Clause issues are commonly tested in Evidence questions in both law school exams and bar exams, almost always alongside hearsay issues.
Podcast Episode 302: Basics of Making a Lateral Career Move (w/Sadie Jones) We have former BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones back with us to talk about the basics of lateraling, or what other industries might refer to as “finding a new job that’s not your first job.”
Podcast Episode 303: What's New with the LSAT (w/Steve Schwartz) We have Steve Schwartz from LSAT Unplugged back with us to share the latest updates on the Law School Admission Test.
Podcast Episode 304: Introduction to the Bluebook We’re talking about getting comfortable with the Bluebook and writing citations. This is an important skill to develop if you’re planning on doing legal writing or working on a law journal.
Podcast Episode 305: Listen and Learn - Property Crimes We are focusing on criminal law, specifically property crimes. These include robbery, larceny, embezzlement, extortion, burglary, receipt of stolen property, false pretenses, and arson.
Podcast Episode 306: Listen and Learn - Intentional Torts: Defamation We’re talking about defamation — a topic you might see on a Torts essay along with other intentional torts.
Podcast Episode 307: Kicking Off Your 1L Year Right (Even in a Pandemic) It looks like the COVID pandemic will continue to be a factor at the beginning of this school year. What can you do to get into the mindset for starting law school, considering the ongoing issues due to COVID? Join us for this episode as we share some tips for a successful 1L year.
Podcast Episode 308: Listen and Learn - More Hearsay Exceptions We discuss three hearsay exceptions (statements against interest, statements made for medical diagnosis or treatment, and statements of personal or family history), which all involve someone speaking or writing about him or herself. You can find more on the topic of hearsay exceptions in episodes 271 and 296.
Podcast Episode 309: Tips for Reading a Case This topic came from a listener question asking us to clarify how to find the black letter law in a case. Join us for this episode as we we share tips for reading cases efficiently in preparation for class and exams.
Podcast Episode 310: Listen and Learn - Adverse Possession We’re talking about adverse possession, which is a commonly-tested issue in Real Property questions on law school exams.
Podcast Episode 311: Business Development Potential for Law Students (w/Sadie Jones) It’s a good idea to start thinking about business development methods from the early days of law school, if you want to work in a law firm! Today we’re chatting about this topic with our career expert, ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones.
Podcast Episode 312: Mid-Term Exam Prep Basics for Law Students We share some tips that will help you be successful on your mid-term law school exams. Remember, this is a learning experience, so it’s normal not to do things perfectly. But prepare for mid-terms well, and you’ll be able to apply what you’ve learned later, when it matters more.
Podcast Episode 313: Listen and Learn - The Basics of Justiciability (Con Law) In an installment of our “Listen and Learn” series, we’re tackling another Constitutional Law topic — that is justiciability, or the issue of deciding whether a court can make a formal judgment on a legal matter.
Podcast Episode 314: Asking for Help at Law School and At Work We talk about how to do your research when you first encounter difficulties at school or at work, and then how to approach your professor/TA/mentor if you are still stuck. While generally no one likes to ask for help, sometimes that’s the only resource that will help prevent a poor outcome.
Podcast Episode 315: Listen and Learn - Non-Hearsay From our “Listen and Learn” series, we cover a category of evidence called “non-hearsay,” which is tested often both on Evidence essays and on the MBE.
Podcast Episode 316: Being Smart About Your Career Goals (w/Sadie Jones) We chat with our career expert Sadie Jones about setting realistic goals for your career development, as well as how to map out a longer term path to where you’d want to be in five years or more.
Podcast Episode 317: Listen and Learn - Covenants (Real Property) This is another installment of our “Listen and Learn” series, where we review legal concepts and apply them to fact patterns. Today, we’re going to explore covenants, a type of non-possessory interest in someone’s land.
Podcast Episode 318: Listen and Learn - Negligence: Duties of Professionals and Children In this week’s “Listen and Learn” episode, we take a look at the duty of professionals and the duty of children under Negligence, a sub-topic of tort law.
Podcast Episode 319: Listen and Learn - Negligence: Duties of Landlords, Owners, and Possessors of Land In today’s episode, we talk about the special duties landowners and land possessors owe to people who enter their land, as well as the duties landlords owe to their tenants. Both are subtopics of Negligence under Tort Law.
Podcast Episode 320: Goals for Your 1L Summer Job (w/Sadie Jones) We’re chatting with ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones about some goals for your 1L summer job.
Podcast Episode 321: Listen and Learn - Intervention, Impleader, and Class Action Lawsuits (Civ Pro) We’re focusing more on Joinder, or who can and who must be party to a civil lawsuit. In particular, we look at intervention, impleader (or third-party action), and class actions. We previously covered permissive and required joinder in Bar Exam Toolbox podcast episode 145.
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 323: Listen and Learn - The Exclusionary Rule (Criminal Law and Procedure) We’re discussing a topic from Criminal Law and Procedure. Join us as we look at the exclusionary rule and Miranda warnings, grounded in the Fourth Amendment.
Podcast Episode 324: Editing Your Resume and Cover Letter (w/Sadie Jones) We’re talking with guest Sadie Jones about polishing the appearance of your resume and cover letter so they look as professional as possible, and customizing them for the job you’re applying to.
Podcast Episode 325: Listen and Learn - The Fourth Amendment: Informer Tips We’re focusing on Criminal Procedure, specifically the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution and the limits it imposes on police actions based on tips from anonymous informants.
Podcast Episode 326: Listen and Learn - Multiple Hearsay In an episode from our “Listen and Learn” series, we go through a step-by-step approach for analyzing questions involving multiple levels of hearsay.
Podcast Episode 327: Job Search Etiquette (w/Sadie Jones) We have ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones back with us to talk about the “dos” and “don’ts” of the job search process, including applying for jobs, interviewing, and following up.
Podcast Episode 328: Expert vs. Lay Witness Testimony (Evidence) In our “Listen and Learn” series, we’re discussing the standards for admitting witness testimony, which are found in the rules of Evidence.
Podcast Episode 329: Approaching Difficult Conversations at Work (w/Sadie Jones) We have ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones back with us to share tips for handling workplace situations that require a difficult conversation.
Podcast Episode 330: Listen and Learn - The Sixth Amendment We’re focusing on Criminal Procedure, specifically the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution and the rights and protections it provides to anyone accused of a criminal act.
Podcast Episode 331: A Conversation with Assistant District Attorney Sara Beller We’re speaking with guest Sara Beller, a member of the District Attorney’s office in Riverside County, California, and a tutor with the Law School Toolbox. We’re talking about careers in public service, specifically working as a prosecutor.
Podcast Episode 332: Listen and Learn - Removal (Civ Pro) In our “Listen and Learn” series is from Civil Procedure, specifically removal of a case from state to federal court.
Podcast Episode 333: Building an Authentic Law Practice (w/Hillary Vaillancourt) We have guest Hillary Vaillancourt with us to discuss a variety of topics, including her work on Piece of Cake Allergy Consulting and building a small firm practice.
Podcast Episode 334: Listen and Learn - Standards of Review (Con Law) We’re discussing the different standards of review a court will apply when dealing with questions of constitutionality. You may also hear these referred to as “levels of scrutiny.”
Podcast Episode 335: Things to Consider if You're on a Law School Waitlist (w/Anna Ivey) We have admissions consultant Anna Ivey back with us to discuss some timely admissions topics, including how to deal with being on a law school waitlist.
Podcast Episode 336: How to Decide Which Law School Offer to Accept We’re talking about how to figure out which law school offer to accept if you’re weighing multiple options.
Podcast Episode 337: How to Address Common Job Search Problems (w/Sadie Jones) We’re talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones about common issues that law students encounter when looking for a job.
Podcast Episode 338: Talking about Law School Admissions (w/Sydney Montgomery) We’re excited to have college and law school admissions consultant Sydney Montgomery with us to talk all about law school admissions.
Podcast Episode 339: Fitting in Consistent Career Planning and Job Search Time (w/Sadie Jones) We’re excited to have ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones with us to talk about ways to keep your job search and career planning consistent as a law student, without overdoing it.
Podcast Episode 340: Getting in the Right Headspace to Start Law School We’re talking about what to do – and what not to do – the summer before law school.
Podcast Episode 341: Listen and Learn - Contract Defenses we’re talking about contract defenses, including mistake, fraudulent misrepresentation, and non-disclosure. For a refresher on the concepts involved in contract formation, take a look at episode 161 of the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast.
Podcast Episode 342: Real World Summer Job Situations (w/Sadie Jones) We’re talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones about how to deal with difficult work situations and make the most out of your summer job experience.
Podcast Episode 343: Listen and Learn - Personal Jurisdiction (Civ Pro) We're looking at the various ways of establishing whether a court has jurisdiction over the parties in a lawsuit.
Podcast Episode 344: Listen and Learn - Contract Formation As part of our “Listen and Learn” series, we’re looking at the conditions that have to be satisfied in order to form a valid contract. We’ll review the concepts and illustrate them with two essay questions from previous bar exams.
Podcast Episode 345: Getting Ready for Starting Law School (Life Logistics) We’re talking about life logistics as you prepare to start law school. We share tips for organizing yourself during this process so your transition to law school happens as smoothly as possible.
Podcast Episode 346: Judicial Accountability in the Workplace (w/Aliza Shatzman) We’re talking with guest Aliza Shatzman from The Legal Accountability Project about some of the things that can go wrong with judicial clerkships, and what clerks can do to protect themselves when that happens.
Podcast Episode 347: Listen and Learn - Assumption of Risk (Torts) In another “Listen and Learn” episode, we’re focusing on assumption of risk as a defense to negligence in Tort law.
Podcast Episode 348: Getting Ready for On-Campus Interviewing (w/Sadie Jones) We’re chatting with ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones about how you should be preparing for a successful OCI process.
Podcast Episode 349: Common Questions From Incoming Law Students We’re talking about some scenarios that people often ask about if they’re incoming law students. We address concerns related to finding your motivation, fitting into law school, succeeding academically, and more.
Podcast Episode 350: Listen and Learn - Privileges and Immunities Clause (Con Law) We’re discussing how to identify and work through Privileges and Immunities Clause issues on a law school exam.
Podcast Episode 351: Getting a Law Job in a Niche Area (w/Sadie Jones) If you’re interested in working in a specialty area of the law, join us for this episode as we share tips on getting a niche job out of law school or working your way in over time.
Podcast Episode 352: Listen and Learn - Best Evidence Rule We’re focusing on an important topic in Evidence – the Best Evidence Rule, which requires a witness to produce the document whose contents he or she is testifying about.
Podcast Episode 353: Tips for a Successful Callback Interview (w/Sadie Jones) We have ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones with us to discuss how to prepare for the second round of interviews for summer associate positions.
Podcast Episode 354: Listen and Learn - Expectation and Consequential Damages (Contracts) In an episode from our “Listen and Learn” series, we talk about the two most heavily-tested types of legal remedies for a breach of contract.
Podcast Episode 355: Listen and Learn - Parol Evidence (Contracts) We’re talking about the parol evidence rule, which governs evidence that parties to a contract dispute can introduce when determining the specific terms of the contract.
Podcast Episode 356: Listen and Learn - Criminal Law: Warrant Requirements As part of our “Listen and Learn” series, we’re discussing Criminal Procedure, specifically what is needed for a valid search warrant, and the situations in which a warrant is not required.
Podcast Episode 357: Listen and Learn - Prosecution of a Criminal Trial (Burdens, Presumptions, Sufficiency) From our “Listen and Learn” series, this episode is Criminal Procedure. Specifically, we’re talking about a few topics related to the prosecution of a criminal trial: burden of proof, presumptions, and sufficiency of the evidence.
Podcast Episode 358: Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession (w/Alexis Yee-Garcia) We have guest Alexis Yee-Garcia, who manages diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at a BigLaw firm. We talk about how people with diverse profiles – whether racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, gender identity, or sexual orientation – find their place in today’s legal profession.
Podcast Episode 359: Listen and Learn - Venue (Federal Civil Procedure) We are digging into a commonly-tested exam topic in Federal Civil Procedure – determining proper venue in civil actions.
Podcast Episode 360: Legal Jobs in a Slowing Economy (w/Sadie Jones) We have ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones with us to talk about looking for legal jobs in the current economy, where law firm hiring is slowing down and some layoffs may even be happening.
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 362: Listen and Learn - The Taxing and Spending Clause (Con Law) We’re discussing the Taxing and Spending Clause of the Constitution, which specifies how Congress can collect taxes and allocate spending.
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 364: Listen and Learn - State Sovereign Immunity (Con Law) We’re talking about state sovereign immunity, pursuant to the Eleventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Podcast Episode 365: Top 10 Tips for Studying for Final Exams We’re sharing our top 10 things to consider when preparing for your law school final exams.
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.
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 368: Finding a Summer Job Late in the Game We’re excited to have ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones with us to talk about what to do when you really just need to find a job – any job.
Podcast Episode 369: Using Spaced Repetition for Your Law School and Bar Exam Studies We’re excited to have Gabriel Teninbaum — law professor and founder of Spaced Repetition Systems — joining the podcast to speak about how the spaced repetition learning technique can help with your law school and bar exam studies.
Podcast Episode 370: Listen and Learn - Freedom of the Press (Con Law) We’re discussing the First Amendment, a big topic in Constitutional Law. Specifically, we’re looking at how far press freedom extends.
Podcast Episode 371: Starting the 1L Job Hunt During Winter Break We have ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones with us to talk about using winter break to get ready for the 1L job hunt.
Law School Toolbox Podcast Episode 372: The NextGen Bar Exam (w/Doretta McGinnis) We have one of our law school and bar exam tutors, Doretta McGinnis, joining us on the podcast to talk about the upcoming NextGen Bar Exam.
Podcast Episode 373: Not Happy with Your First Semester Law School Grades? How to Do Better in the Second Semester (w/Nicola Rossi) We’re excited to have one of our tutors, Nicola Rossi, joining us to talk about how to improve your academic performance in the second semester if you’re disappointed with your first semester grades.
Podcast Episode 374: How to Be a Great Law Journal Member We’re talking about how to be a great law journal member, whether you’re on Law Review or a different journal. And we would like to thank Pro-Boards (home of the legal-specific LegalBoard and LegalPad) for sponsoring this episode!
Podcast Episode 375: Quick Tips - Getting on the Law Review Board In an episode from our “Quick Tips” series, we’re talking about how to give yourself the best shot at a leadership position on a Law Review or any other journal.
Podcast Episode 376: Changes to the Law School Admission Process (w/Steve Schwartz) We have Steve Schwartz back on the podcast to discuss the latest news in law school admissions. Steve is the founder of the LSAT prep course LSAT Unplugged.
Podcast Episode 377: Listen and Learn - Rule Against Perpetuities (Property Law) We’re going to focus on the definition of the rule against perpetuities, and work through some hypotheticals to break down the elements of the rule.
Podcast Episode 378: When to Start the 2L Job Hunt (w/Sadie Jones) We have ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones with us to talk about the timeline of the 2L job hunt.
Podcast Episode 379: Quick Tips - Bluebooking Like a Pro In another episode from our “Quick Tips” series, we’re sharing some advice to help you master using the Bluebook for your Legal Writing class or a law journal.
Podcast Episode 380: Why BigLaw Isn't For Everyone (w/Sadie Jones) We’re chatting with our career consultant Sadie Jones about why a career in BigLaw might not be for everyone.
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 382: Listen and Learn - Negligence: Proximate Cause We’re discussing Proximate Cause – a subtopic of Negligence in Tort Law.
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 384: Listen and Learn - The Business Judgment Rule (Corporations) We’re discussing a couple of topics that go hand in hand in Corporations essays – the duty of care and the business judgment rule.
Podcast Episode 385: Career Planning Resources for Law Students (w/Sadie Jones) We have ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones on the podcast to talk with us about resources you can use in your job search and career planning in the legal field.
Podcast Episode 386: Listen and Learn - Federal and State Powers (Con Law) We’re talking about three different topics in Constitutional Law that are sometimes tested together: executive authority, federal preemption, and commandeering. These topics logically go together because they all involve a power struggle between government entities.
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 388: Listen and Learn - Policy Exclusions (Evidence) We’re talking about evidence that the court may exclude for various public policy reasons under the Federal Rules of Evidence.
Podcast Episode 389: Running a Criminal Defense Law Firm (w/Givelle Lamano) We’re happy to have a special guest, Givelle Lamano, with us to talk about starting and running a criminal defense law firm.
Podcast Episode 390: Listen and Learn - Vicarious Liability (Torts) We’re discussing the circumstances under which a principal is vicariously liable for the unlawful actions of their employees and independent contractors.
Podcast Episode 391: How to Show Up as a Summer Associate (w/Sadie Jones) We have ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones on the podcast to talk about the expectations that law firms have of their summer associates, in terms of work hours, work load, and communication.
Podcast Episode 392: Listen and Learn - Recording Statutes (Real Property) As part of our “Listen and Learn” series, we’re talking about the purpose of recording statutes, and the recording system more generally.
Podcast Episode 393: The Legal Hiring Landscape in the Current Economy (w/Sadie Jones) We have ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones on the podcast to discuss how to interpret news and headlines you see around law firms and the current economy in general.
Podcast Episode 394: Start Law School Right - Getting Started 101 In this episode, we’re discussing what the law school process is, what lawyers argue about, and where “the law” comes from.
Podcast Episode 395: Listen and Learn - Evidence: Special Privileges As part of our “Listen and Learn” series, we’re discussing Evidence, specifically some special forms of privileged communication.
Podcast Episode 396: Start Law School Right - Class Prep 101 In the second episode of the series, we’re discussing reading law school cases and preparing for class.
Podcast Episode 397: How to Get Involved in the Legal Profession While Still in Law School We’re excited to have John Passmore – a practicing attorney and one of our Law School Toolbox writers – with us to talk about some ways that law students can get involved in the legal profession.
Podcast Episode 398: Start Law School Right - The Socratic Method We’ll demystify the dreaded Socratic method for teaching in law school, and provide some survival tips for being called on in class.
Podcast Episode 399: Bringing Your A-Game to OCI (w/Sadie Jones) We’re excited to talk to ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones about how to bring your A-game to the OCI process.
Podcast Episode 400: Milestone Episode! Some of Our Favorite Episodes So Far We’re happy to share the 400th episode of the podcast with you! We’ll celebrate this milestone with a look back at some of our personal favorite episodes we’ve recorded over the past eight years.
Podcast Episode 401: Start Law School Right - Getting the Most Out of Class We’re focusing on a very important question: What exactly are you supposed to pay attention to in class in order to make the most of your class time?
Podcast Episode 402: Quick Tips - The MPRE In an episode from our “Quick Tips” series, we break down how to prepare for the Multistate Professional Responsibility exam, which is a crucial element of bar admission.
Podcast Episode 403: Start Law School Right - Outlining 101 We’re discussing outlining as part of your studying and exam prep.
Podcast Episode 404: Staying in Your Lane in the Job Hunt (w/Sadie Jones) We’re excited to talk to ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones about developing your plan for the job hunt process and sticking to it, without focusing on the things you can’t control.
Podcast Episode 405: Start Law School Right - Practicing 101 We’re discussing building confidence for your exams by working through practice problems early and consistently.
Podcast Episode 406: Listen and Learn - Defenses to a Crime We’re looking at a few specific defenses in Criminal Law, which – if used successfully – may exonerate a defendant or reduce their punishment.
Podcast Episode 407: Start Law School Right - Exam Writing 101 We’re discussing the ins and outs of law school exams. We share tips for writing a successful exam answer, and we go through a sample answer written following the IRAC structure.
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 409: Start Law School Right - Legal Research and Writing We’re exploring the unique aspects of Legal Research and Writing, a critical first-year law school class.
Podcast Episode 410: Listen and Learn - Relevance Issues (Evidence) In our “Listen and Learn” series, we’re discussing Relevance — specifically, multiple uses for the same evidence, conditional relevance, and stipulations.
Podcast Episode 411: A Conversation with Legal Recruiter Emily Witt We’re joined by Emily Witt — a legal recruiter who worked at Wachtell for many years — to talk about about BigLaw recruiting, summer programs, going in-house, and more.
Podcast Episode 412: Listen and Learn - Motions for Summary Judgment We discuss the procedure for filing a motion for summary judgment, which is how many cases are resolved in court. We illustrate this important topic with several sample questions and answers.
Podcast Episode 413: Preparing for the Bar Exam with Themis and World This episode is sponsored by Themis Bar Review, the gold standard in bar exam preparation. We’re excited to have two guests on the podcast — Jeff Allcorn from UWorld and Rebecca Petrilli from Themis Bar Prep — discussing their programs and how they can help law school graduates find bar exam success.
Podcast Episode 414: Listen and Learn - Criminal Procedure: Stop and Frisk As part of our “Listen and Learn” series, we’re focusing on Criminal Procedure. Specifically, we’re talking about the “stop and frisk” exception to the warrant requirement.
Podcast Episode 415: Bad Ideas for Job Hunting (w/Sadie Jones) 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.
Podcast Episode 416: Listen and Learn - Service of Process (Civ Pro) 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 rules4`4
Podcast Episode 417: Listen and Learn - Authentication of Evidence 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.
Podcast Episode 418: Listen and Learn - Criminal Procedure: Miranda Warnings From our “Listen and Learn” series, we go through an attack plan for how you might approach a Miranda issue on an exam question, and look at specific rules you’ll want to address in your answer.
Podcast Episode 420: Being Realistic in Your Law School Job Search (w/Sadie Jones) We’re talking about being realistic about which jobs you’d be a good candidate for and choosing the right option, while neither selling yourself short nor aiming too high.
Podcast Episode 421: Quick Tips - Using Visual Drawings for Note-Taking and Memorization In an episode from our “Quick Tips” series, we’re talking about a seemingly radical approach to note-taking: drawing your notes. This technique may especially appeal to you if you are a visual learner or like to draw or sketch concepts.
Podcast Episode 422: Law School Exam Prep (Part 1) This is the first episode in a two-part series on getting ready for exams. Today, we’re talking about what professors look for on law school exams, as well as strategies to make effective outlines and study aids. Next time, we’ll focus on practicing exam-taking skills and creating a plan for exam prep.
Podcast Episode 423: Law School Exam Prep (Part 2) This is the second episode in a two-part series on getting ready for exams. Last time, we talked about outlining, creating study materials, and applying those study materials to a fact pattern. Today, we’re focusing on how to actually write an exam answer.
Podcast Episode 424: Quick Tips - Exam Prep Triage Preparing effectively for exams is critical to doing well in law school, so you should start early, create your own outlines, and take practice exams before you feel ready. But if – for whatever reason – you find yourself in the reading week nightmare scenario, we’re here to help you make the most of the few days left before exams!
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.

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