Law School Toolbox®

Law School Toolbox®

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Law School Toolbox® episodes

  • Podcast Episode 550: Financial Planning for Law Students and Young Lawyers (w/Alexandra Sandberg)

    Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! In this episode, Lee and financial advisor Alexandra Sandberg discuss financial planning for law school graduates and early-career attorneys. The conversation includes essential topics, including student loan repayment, budgeting, tax planning, and how to evaluate job offers by looking at total compensation, not just salary.

    In this episode we discuss:

    • The role of financial advisors
    • Student loan repayment strategies
    • Financial blueprint for the first decade after law school
    • Decoding job offer package
    • Thanks for listening!

      Listen Now

      To listen now, just click on the arrow button above.

      Resources:
      • Tutoring for Law School Success
      • Podcast Episode 383: Talking About Money with Jesse Mecham, Founder of You Need a Budget
      • Podcast Episode 525: Being an Adult (w/Julie Lythcott-Haims)
      • The Reality of Law School Debt and Planning for It
      • Prefer to read?

        Download the Transcript

        Did You Like It?

        If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love a nice review and/or rating on Apple Podcasts or your favorite listening app. And feel free to reach out to us directly. You can always reach us via the contact form on the Law School Toolbox website. If you’re concerned about the bar exam, check out our sister site, the Bar Exam Toolbox. You can also sign up for our weekly podcast newsletter to make sure you never miss an episode!

        Thanks for listening!

        The post Podcast Episode 550: Financial Planning for Law Students and Young Lawyers (w/Alexandra Sandberg) appeared first on Law School Toolbox®.

        38 min
      • Podcast Episode 549: Acing the Law Review Write-on Competition (w/Professor Dawn Young)

        Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! This episode features a conversation with Professor Dawn Young from Loyola University Chicago School of Law about legal writing, bluebooking, and law review write-on competitions. Professor Young explains how the write-on competition works and what 1L students need to focus on if they decide to participate.  

        Note: We would like to thank Themis Bar Review for sponsoring this episode. Only until this Friday (April 3rd, 2026), you can save up to $1,100 on your 2027 or 2028 bar review course with just $25 down. Simply visit ThemisBar.com and select “Pay Partially” when opting for a 2027 or 2028 bar review course. The $1,100 discount will automatically apply at checkout.

        In this episode we discuss:

        • An introduction to our guest and her path from legal practice to academia
        • Why legal writing matters and how it’s different from writing in undergrad
        • Tips for preparing for the write-on competition
        • How important is being on a law journal to potential employers
        • Thanks for listening!

          Listen Now

          To listen now, just click on the arrow button above.

          Resources:
          • Tutoring for Law School Success
          • Themis Bar Review
          • ThemisBarSocial.com/lawschooltoolbox
          • Loyola University: Dawn Young
          • SSRN: Dawn Young
          • LinkedIn: Dawn Young
          • Instagram: Dawn Young
          • Podcast Episode 42: Acing the Law Review Write-on Competition
          • Podcast Episode 379: Quick Tips – Bluebooking Like a Pro
          • The Question I’ve Never Been Asked About the Bar Exam
          • Use Upperclass Law Students as Resources: A List of Questions You Can Ask
          • Prefer to read?

            Download the Transcript

            Did You Like It?

            If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love a nice review and/or rating on Apple Podcasts or your favorite listening app. And feel free to reach out to us directly. You can always reach us via the contact form on the Law School Toolbox website. If you’re concerned about the bar exam, check out our sister site, the Bar Exam Toolbox. You can also sign up for our weekly podcast newsletter to make sure you never miss an episode!

            Thanks for listening!

            The post Podcast Episode 549: Acing the Law Review Write-on Competition (w/Professor Dawn Young) appeared first on Law School Toolbox®.

            43 min
          • Podcast Episode 548: A Week in the Life of a Successful 1L – What You Actually Do Hour by Hour

            Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! In this episode, we discuss time management strategies for first-year law students, walking through a detailed weekday schedule. We cover how to manage class and reading time with active study techniques, regular breaks, and actual downtime.

            Thanks to Juno for sponsoring this episode! If you’re thinking about student loans for law school, head to JoinJuno.com to explore your options and see how Juno can help you find a better rate.

            In this episode we discuss:

            • The 1L weekly framework
            • The “Thousand Minute Rule”
            • A 1L student’s weekday schedule breakdown
            • What derails study time
            • Tactical tools to help manage your time
            • Focus blocks and Pomodoro method
            • Thanks for listening!

              Listen Now

              To listen now, just click on the arrow button above.

              Resources:
              • Tutoring for Law School Success
              • JoinJuno.com
              • Podcast Episode 112: Managing Distractions in Law School
              • Podcast Episode 521: Smarter Borrowing: How Juno Helps Lower Student Loans
              • Law School Toolbox Experts Share: How Should Law Students Create a Study Schedule?
              • Making a Study Schedule for 1Ls
              • Get Your Day Started Right! 5 Tips to Help You Establish a Good Morning Routine
              • Prefer to read?

                Download the Transcript

                Did You Like It?

                If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love a nice review and/or rating on Apple Podcasts or your favorite listening app. And feel free to reach out to us directly. You can always reach us via the contact form on the Law School Toolbox website. If you’re concerned about the bar exam, check out our sister site, the Bar Exam Toolbox. You can also sign up for our weekly podcast newsletter to make sure you never miss an episode!

                Thanks for listening!

                The post Podcast Episode 548: A Week in the Life of a Successful 1L – What You Actually Do Hour by Hour appeared first on Law School Toolbox®.

                22 min
              • Podcast Episode 547: Listen and Learn — Duties to the Tribunal (Professional Responsibility)

                Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today we’re discussing ABA’s Model Rule of Professional Conduct 3.3, which governs truth telling to the tribunal (a court, arbitrator, administrative agency, or any other body acting in an adjudicative capacity). We break down all of the rule’s nuances and parts, and analyze a few hypothetical scenarios.

                In this episode we discuss:

                • An overview of ABA’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct
                • The elements of Rule 3.3 “Candor Toward the Tribunal”
                • A few hypothetical scenarios that show how this topic appears on an exam
                • Thanks for listening!

                  Listen Now

                  To listen now, just click on the arrow button above.

                  Resources:
                  • “Listen and Learn” series
                  • ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct
                  • California Bar Examination – Essay Questions and Selected Answers, February 2024
                  • California Bar Examination – Essay Questions and Selected Answers, February 2018
                  • Talmage v. Smith
                  • Prefer to read?

                    Download the Transcript

                    Did You Like It?

                    If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love a nice review and/or rating on Apple Podcasts or your favorite listening app. And feel free to reach out to us directly. You can always reach us via the contact form on the Law School Toolbox website. If you’re concerned about the bar exam, check out our sister site, the Bar Exam Toolbox. You can also sign up for our weekly podcast newsletter to make sure you never miss an episode!

                    Thanks for listening!

                    The post Podcast Episode 547: Listen and Learn — Duties to the Tribunal (Professional Responsibility) appeared first on Law School Toolbox®.

                    20 min
                  • Podcast Episode 546: 5 Tips for Keeping Your Legal Writing Organized (Part 2)

                    Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! In a two-part episode, we discuss how organization is what makes legal writing usable and trustworthy — allowing judges, supervisors, and clients to follow your reasoning and accept your conclusions. Together with Legal Writing professor and Law School Toolbox tutor Mary Fran Richardson, we cover five essential tips for keeping your legal writing clean and well organized.

                    In this episode we discuss:

                    • Planning and outlining before you write
                    • Avoiding conclusory analysis
                    • Utilizing headers as signposts for your reader
                    • Organizing your paragraphs logically
                    • Writing simple, focused, and purposeful sentences
                    • How to write strong topic sentences
                    • Thanks for listening!

                      Listen Now

                      To listen now, just click on the arrow button above.

                      Resources:
                      • Tutoring for Law School Success
                      • Podcast Episode 489: A Legal Writing Makeover (Part 1 – The Issue Statement)
                      • Podcast Episode 490: A Legal Writing Makeover (Part 2 – The Rule Statement)
                      • Podcast Episode 491: A Legal Writing Makeover (Part 3 – The Analysis Section)
                      • Podcast Episode 493: A Legal Writing Makeover (Part 4 – The Conclusion)
                      • Mastering Legal Writing
                      • Three Cs of Legal Writing…And One T
                      • Keys to Outlining in Law School
                      • Prefer to read?

                        Download the Transcript

                        Did You Like It?

                        If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love a nice review and/or rating on Apple Podcasts or your favorite listening app. And feel free to reach out to us directly. You can always reach us via the contact form on the Law School Toolbox website. If you’re concerned about the bar exam, check out our sister site, the Bar Exam Toolbox. You can also sign up for our weekly podcast newsletter to make sure you never miss an episode!

                        Thanks for listening!

                        The post Podcast Episode 546: 5 Tips for Keeping Your Legal Writing Organized (Part 2) appeared first on Law School Toolbox®.

                        34 min
                      • Podcast Episode 545: 5 Tips for Keeping Your Legal Writing Organized (Part 1)

                        Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! In a two-part episode, we discuss how organization is what makes legal writing usable and trustworthy — allowing judges, supervisors, and clients to follow your reasoning and accept your conclusions. Together with Legal Writing professor and Law School Toolbox tutor Mary Fran Richardson, we cover five essential tips for keeping your legal writing clean and well organized.

                        In this episode we discuss:

                        • How thinking like a reader helps your writing
                        • The starting point: Audience and purpose
                        • The characteristics of the most effective legal writing
                        • AI and legal writing: Why you still need your own voice
                        • Macro and micro organization of legal writing
                        • Remember to follow the directions!
                        • Thanks for listening!

                          Listen Now

                          To listen now, just click on the arrow button above.

                          Resources:
                          • Tutoring for Law School Success
                          • Podcast Episode 489: A Legal Writing Makeover (Part 1 – The Issue Statement)
                          • Podcast Episode 490: A Legal Writing Makeover (Part 2 – The Rule Statement)
                          • Podcast Episode 491: A Legal Writing Makeover (Part 3 – The Analysis Section)
                          • Podcast Episode 493: A Legal Writing Makeover (Part 4 – The Conclusion)
                          • Mastering Legal Writing
                          • Three Cs of Legal Writing…And One T
                          • Demoralizing Feedback? Look at What You Did Right
                          • Using IRAC on Law School Exams
                          • Legal Writing Tip: Imagine You’re Talking to Your Grandma
                          • Prefer to read?

                            Download the Transcript

                            Did You Like It?

                            If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love a nice review and/or rating on Apple Podcasts or your favorite listening app. And feel free to reach out to us directly. You can always reach us via the contact form on the Law School Toolbox website. If you’re concerned about the bar exam, check out our sister site, the Bar Exam Toolbox. You can also sign up for our weekly podcast newsletter to make sure you never miss an episode!

                            Thanks for listening!

                            The post Podcast Episode 545: 5 Tips for Keeping Your Legal Writing Organized (Part 1) appeared first on Law School Toolbox®.

                            27 min
                          • Podcast Episode 544: Quick Tips — Rapid-Fire Legal Ethics Scenarios

                            Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today we’re going through three rapid-fire legal ethics scenarios and asking you, the listener, “What would you do?” We then provide you with the answers based on the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct.

                            In this episode we discuss:

                            • Scenario 1: Conflict of interest
                            • Scenario 2: Client plans to lie on the stand
                            • Scenario 3: Pro bono when you’re overworked
                            • Thanks for listening!

                              Listen Now

                              To listen now, just click on the arrow button above.

                              Resources:
                              • Tutoring for Law School Success
                              • ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct
                              • Professional Responsibility 101 – A Quick Look at Upperclassmen Courses
                              • Prefer to read?

                                Download the Transcript

                                Did You Like It?

                                If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love a nice review and/or rating on Apple Podcasts or your favorite listening app. And feel free to reach out to us directly. You can always reach us via the contact form on the Law School Toolbox website. If you’re concerned about the bar exam, check out our sister site, the Bar Exam Toolbox. You can also sign up for our weekly podcast newsletter to make sure you never miss an episode!

                                Thanks for listening!

                                The post Podcast Episode 544: Quick Tips — Rapid-Fire Legal Ethics Scenarios appeared first on Law School Toolbox®.

                                0 min
                              • Podcast Episode 543: The CROWN Act – Fighting Discrimination in the Workplace (w/Karis Stephen)

                                Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, Lee is talking with Karis Stephen — a plaintiff-side employment attorney and Law School Toolbox tutor — about her career journey, law school success, and the CROWN Act.

                                In this episode we discuss:

                                • An introduction to our guest and her professional journey
                                • Exploring different career and life interests
                                • Working in the employment discrimination field
                                • Why it’s advisable to find a professional mentor
                                • What is the CROWN Act and how it fights discrimination
                                • Women and workplace discrimination
                                • Three important pieces of advice for law students
                                • Thanks for listening!

                                  Listen Now

                                  To listen now, just click on the arrow button above.

                                  Resources:
                                  • Tutoring for Law School Success
                                  • The CROWN Act
                                  • In-N-Out former employee files $3-million lawsuit, saying he was fired over his hairstyle
                                  • Podcast Episode 358: Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession (w/Alexis Yee-Garcia)
                                  • Podcast Episode 387: Breaking Diversity Barriers (w/Jason Parker from Canamac Productions)
                                  • Prefer to read?

                                    Download the Transcript

                                    Did You Like It?

                                    If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love a nice review and/or rating on Apple Podcasts or your favorite listening app. And feel free to reach out to us directly. You can always reach us via the contact form on the Law School Toolbox website. If you’re concerned about the bar exam, check out our sister site, the Bar Exam Toolbox. You can also sign up for our weekly podcast newsletter to make sure you never miss an episode!

                                    Thanks for listening!

                                    The post Podcast Episode 543: The CROWN Act – Fighting Discrimination in the Workplace (w/Karis Stephen) appeared first on Law School Toolbox®.

                                    44 min
                                  • Podcast Episode 542: Listen and Learn — Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress (Torts)

                                    Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! This episode explains the concept of negligent infliction of emotional distress (NIED) in tort law, outlining the four specific situations in which a plaintiff can recover for emotional harm caused by another’s negligence.

                                    In this episode we discuss:

                                    • A review of the elements of negligence
                                    • The four situations in which NIED claims are valid
                                    • Negligent versus intentional infliction of emotional distress
                                    • Hypotheticals and examples illustrating NIED
                                    • Thanks for listening!

                                      Listen Now

                                      To listen now, just click on the arrow button above.

                                      Resources:
                                      • “Listen and Learn” series
                                      • California Bar Examination – Essay Questions and Selected Answers, July 2010
                                      • California Bar Examination – Essay Questions and Selected Answers, February 2011
                                      • Prefer to read?

                                        Download the Transcript

                                        Did You Like It?

                                        If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love a nice review and/or rating on Apple Podcasts or your favorite listening app. And feel free to reach out to us directly. You can always reach us via the contact form on the Law School Toolbox website. If you’re concerned about the bar exam, check out our sister site, the Bar Exam Toolbox. You can also sign up for our weekly podcast newsletter to make sure you never miss an episode!

                                        Thanks for listening!

                                        The post Podcast Episode 542: Listen and Learn — Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress (Torts) appeared first on Law School Toolbox®.

                                        0 min
                                      • Podcast Episode 541: Listen and Learn — Injunctions and Restraining Orders (Civ Pro)

                                        Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, as part of our “Listen and Learn” series, we’re discussing  the concept of injunctive relief (Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 65). We introduce three types of injunctions – temporary restraining orders (TROs), preliminary injunctions, and permanent injunctions, and the elements necessary for obtaining each of them.

                                        In this episode we discuss:

                                        • Overview of injunctive relief
                                        • Temporary restraining orders (TROs)
                                        • Preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions
                                        • Sample questions from previous California bar exams
                                        • Thanks for listening!

                                          Listen Now

                                          To listen now, just click on the arrow button above.

                                          Resources:
                                          • “Listen and Learn” series
                                          • California Bar Examination – Essay Questions and Selected Answers, July 2019
                                          • California Bar Examination – Essay Questions and Selected Answers, July 2008
                                          • Prefer to read?

                                            Download the Transcript

                                            Did You Like It?

                                            If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love a nice review and/or rating on Apple Podcasts or your favorite listening app. And feel free to reach out to us directly. You can always reach us via the contact form on the Law School Toolbox website. If you’re concerned about the bar exam, check out our sister site, the Bar Exam Toolbox. You can also sign up for our weekly podcast newsletter to make sure you never miss an episode!

                                            Thanks for listening!

                                            The post Podcast Episode 541: Listen and Learn — Injunctions and Restraining Orders (Civ Pro) appeared first on Law School Toolbox®.

                                            22 min

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