The Law School Toolbox Podcast: Tools for Law Students from 1L to the Bar Exam, and Beyond

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today on the podcast, 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.

In this episode we discuss:

• Alexis Yee-Garcia's professional background
• What does "diversity and inclusion" mean in the legal employment context?
• How can you tell if a firm is really serious about diversity and inclusion?
• Participating in minority career fairs or summer programs
• How to leverage a diverse background throughout your legal career
• Suggestions for people who want to get into the field of diversity and inclusion themselves

Resources:

• CareerDicta (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/careerdicta/)
• Law360 Diversity Snapshot (https://www.law360.com/pulse/articles/1513061/the-2022-diversity-snapshot)
• The American Lawyer (https://www.law.com/americanlawyer/)
• Podcast Episode 258: Law Clerks for Diversity (w/Guest Danielle Barondess) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-258-law-clerks-for-diversity-w-guest-danielle-barondess/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-358-diversity-and-inclusion-in-the-legal-profession-w-alexis-yee-garcia/)

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/law-school-toolbox-podcast/id1027603976) 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 (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/contact). If you're concerned about the bar exam, check out our sister site, the Bar Exam Toolbox (http://barexamtoolbox.com/). You can also sign up for our weekly podcast newsletter (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/get-law-school-podcast-updates/) to make sure you never miss an episode!

Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! The topic of today's "Listen and Learn" 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.

In this episode we discuss:

• The burden of proof in a criminal case
• A review of the substantive law defining murder
• Rebuttable and irrebuttable presumptions in jury instructions
• How do we know whether the prosecution has met its burden?
• When can the defendant move for a judgment of acquittal?
• Analyzing two hypos from previous California bar exams

Resources:

• "Listen and Learn" series (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/law-school-toolbox-podcast-substantive-law-topics/#listen-learn)
• California Bar Examination – Essay Questions and Selected Answers, February 2008 (https://nwculaw.edu/pdf/bar/February%202008%20Essays%20and%20Sample%20Answers.pdf)
• California Bar Examination – Essay Questions and Selected Answers, July 2010 (https://juraxbar.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/July-2010-CBX.pdf)
• Podcast Episode 248: Listen and Learn – Introduction to Homicide (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-248-listen-and-learn-introduction-to-homicide/)
• Podcast Episode 295: Listen and Learn – Due Process and Equal Protection (Con Law) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-295-listen-and-learn-due-process-and-equal-protection-con-law/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-357-listen-and-learn-prosecution-of-a-criminal-trial/)

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/law-school-toolbox-podcast/id1027603976) 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 (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/contact). If you're concerned about the bar exam, check out our sister site, the Bar Exam Toolbox (http://barexamtoolbox.com/). You can also sign up for our weekly podcast newsletter (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/get-law-school-podcast-updates/) to make sure you never miss an episode!

Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, 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.

In this episode we discuss:

• What is a warrant?
• Requirements for a valid search warrant
• Eight exceptions to the warrant requirement
• Analyzing two hypos, from the July 2009 and February 2006 California bar exams

Resources:

• "Listen and Learn" series (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/law-school-toolbox-podcast-substantive-law-topics/#listen-learn)
• California Bar Examination – Essay Questions and Selected Answers, July 2009 (https://nwculaw.edu/pdf/bar/July%202009%20Essays%20and%20Sample%20Answers.pdf)
• California Bar Examination – Essay Questions and Selected Answers, February 2006 (https://nwculaw.edu/pdf/bar/February%202006%20Essays%20and%20Sample%20Answers.pdf)
• Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 141: Listen and Learn – The Fourth Amendment (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-141-listen-and-learn-the-fourth-amendment/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-356-listen-and-learn-criminal-law-warrant-requirements/)

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/law-school-toolbox-podcast/id1027603976) 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 (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/contact). If you're concerned about the bar exam, check out our sister site, the Bar Exam Toolbox (http://barexamtoolbox.com/). You can also sign up for our weekly podcast newsletter (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/get-law-school-podcast-updates/) to make sure you never miss an episode!

Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today 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.

In this episode we discuss:

• The definition of parol evidence
• Exceptions to the parol evidence rule
• The difference between a partially integrated writing and a fully integrated writing
• Analyzing two hypos from previous California bar exams

Resources:

• "Listen and Learn" series (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/law-school-toolbox-podcast-substantive-law-topics/#listen-learn)
• Examples & Explanations for Contracts, by Brian A. Blum (https://www.amazon.com/Examples-Explanations-Contracts-Brian-Blum-dp-1543807631/dp/1543807631/ref=dp_ob_title_bk)
• California Bar Examination – Essay Questions and Selected Answers, February 2010 (https://juraxbar.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/February-2010-CBX.pdf)
• California Bar Examination – Essay Questions and Selected Answers, February 2020 (https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Portals/0/documents/admissions/Examinations/February-2020-Essay-Selected-Answers.pdf)
• Podcast Episode 341: Listen and Learn – Contract Defenses (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-341-listen-and-learn-contract-defenses/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-355-listen-and-learn-parol-evidence-contracts/)

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/law-school-toolbox-podcast/id1027603976) 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 (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/contact). If you're concerned about the bar exam, check out our sister site, the Bar Exam Toolbox (http://barexamtoolbox.com/). You can also sign up for our weekly podcast newsletter (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/get-law-school-podcast-updates/) to make sure you never miss an episode!

Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! In today's episode from our "Listen and Learn" series, we talk about the two most heavily-tested types of legal remedies for a breach of contract.

In this episode we discuss:

• Legal remedies and equitable remedies for a breach of contract
• The rules for expectation damages and consequential damages
• Different loss-mitigation scenarios
• Analyzing two hypos from previous California bar exams

Resources:

• "Listen and Learn" series (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/law-school-toolbox-podcast-substantive-law-topics/#listen-learn)
• Hadley v. Baxendale (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadley_v_Baxendale)
• Examples & Explanations for Contracts, by Brian A. Blum (https://www.amazon.com/Examples-Explanations-Contracts-Brian-Blum-dp-1543807631/dp/1543807631/ref=dp_ob_title_bk)
• Podcast Episode 341: Listen and Learn – Contract Defenses (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-341-listen-and-learn-contract-defenses/)
• Podcast Episode 344: Listen and Learn – Contract Formation (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-344-listen-and-learn-contract-formation/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-354-listen-and-learn-expectation-and-consequential-damages-contracts/)

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/law-school-toolbox-podcast/id1027603976) 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 (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/contact). If you're concerned about the bar exam, check out our sister site, the Bar Exam Toolbox (http://barexamtoolbox.com/). You can also sign up for our weekly podcast newsletter (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/get-law-school-podcast-updates/) to make sure you never miss an episode!

Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we have ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones with us to discuss how to prepare for the second round of interviews for summer associate positions.

In this episode we discuss:

• The basics of a callback interview
• Are interviews still virtual due to the pandemic?
• How callback interviews are different from the initial screening interviews
• How much do you need to know about the people you're interviewing with?
• Pitfalls to avoid if you're invited to a lunch type of interview
• How to handle a situation in which you're really not connecting with a specific interviewer
• What to say if you're asked a question you don't like or don't know how to answer

Resources:

• CareerDicta (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/careerdicta/)
• Podcast Episode 4: Callback Tips for BigLaw Summer Associate Positions (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-4-callback-tips-biglaw-summer-associate-positions/)
• Podcast Episode 155: Top Callback Mistakes to Avoid (w/ Sadie Jones) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-155-top-callback-mistakes-to-avoid-w-sadie-jones/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-353-tips-for-a-successful-callback-interview-w-sadie-jones/)

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/law-school-toolbox-podcast/id1027603976) 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 (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/contact). If you're concerned about the bar exam, check out our sister site, the Bar Exam Toolbox (http://barexamtoolbox.com/). You can also sign up for our weekly podcast newsletter (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/get-law-school-podcast-updates/) to make sure you never miss an episode!

Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, 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.

In this episode we discuss:

• How Evidence is different from most other topics on a law school exam
• The Best Evidence Rule and its related exceptions
• Analyzing several hypos from previous California bar exams
• Structuring an answer to an Evidence question

Resources:

• "Listen and Learn" series (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/law-school-toolbox-podcast-substantive-law-topics/#listen-learn)
• California Bar Examination – Essay Questions and Selected Answers, July 2005 (https://nwculaw.edu/pdf/bar/July%202005%20Essays%20and%20Sample%20Answers.pdf)
• California Bar Examination – Essay Questions and Selected Answers, February 2012 (https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Portals/0/documents/admissions/CBXFeb2012_SelectedAnswers_R.pdf)
• Podcast Episode 259: Listen and Learn – Relevance in Evidence (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-259-listen-and-learn-relevance-in-evidence/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-352-listen-and-learn-best-evidence-rule/)

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/law-school-toolbox-podcast/id1027603976) 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 (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/contact). If you're concerned about the bar exam, check out our sister site, the Bar Exam Toolbox (http://barexamtoolbox.com/). You can also sign up for our weekly podcast newsletter (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/get-law-school-podcast-updates/) to make sure you never miss an episode!

Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! 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.

In this episode we discuss:

• What are some "niche" and "non-niche" areas of law?
• The keys to finding a niche job out of law school
• How can you work your way into a specialty area over time?
• What if you later change your mind and want to do something else?
• Working on your resume and your own personal story

Resources:

• CareerDicta (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/careerdicta/)
• How to Search for a Law Job in an Uncertain Economy (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/how-to-search-for-a-law-job-in-an-uncertain-economy/)
• How to Develop a Career in Technology Law and Policy (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/how-to-develop-a-career-in-technology-law-and-policy/)
• 5 International Law Careers for the Globally-Inclined (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/5-international-or-international-law-careers-for-the-globally-inclined/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-351-getting-a-law-job-in-a-niche-area-w-sadie-jones/)

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/law-school-toolbox-podcast/id1027603976) 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 (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/contact). If you're concerned about the bar exam, check out our sister site, the Bar Exam Toolbox (http://barexamtoolbox.com/). You can also sign up for our weekly podcast newsletter (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/get-law-school-podcast-updates/) to make sure you never miss an episode!

Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we're discussing how to identify and work through Privileges and Immunities Clause issues on a law school exam.

In this episode we discuss:

• Distinguishing between the Privileges and Immunities Clause of Article IV of the Constitution and the Privileges or Immunities Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
• What steps to take to identify whether the Privileges and Immunities Clause applies
• The Dormant Commerce Clause
• The two requirements that must be met for a state to pass a law violating the Privileges and Immunities Clause
• Analyzing two hypos, from the February 2005 and July 2018 California bar exams

Resources:

• "Listen and Learn" series (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/law-school-toolbox-podcast-substantive-law-topics/#listen-learn)
• Tutoring for Law School Success (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/tutoring-for-law-school-success/)
• California Bar Examination – Essay Questions and Selected Answers, February 2005 (https://nwculaw.edu/pdf/bar/February%202005%20Essays%20and%20Sample%20Answers.pdf)
• California Bar Examination – Essay Questions and Selected Answers, July 2018 (https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Portals/0/documents/admissions/Examinations/July2018_CBX.pdf)
• Podcast Episode 298: Listen and Learn – The Dormant Commerce Clause (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-298-listen-and-learn-the-dormant-commerce-clause/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-350-listen-and-learn-privileges-and-immunities-clause-con-law/)

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/law-school-toolbox-podcast/id1027603976) 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 (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/contact). If you're concerned about the bar exam, check out our sister site, the Bar Exam Toolbox (http://barexamtoolbox.com/). You can also sign up for our weekly podcast newsletter (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/get-law-school-podcast-updates/) to make sure you never miss an episode!

Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, 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.

In this episode we discuss:

• Being a first-generation law student
• Leveling the playing field if you have learning differences
• Fitting into law school and finding the confidence to keep going
• What aspects of law schools can be intimidating?
• How difficult is it to succeed academically?
• Setting yourself up if you want to transfer schools
• What if you signed up for law school, but you're not sure you want to be a lawyer?

Resources:

• Start Law School Right (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/start-law-school-right/)
• Law School Toolbox Podcast: Pre-Law Episodes (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/law-school-toolbox-podcast-archive/pre-law-episodes/)
• Podcast Episode 110: Revisiting Mindset (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-110-revisiting-mindset/)
• Podcast Episode 220: More on Accommodations in Law School (w/Elizabeth Knox) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-220-more-on-accommodations-in-law-school-w-elizabeth-knox/)
• Podcast Episode 227: Thriving as a First-Generating Law Student (w/Hafsa Mansoor of FirstGenJD) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-227-thriving-as-a-first-generation-law-student-w-hafsa-mansoor-of-firstgenjd/)
• Podcast Episode 273: Transferring Law Schools (w/Tiffany Lo) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-273-transferring-law-schools-w-tiffany-lo/)
• Podcast Episode 294: Money Talk (w/Carrie Friedberg) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-294-money-talk-w-carrie-friedberg/)
• Law School Myth #1: Lawyers Make a Lot of Money (https://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/09/law-school-myth-1-lawyers-make-a-lot-of-money/)
• Why the World Still Needs Lawyers Like You (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/why-the-world-still-needs-lawyers-like-you/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-349-common-questions-from-incoming-law-students/)

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/law-school-toolbox-podcast/id1027603976) 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 (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/contact). If you're concerned about the bar exam, check out our sister site, the Bar Exam Toolbox (http://barexamtoolbox.com/). You can also sign up for our weekly podcast newsletter (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/get-law-school-podcast-updates/) to make sure you never miss an episode!

Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee