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, we explain the neuroscience behind our RAMP bar study tool -- which we introduced in a recent episode. We discuss the limitation of working memory, which makes it essential to move legal rules into long-term memory through spaced repetition and scaffolding.

In this episode we discuss:

• The research and science behind our RAMP bar study tool
• Scaffolding and why we use three learning tiers
• Studying through spaced repetition
• RAMP study mode features and confidence calibration
• How much information can our working memory hold?

Resources:

• https://barexamtoolbox.com/ramp (https://barexamtoolbox.com/ramp)
• Podcast Episode 369: Using Spaced Repetition for Your Law School and Bar Exam Studies (w/Gabriel Teninbaum) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-369-using-spaced-repetition-for-your-law-school-and-bar-exam-studies-w-gabriel-teninbaum/)
• Podcast Episode 554: How We're Thinking About NextGen Prep Differently (Plus, Try Our New Tool for Free) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-554-how-were-thinking-about-nextgen-prep-differently-plus-try-our-new-tool-for-free/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-557-this-is-how-your-brain-actually-learns-the-brain-science-behind-our-ramp-tool/)

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 legal jobs for which grades matter a lot, where they matter somewhat, and where they really don't matter much at all. We also share some tips for what you should do if your grades so far aren't what you had hoped for.

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:

• Where grades matter a lot
• Where grades matter somewhat
• Where grades matter less than you think
• What if your grades are disappointing so far?

Resources:

• Career Help with CareerDicta (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/careerdicta/career-help/)
• JoinJuno.com (https://joinjuno.com/)
• Podcast Episode 9: How To Raise Your Grades as a 2L or 3L (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-9-raise-grades-2l-3l/)
• Podcast Episode 28: Dealing With Bad Law School Grades (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-28-dealing-bad-law-school-grades/)
• Podcast Episode 44: How to Get a Judicial Clerkship (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-44-how-to-get-a-judicial-clerkship/)
• Podcast Episode 98: Top 1L Questions: Non-Traditional Law Students (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-98-top-1l-questions-non-traditional-law-students/)
• Podcast Episode 101: Preparing for a Career in Public Interest Law (With Ashley Matthews of Equal Justice Works) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-101-preparing-career-public-interest-law-ashley-matthews-equal-justice-works/)
• Podcast Episode 116: Life as a Small Firm Associate (With Jeremy Richter) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-116-life-as-a-small-law-firm-associate-with-jeremy-richter/)
• Podcast Episode 176: Talking About Judicial Clerkships with Kelsey Russell (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-176-talking-about-judicial-clerkships-with-kelsey-russell/)
• Podcast Episode 521: Smarter Borrowing: How Juno Helps Lower Student Loans (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-521-smarter-borrowing-how-juno-helps-lower-student-loans/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-556-how-much-do-grades-matter-for-different-career-paths/)

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 the different methods a plaintiff may use to establish the second element of a negligence claim -- breach. We also talk about the "res ipsa loquitur" doctrine, and we will walk through several hypotheticals involving breach of the standard of care.

In this episode we discuss:

• An overview of negligence claims
• The reasonable person standard
• The "res ipsa loquitur" doctrine
• Hypothetical scenarios involving breach of the standard of care

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 2021 (https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Portals/0/documents/admissions/Examinations/July-2021-CBX-Essay-Qs-and-Selected-Answers.pdf)
• Podcast Episode 244: Listen and Learn – Negligence Per Se (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-244-listen-and-learn-negligence-per-se/)
• Podcast Episode 257: Listen and Learn – The Reasonable Person Standard (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-257-listen-and-learn-the-reasonable-person-standard/)
• Podcast Episode 318: Listen and Learn – Negligence: Duties of Professionals and Children (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-318-listen-and-learn-negligence-duties-of-professionals-and-children/)
• Podcast Episode 319: Listen and Learn – Negligence: Duties of Landlords, Owners, and Possessors of Land (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-319-listen-and-learn-negligence-duties-of-landlords-owners-and-possessors-of-land/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-555-listen-and-learn-the-breach-element-of-a-negligence-claim-torts/)

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 we're thinking about preparing for the NextGen bar exam differently -- and we're excited to introduce a new tool we've built to help you learn and retain the rules you need to know.

In this episode we discuss:

• An overview of the NextGen UBE
• The big misconception: No memorization is required for the NextGen
• Why traditional study methods fall short
• Introducing our new RAMP (Rule Acquisition and Mastery Platform) tool and how it works
• Our recommendation on who should start using RAMP now

Resources:

• https://barexamtoolbox.com/ramp (https://barexamtoolbox.com/ramp)
• NextGen UBE Content Scope (https://www.ncbex.org/sites/default/files/2025-07/NCBE%20NextGen%20UBE%20Content%20Scope-Aug%202025.pdf)
• Pomodoro Technique (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique)
• Podcast Episode 369: Using Spaced Repetition for Your Law School and Bar Exam Studies (w/Gabriel Teninbaum) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-369-using-spaced-repetition-for-your-law-school-and-bar-exam-studies-w-gabriel-teninbaum/)
• Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 223: Quick Tips – Balancing Passive and Active Studying for the Bar Exam (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-223-quick-tips-balancing-passive-and-active-studying-for-the-bar-exam/)
• Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 327: Facts and Fears Around the Integrated Question Sets (IQSs) on the NextGen Bar Exam (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-327-facts-and-fears-around-the-integrated-question-sets-iqss-on-the-nextgen-bar-exam/)
• 5 Simple and Effective Memorization Techniques for Law Students (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/5-simple-and-effective-memorization-techniques-for-law-students/)
• Using Peg System Mnemonics to Remember Rule Elements (https://barexamtoolbox.com/using-peg-system-mnemonics-to-remember-rule-elements/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-554-how-were-thinking-about-nextgen-prep-differently-plus-try-our-new-tool-for-free/)

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, Alison is speaking with Quentin Huff -- Director of Bar Support at Purdue Global Law School -- about the NextGen bar exam, which shifts focus from memorization to practical legal skills. Find out what's actually changing, and what it means for how students and professors might approach law school classes.

In this episode we discuss:

• An introduction to our guest, Quentin Huff
• Setting the stage: Specifics of the NextGen bar exam
• Moving away from memorization
• Curriculum mapping in law school
• Legal research and writing focus on the NextGen
• Using class time to build NextGen-ready skills

Resources:

• Purdue Global Law School (https://www.purduegloballawschool.edu/)
• Quentin Huff: [email protected]
• NextGen UBE Content Scope (https://www.ncbex.org/exams/nextgen/content-scope)
• Podcast Episode 520: Preparing for the NextGen Bar Exam with Themis (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-520-preparing-for-the-nextgen-bar-exam-with-themis/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-553-nextgen-bar-exam-what-law-schools-and-students-need-to-do-differently-w-quentin-huff/)

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! This episode covers law school survival strategies for when you're overwhelmed and behind on the material. Lee outlines a triage framework -- prioritizing class attendance, case reading, and black-letter law understanding.

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:

• What actually moves the needle on your exam prep, and what could you afford to cut?
• AI use without cognitive offloading
• Case reading priority cascade
• Supplements and tips for catching up on your reading

Resources:

• Tutoring for Law School Success (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/tutoring-for-law-school-success/)
• "Listen and Learn" series (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/law-school-toolbox-podcast-substantive-law-topics/#listen-learn)
• JoinJuno.com (https://joinjuno.com/)
• Podcast Episode 309: Tips for Reading a Case (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-309-tips-for-reading-a-case/)
• Podcast Episode 521: Smarter Borrowing: How Juno Helps Lower Student Loans (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-521-smarter-borrowing-how-juno-helps-lower-student-loans/)
• Podcast Episode 548: A Week in the Life of a Successful 1L – What You Actually Do Hour by Hour (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-548-a-week-in-the-life-of-a-successful-1l-what-you-actually-do-hour-by-hour/)
• Triage Tips for Final Exams (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/triage-tips-final-exams/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-552-too-much-reading-not-enough-time-tips-for-overloaded-weeks-in-law-school/)

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 contract law – specifically, warranties and the disclaimer of warranties under the UCC. We explain both express and implied warranties and how they can be disclaimed. We also go through several examples to illustrate these rules in practice.

In this episode we discuss:

• Express and implied warranties under the UCC
• Disclaimer of warranties
• A hypothetical scenario from a previous California bar exam

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 2016 (https://www.calbar.ca.gov/sites/default/files/portals/0/documents/admissions/Examinations/February2016CBX_QuestionsSelectedAnswers_R.pdf)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-551-listen-and-learn-warranties-and-disclaimers-under-the-ucc-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 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 packages

Resources:

• Tutoring for Law School Success (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/tutoring-for-law-school-success/)
• Podcast Episode 383: Talking About Money with Jesse Mecham, Founder of You Need a Budget (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/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) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-525-being-an-adult-w-julie-lythcott-haims/)
• The Reality of Law School Debt and Planning for It (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/the-reality-of-law-school-debt-and-planning-for-it/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-550-financial-planning-for-law-students-and-young-lawyers-w-alexandra-sandberg/)

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! 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?

Resources:

• Tutoring for Law School Success (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/tutoring-for-law-school-success/)
• Themis Bar Review (https://www.themisbar.com/)
• ThemisBarSocial.com/lawschooltoolbox (https://www.themisbarsocial.com/lawschooltoolbox)
• Loyola University: Dawn Young (https://www.luc.edu/law/faculty/facultyandadministrationprofiles/young-dawn.shtml)
• SSRN: Dawn Young (https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=6836378)
• LinkedIn: Dawn Young (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnkyoung/)
• Instagram: Dawn Young (https://www.instagram.com/dawnyoung000/)
• Podcast Episode 42: Acing the Law Review Write-on Competition (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-42-acing-law-review-write-competition/)
• Podcast Episode 379: Quick Tips – Bluebooking Like a Pro (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-379-quick-tips-bluebooking-like-a-pro/)
• The Question I've Never Been Asked About the Bar Exam (https://barexamtoolbox.com/question-ive-never-asked-bar-exam/)
• Use Upperclass Law Students as Resources: A List of Questions You Can Ask (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/use-upperclass-law-students-as-resources-a-list-of-questions-you-can-ask/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-549-acing-the-law-review-write-on-competition-w-professor-dawn-young/)

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 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

Resources:

• Tutoring for Law School Success (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/tutoring-for-law-school-success/)
• JoinJuno.com (https://joinjuno.com/)
• Podcast Episode 112: Managing Distractions in Law School (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-112-managing-distractions-in-law-school/)
• Podcast Episode 521: Smarter Borrowing: How Juno Helps Lower Student Loans (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-521-smarter-borrowing-how-juno-helps-lower-student-loans/)
• Law School Toolbox Experts Share: How Should Law Students Create a Study Schedule? (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/law-school-toolbox-experts-share-how-would-you-advise-law-students-to-create-a-study-schedule/)
• Making a Study Schedule for 1Ls (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/making-a-study-schedule-for-1ls/)
• Get Your Day Started Right! 5 Tips to Help You Establish a Good Morning Routine (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/get-your-day-started-right-5-tips-to-help-you-establish-a-good-morning-routine/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-548-a-week-in-the-life-of-a-successful-1l-what-you-actually-do-hour-by-hour/)

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