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're talking about what different law schools are doing about grades in light of the COVID-19 new reality.

In this episode we discuss:

• Adapting to the new (and hopefully temporary) reality created by the coronavirus
• How different law schools plan to implement the pass/fail system
• Are any law schools still opting for traditional grades?
• What consequences can we expect as a result of pass/fail grading?
• Looking for internal motivation in the absence of competition over grades

Resources:

• Harvard Business Review: That Discomfort You're Feeling Is Grief (https://hbr.org/2020/03/that-discomfort-youre-feeling-is-grief)
• Above the Law (https://abovethelaw.com/)
• Law School Offers Pass/Fail But Only If You Tell Them A Good Enough Story About How COVID Hurt You (https://abovethelaw.com/2020/03/law-school-offers-pass-fail-but-only-if-you-tell-them-a-good-enough-story-about-how-covid-hurt-you/?rf=1)
• When A Law School Says 'Don't Contact The Media,' You Should ABSOLUTELY Contact The Media (https://abovethelaw.com/2020/03/when-a-law-school-says-dont-contact-the-media-you-should-absolutely-contact-the-media/)
• How to Navigate a Law School Campus Closure (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/how-to-navigate-a-law-school-campus-closure/)
• Podcast Episode 236: Coping with COVID-19 in Law School (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-236-coping-with-covid-19-in-law-school/)
• Podcast Episode 239: Looking to History to Assess the Impact of COVID-19 on the Legal Job Market (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-239-looking-to-history-to-assess-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-the-legal-job-market/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-238-pass-fail-grading-in-the-time-of-covid-19/)

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 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.

In this episode we discuss:

• Being prepared to explain gaps on your resume
• Presenting non-related educational background or work experience as a positive
• Drawing the interviewer's attention to your strengths
• Should you try explaining any issues in your cover letter?
• Is it ever okay to lie (or shade the truth) on your resume?
• How do you know when you're oversharing unnecessarily?

Resources:

• CareerDicta (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/careerdicta/)
• Podcast Episode 111: Resumes and Cover Letters (with an ex-BigLaw Recruiter) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-111-resumes-cover-letters-ex-biglaw-recruiter/)
• Podcast Episode 166: How to Frame Your Job Search Story (w/Sadie Jones) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-166-how-to-frame-your-job-search-story-w-sadie-jones/)
• Podcast Episode 173: Frequently Asked Questions about Resumes and Cover Letters (w/Sadie Jones) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-173-frequently-asked-questions-about-resumes-and-cover-letters-w-sadie-jones/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-237-handling-resume-and-cover-letter-difficulties-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 sharing some ideas for ways to cope with the challenges that COVID-19 poses for law schools and life in general.

In this episode we discuss:

• The most important consideration in this situation - your health
• Tips for adapting to virtual classes
• Minimizing distractions when studying at home
• Preparing for the scenario of take-home and/or open book exams
• Handling the logistics of daily living
• Coping with heightened stress and anxiety
• Tools that can help you set up a routine

Resources:

• Podcast Episode 19: Conquering Different Types of Law School Exams (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-19-conquering-different-types-law-school-exams/)
• Tips for Take-Home Exams (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/tips-for-take-home-exams/)
• Tips for Studying for an Open Book Law School Exam (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/tips-for-studying-for-an-open-book-exam/)
• How to Use Technology in Your Law School Study Group (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/how-to-use-technology-in-your-law-school-study-group/)
• Need to Get More Done in Law School? Try the Circles. (https://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/08/tips-time-management-awesomeness-with-the-circles/)
• Slack (http://www.slack.com/)
• Trello (http://www.trello.com/)
• Asana (http://www.asana.com/)
• LUNCH DOODLES with Mo Willems! (https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/mo-willems/)
• Penguins tour their empty Chicago aquarium (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHHkJwQQU0o)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-236-coping-with-covid-19-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 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.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why motivation generally drops during the winter and spring time
• Reconnecting to your "Why"
• Taking time off to recharge
• Setting up a serious study schedule
• Letting yourself be less of a perfectionist
• How sometimes looking for outside help is the answer

Resources:

• Join the Second Semester Reboot Camp! (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/join-second-semester-reboot-law-school-camp/)
• Podcast Episode 79: Making the Most of Your Second Semester in Law School (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-79-making-second-semester-law-school/)
• Podcast Episode 128: Regrouping and Dealing with Grades Second Semester (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-128-regrouping-dealing-grades-second-semester/)
• Podcast Episode 232: Finding a 1L Summer Job in the Spring (w/Sadie Jones) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-232-finding-a-1l-summer-job-in-the-spring-w-sadie-jones/)
• Advice from a Recovering Perfectionist: 5 Mindfulness Tips for Excellent Lawyering (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/advice-from-a-recovering-perfectionist-5-mindfulness-tips-for-excellent-lawyering/)
• How to Maintain Your Motivation Throughout the Semester (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/maintain-motivation-throughout-semester/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-235-maintaining-motivation-in-the-second-semester/)

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 here with us to talk about the career aspects of transferring law schools.

In this episode we discuss:

• Will transferring help you get a better job for 2L summer and later on?
• How the OCI process might work at the new school
• Formulating your reasons for transferring in preparation for job interviews
• Do firms look at the original school or only the graduation school?
• Are there any downsides to transferring from a job search point of view?
• Types of career-enhancing options available to transfer students
• Overall, is transferring seen as a positive or more of a negative?

Resources:

• CareerDicta (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/careerdicta/)
• Podcast Episode 3: Mastering the On-Campus Interviewing (OCI) Process (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-3-mastering-campus-interviewing-oci-process/)
• Podcast Episode 122: How to Transfer Law Schools (with Mihal Ansik) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-122-transfer-law-schools-mihal-ansik/)
• Podcast Episode 140: OCI Strategy (w/Sadie Jones) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-140-oci-strategy-w-sadie-jones/)
• Ahead of the Curve: So You Want to Transfer Law Schools… (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/ahead-of-the-curve-so-you-want-to-transfer-law-schools/)
• Transferring Law Schools: Three Things You Need to Know (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/transferring-law-schools-three-things-you-need-to-know/)
• Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Fire: Transfer Students in Law School (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/out-of-the-frying-pan-into-the-fire-transfer-students-in-law-school/)
• How to Prepare for OCI Interviews (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/prepare-oci-interviews/)
• Tips for Applying to Internships and Externships (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/tips-applying-internships-externships/)
• Networking as a 1L – Start Early! (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/networking-as-a-1l-start-early/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-234-how-will-transferring-law-schools-impact-the-job-search-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 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.

In this episode we discuss:

• Stephanie's background and her work at Lawyerist
• Is it realistic to plan to start a firm right out of law school?
• The types of experiences that will help you prepare for a solo practice
• Common misconceptions about owning a business
• Why is it an exciting time to be starting a practice?
• The Lawyers for Equal Justice program
• What useful advice you can find in the book The Small Firm Roadmap

Resources:

• Lawyerist (https://lawyerist.com/)
• The Lawyerist Podcast (https://lawyerist.com/podcast/)
• Lawyers for Equal Justice (https://lawyersforequaljustice.org/)
• The Small Firm Roadmap, by Aaron Street, Sam Glover, Stephanie Everett, and Marshall Lichty (https://lawyerist.com/community/roadmap/)
• Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits!: 4 Keys to Unlock Your Business Potential, by Craig Crabtree (https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Numbers-Straight-Talk-Profits/dp/1608320561)
• Accounting for the Numberphobic: A Survival Guide for Small Business Onwers, by Dawn Fotopulos (https://www.amazon.com/Accounting-Numberphobic-Survival-Business-Owners/dp/0814434320)
• LegalZoom (https://www.legalzoom.com/)
• Podcast Episode 86: Resources for Aspiring Entrepreneurs (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-86-resources-aspiring-entrepreneurs/)
• 3 Things Law Students Can Do Today to Build Their Future Solo Practice (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/3-thing-law-students-can-do-today-to-build-their-future-solo-practice/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-233-starting-a-small-law-firm-w-guest-stephanie-everett-of-lawyerist/)

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 back with us to talk about the process of finding a 1L summer job in the spring.

In this episode we discuss:

• The timeline of the 1L summer job search
• What materials you should prepare for applying
• Can you afford to be picky?
• How many resumes can you expect to send out?
• Useful resources for job leads
• How to handle some common scenarios regarding interviews and job offers
• What to do if nothing is working and you start panicking

Resources:

• CareerDicta (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/careerdicta/)
• NALP (https://www.nalp.org/)
• Craigslist (https://www.craigslist.org/about/sites)
• Podcast Episode 24: Job Search Basics for 1Ls (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-24-job-search-basics-1ls/)
• Podcast Episode 27: Job Interview Basics (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-27-job-interview-basics/)
• Podcast Episode 120: Preparing for the 1L Job Hunt (with ex-BigLaw Recruiter Sadie Jones) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-120-preparing-1l-job-hunt-ex-biglaw-recruiter-sadie-jones/)
• Podcast Episode 203: Job Search Q&A (w/ex-BigLaw Recruiter Sadie Jones) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-203-job-search-qa-w-ex-biglaw-recruiter-sadie-jones/)
• Podcast Episode 223: 1L Year at Harvard Law (w/guest Carla Luna) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-223-1l-year-at-harvard-law-w-guest-carla-luna/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-232-finding-a-1l-summer-job-in-the-spring-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 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.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why it's important to get involved in the election process in your community
• How does the sign up and training process work?
• Insights on what Election Day looks like in San Francisco
• Why this stuff is actually really hard to get right
• Do you get paid to be a poll worker?
• What Alison and Lee found worked well, and what improvements could be made to the process

Resources:

• U.S. Election Assistance Commission (https://www.eac.gov/voters/become-poll-worker)
• Find My State or Local Election Office Website (https://www.usa.gov/election-office)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-231-our-experience-working-at-the-polls-on-election-day/)

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, we dive into some intriguing research on how we learn from failures and making mistakes.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why failure (and even embarrassment) is a big learning opportunity
• How kids deal with their mistakes
• The idea of a growth mindset
• Active versus passive learning
• Quizzing yourself in order to retain information better
• The importance of deep diving into why you're getting certain questions wrong

Resources:

• Article: Why Mistakes Matter in Creating a Path for Learning (https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/48770/how-making-mistakes-primes-kids-to-learn-better?fbclid=IwAR1FNFQrueSZ6GLTmYx9qj2R7YvCXBfKns_cRRJwgnZWd9SX-BYRK28xQGk)
• Mindset, by Carol Dweck (https://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Psychology-Carol-S-Dweck/dp/0345472322)
• Examples & Explanations (E&E) series (https://www.wklegaledu.com/study-aids/examples-explanations)
• CALI Lessons (https://www.cali.org/lesson)
• Podcast Episode 1: Mindset – The Key to Success in Law School? (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-1-mindset-key-success-law-school/)
• Law School Toolbox blog: Ahead of the Curve: It's All in Your Head: Cultivating Success and Overcoming Setbacks with a Growth Mindset (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/ahead-of-the-curve-its-all-in-your-head-cultivating-success-and-overcoming-setbacks-with-a-growth-mindset/)
• Law School Toolbox blog: Active vs. Passive Learning in Law School (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/active-vs-passive-learning-law-school/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-230-learning-through-making-mistakes-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 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.

In this episode we discuss:

• Steven's diverse background and path to law school
• How you can find a mentor or be one yourself
• Tips on getting a clerkship even if you are not top of the class
• Steven's advice for people who are interested in publishing
• How to maintain good relationships within your network
• Learning to say "yes" to opportunities that will take you out of your comfort zone

Resources:

• Steven Arango's website (https://www.stevenarango.com/)
• Service to School (https://service2school.org/)
• Westlaw (http://www.westlawinternational.com/)
• Federal Judicial Center (https://www.fjc.gov/)
• United States Senate (https://www.senate.gov/)
• OSCAR (https://oscar.uscourts.gov/)
• Article by Steven Arango: Average Law Student? Put in the Work and You Can Still Clerk (https://abaforlawstudents.com/2018/10/30/judicial-clerkships-and-the-average-law-student/)
• Article by Steven Arango: Publishing Articles as a Young Professional – How and Why (https://mca-marines.org/publishing-articles-as-a-young-professional-how-and-why/)
• Podcast Episode 176: Talking About Judicial Clerkships with Kelsey Russell (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-176-talking-about-judicial-clerkships-with-kelsey-russell/)
• Law School Toolbox blog: How to Get a Judicial Clerkship (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/how-to-get-a-judicial-clerkship/)
• Law School Toolbox blog: Expand Your Options: An Exploration of the Different Types of Federal Clerkship and State Clerkship Options (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/expand-your-options-an-exploration-of-the-different-types-of-federal-clerkship-and-state-clerkship-options/)
• Law School Toolbox blog: Writing to Get Published (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/writing-to-get-published/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-229-combining-law-school-and-military-service-w-guest-steven-arango/)

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