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

Welcome back! 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.

In this episode we discuss:

• Mistakes first-time bar takers commonly make
• How to evaluate what type of bar prep is for you
• Do you need to take a commercial bar prep course?
• The importance of knowing your strengths and weaknesses when studying
• Alison and Lee share their experience as first-time bar exam takers
• Avoiding burnout while studying for the bar
• What to do if you sense that your bar prep course isn't working for you
• What role minimum competency should play in your bar exam strategy
• Ways to prepare for the MBE efficiently
• Preparing for the day of the bar exam
• How to prepare for emergencies that may arise as you're studying or on test day
• The importance of targeted practice
• Accommodations and how to get them

Resources

• Exam Day Tips (http://barexamtoolbox.com/exam-day-tips/)
• Warning Signs You May Need Help as a First-Time Bar Taker (http://barexamtoolbox.com/warning-signs-you-may-need-extra-help-as-a-first-time-bar-exam-taker/)
• Can You Pass the Bar Exam without BARBRI (http://barexamtoolbox.com/can-you-pass-the-bar-exam-without-taking-barbri/)
• Thinking Ahead to Get Ready for the Bar Exam (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-26-thinking-ahead-get-ready-bar-exam/)
• Seeking Accommodations for Law School and the Bar Exam (http://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-72-seeking-accommodations-law-school-bar-exam-dr-jared-maloff/)
• Tools for Bar Exam Success: AdaptiBar (http://barexamtoolbox.com/tools-for-bar-exam-success-adaptibar/)
• Bar Tutoring for First-Time Takers (UBE) http://barexamtoolbox.com/ube-bar-tutoring-first-time-takers/
• Bar Tutoring for First-Time Takers (CA) http://barexamtoolbox.com/california-bar-tutoring-first-time-takers/

Download a copy of this transcript (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Episode-79-Making-the-most-of-second-semester.pdf)

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes. 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). And we have lots of bar exam advice on our Bar Exam Toolbox (http://barexamtoolbox.com) site.

Thanks for listening! Good luck on the bar exam.

Alison & Lee

Welcome back! 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.

Fundamentally, there are two issues at play here. First, who should you ask to write your letters? How can you ensure they're actually enthusiastic? And, two, what information do your letter writers need to do the best possible job for you? After this episode, you'll be able to pinpoint the best people to help you, and ensure they write you stellar letters of recommendation! So let's get started.

In this episode we discuss:

• Who should you ask for a letter of recommendation?
• What makes someone a good recommender?
• How can you tell if they're the right person for your needs?
• What you're looking for in a good letter of recommendation
• Lee and Alison share their letter of recommendation experiences, as students and as recommenders
• What types of letters of recommendation should you get for law school, legal employment, clerkships, internships, etc.?
• How to ask someone for a letter of recommendation
• How to ensure the recommendation actually gets done
• What do you need to give someone so they can complete the letter?
• What should you do if the recommender asks you to write the letter yourself?

Resources

• Craft a Law School Application That Gets You In: Letters of Recommendation (http://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/08/how-to-create-your-best-law-school-application-letters-of-recommendation/)
• Make Your Clerkship Application Shine: Letters of Recommendation http://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/08/make-your-clerkship-application-letters-of-recommendation-shine/

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes. 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).

Thanks for listening! Good luck with getting those recommendations!

Alison & Lee

Welcome back! 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!

In this episode we discuss:

• Alison and Lee share their winter break experiences
• The importance of relaxation after finals
• Why you may need to reconnect with loved ones
• The value of investing in your community and doing volunteer work
• Reinvigorating your passion for law school
• Things you can do to work on your soft skills while you are off from school
• Getting ahead on your job search
• How to handle less than desirable final grades

Resources

• Podcast: Soft Skills You Need to Develop to Be A Successful Attorney (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-71-soft-skills-you-need-to-develop-to-be-a-successful-attorney/)
• Conducting Great Informational Interviews (http://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/how-to-conduct-great-informational-interviews/)
• 5 Ways to Make Your Winter Break Productive (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/5-ways-make-winter-break-productive/)
• Did You Work on Your Resume During Winter Break? (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/did-you-work-on-your-resume-during-law-school-winter-break/)
• Advice From a Law Recruiter: Top Tips For a Perfect Resume (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/advice-law-recruiter-part-one-resumes/)
• Podcast: Resume and Cover Letter Basics (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-12-resume-cover-letter-basics/)
• Podcast: Seeking Accommodations in Law School and on the Bar Exam: (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-72-seeking-accommodations-law-school-bar-exam/)

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes. 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).

Thanks for listening! Have a nice, relaxing break!

Alison & Lee

Welcome back! 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.

If you're interested in learning more this new alternative dispute resolution approach or want to craft a non-traditional legal path, tune in.

In this episode we discuss:

• What is Structured Negotiation?
• How is it different from other alternative dispute resolution techniques?
• Personality traits and skills that are useful in Structured Negotiation
• Lainey's path to becoming a disability rights attorney
• The importance of resilience in a legal career
• Advice for law students interested in an alternative legal practice
• Advice on starting a small firm or solo practice
• Resources that can help when pursuing this type of career
• How you can learn more about Structured Negotiation

Resources

• Lainey's website (http://www.lflegal.com)
• More information about her book, "Structured Negotiation: A Winning Alternative to Lawsuits" (http://shop.americanbar.org/ebus/store/productdetails.aspx?productId=253331125)
• Contact Lainey: [email protected]
• Episode Transcript: Click to download

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes. 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).

Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee

Welcome back! 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.

In this episode we discuss:

• What do lawyers really do?
• What is law school like?
• Questions to ask yourself before you apply to law school
• Ways to learn about the legal profession
• Ways to test out a legal career
• The people you should talk to before making the big decision
• Being realistic about money, time, the bar exam, and employment
• The importance of figuring out what you're good at and what you like
• Should you go to law school just because you think you'd be "good at it"?
• Why you shouldn't go to law school because you don't know what else to do
• Drawbacks to consider when going to law school
• Will you be happy as a lawyer?
• What to do if you're on the fence about law school
• The importance of examining your values and how they would line up with law school and a legal career
• Running the numbers -- is law school worth it?

Resources

• Why are Lawyers So Unhappy (Podcast) (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-10-lawyers-unhappy/)
• Maintaining Authenticity in the Legal Profession (Podcast) (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-5-maintaining-authenticity-legal-profession/)
• How to Conduct Great Informational Interviews (http://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/how-to-conduct-great-informational-interviews/)
• How to Decide What Type of Law to Practice (Podcast) (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-70-how-to-decide-what-type-of-law-to-practice/)

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes. 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).

Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee

Welcome back! 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.

If you got disappointing bar exam news, we have helpful tips in this podcast to help you regroup and get ready to pass next time. If you're in law school now, you can also find some useful information on how to be as prepared as possible so, hopefully, you only have to take the bar exam once.

In this episode we discuss:

• What should you do when you get bad news?
• Does anyone really care if you failed (other than you)?
• How to analyze what went wrong
• Strategies for self-reflection
• Why it's important to feel bad and take some time and space to be upset
• Creating your bar prep mission statement
• How to make sure you aren't setting yourself up for the same mistakes on your next attempt
• How to hold yourself accountable during the bar study period
• Avoiding self-sabotage
• How to tell people you failed
• Do you need accommodations and how to seek them?
• Should you take the next bar exam or wait?
• How to take a more active role in the correction, review, and rewrite process

Resources

• Seeking Accommodations in Law School and on the Bar Exam (podcast) (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-72-seeking-accommodations-law-school-bar-exam/)
• How to Apply for Bar Exam Accommodations When Finances are a Concern (http://barexamtoolbox.com/apply-bar-exam-accommodations-finances-concern/)
• Should You Apply for Accommodations for the Bar Exam (http://barexamtoolbox.com/apply-bar-exam-testing-accommodations/)
• Nine Elements to Review if You Failed the Bar Exam (http://barexamtoolbox.com/nine-elements-review-failed-bar-exam/)
• Failed the Bar Exam? How to Be the Ultimate Sore Loser the Next Time Around (http://barexamtoolbox.com/failed-the-bar-exam-how-to-be-the-ultimate-sore-loser-to-pass-the-bar-exam-next-time/)

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes. 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).

Thanks for listening! And good luck on the bar exam.

Alison & Lee

Welcome back! 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 now to request them.

In this episode we discuss:

• The different accommodations available for different tests (LSAT, Bar Exam, Law School Exams)
• The types of tests used for diagnosing learning disorders and disabilities
• How are these tests evaluated?
• What are the common diagnoses that lead to accommodations?
• What type of accommodations are available to students to level the playing field?
• Reasons why students don't want to get tested
• How to identify if you are struggling with a learning disorder
• The biggest mistakes students make in the accommodations process
• Where do you need to go to get evaluated?
• The costs associated with accommodations
• Coping mechanisms for common problems
• The importance of being proactive about seeking accommodations

Resources

• Leveling the Playing Field - Testing Accommodations on the Bar Exam (http://barexamtoolbox.com/leveling-the-playing-field-testing-accommodations-on-the-bar-exam/)
• Should You Apply for Bar Exam Testing Accommodations (http://barexamtoolbox.com/apply-bar-exam-testing-accommodations/)
• How to Apply for Bar Exam Accommodations When Finances are a Concern (http://barexamtoolbox.com/apply-bar-exam-accommodations-finances-concern/)
• State Dependent Learning and the Bar Exam (http://barexamtoolbox.com/state-dependent-learning-and-the-bar-exam/)
• Using Resources and Seeking Accommodations in Law School (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/leveling-playing-field-using-resource-seeking-accommodations-law-school/)

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes. 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).

Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee

Welcome back. Today we're talking about the 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.

In this episode we discuss:

• The types of soft skills that tend to make you a successful attorney, regardless of your practice area
• Why lawyers need to understand how business works (even in public interest organizations)
• How to work on your business skills
• How to deal with clients
• Developing an elevator pitch
• Tips for public speaking
• How to communicate effectively with others in the legal workplace
• Using law school to build these skills
• Why technological literacy matters to attorneys
• The value of knowing another language
• Why you should work on your leadership skills
• Should you include these soft skills on your resume?

Resources

• Are you emotionally Intelligent? 5 Soft Skills to Show Off in Your Summer Law Job (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/are-you-emotionally-intelligent-5-soft-skills-to-show-off-in-your-summer-law-job/)
• You Are a Lawyer Already: Practice Management (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/lawyer-already-practice-management/)
• Building the 21st Century Lawyer (podcast) (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-69/)
• How to Behave like a Professional in the Legal Workplace (podcast) (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-25-behave-like-professional-legal-workplace/)

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes. 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).

Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we're talking about how to figure out what type of law to practice. There are more options than most people realize, and your career happiness and success can ride on these decisions, so it's important to think beyond "litigation or corporate." Ideally, you'll find something that uses your unique skills, interests, and background to set yourself apart from the pack.

Tune in for ideas on how to decide what's the best fit for you!

In this episode we discuss:

• The different types of law that exist beyond just litigation and corporate work
• How you can learn what each type of lawyer does
• Alison and Lee share their experience with different practice areas
• Should you specialize?
• Why internships and externships can help you decide what type of law to practice
• Questions you can ask yourself to decide which type of law is the best fit for you
• How to test the waters and find out if a certain type of law is a good fit
• The importance of thinking about your career options early
• How to use your own unique skills, traits, and background to your advantage

Resources

• Podcast Episode 5: Maintaining Authenticity in the Legal Profession (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-5-maintaining-authenticity-legal-profession/)
• Podcast Episode 58: Non-Profit Law and Social Entrepreneurship (with Guest Adrian Tirtanadi of Bayview Hunters Point Community Legal) (http://lawschooltoolbox.libsyn.com/058-non-profit-law-and-social-entrepreneurship-with-guest-adrian-tirtanadi-of-bayview-hunters-point-community-legal)
• Do You Want a BigLaw Job? (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/do-you-want-a-biglaw-job/)
• Podcast Episode 66 - Tips for a Successful Law School Internship or Externship (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-66-tips-successful-law-school-internship-externship/)
• Thinking of Becoming a Solo Practitioner (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/thinking-of-becoming-a-solo-practitioner/)
• What Does Your Personality Test Say About Your Career (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/what-does-your-personality-test-really-say-about-your-career/)

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes. 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).

Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today Lee is leading 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.

Many thanks to Thomson Reuters, the sponsor for this episode. You likely interact with their products every day when you're using useful tools such as WestLaw, TWEN, and Practical Law. Thomson Reuters brings you tools and insights to help you perform your best now and when you go pro as a practicing attorney. You can visit them at lawschool.westlaw.com. We appreciate their support!

We would also like to thank the following panelists for participating in the discussion:

Katie Walter, Marketing Director for Law School Business, Thomson Reuters

Chris Mammen, Lecturer, UC Hastings College of Law; Partner, Hogan Lovells

Diane Downs, Director of Attorney Recruiting at Morrison and Foerster LLP

Dave Maurer, Managing Director/Office Leader for San Francisco, Major, Lindsay & Africa

In this episode we discuss:

• What do law firms want in a candidate?
• How to present yourself in a hiring situation
• 4 characteristics that are important in a 21st-Century lawyer
• Curiosity and why it's important as a law student and young lawyer
• Mastering a class vs. getting a good grade
• How to distinguish yourself from other candidates
• The importance of mastering your craft
• Why you need to be a good legal writer
• How to improve as a writer
• Mentorship in the legal and law school setting
• Taking advantage of the resources available to you in law school
• The importance of feedback
• Ways law students who came directly from undergrad can gain valuable workplace experience
• The importance of building a network as a law student

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes. 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).

Thanks for listening! And thanks again to Thomson Reuters for sponsoring this episode!

Alison & Lee