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

Whether you are in your first or final year of law school, you should be using supplements. Although they can't do the work for you, commercial supplements can provide valuable insight and help fill the gaps in your understanding. Supplements can provide a roadmap for the topic you're studying, fill in missing details, and - in some cases - provide a more direct explanation of what you're discussing in class.

Want to find out more about what supplements can do for you and how can you use them effectively? Listen in!

In this episode we discuss:

• What supplements are
• How supplements can help
• Different types of law school supplements you can use
• Lee and Alison's favorite supplements
• How to know what information in the supplement you should use (and shouldn't)
• Should you read a supplement before class or after class?
• How to avoid information overload
• How supplements can work with your outlining
• Using supplements with practice exams
• Finding the right supplements for your course

Supplements can be a valuable tool for law school success. The key is to use them to complement your reading, lectures and study - and not in place of those methods.

Best of luck!

Resources:

• Chirelstein on Contracts: (http://amzn.to/1Mnp9K4)
• Torts - Examples and Explanations: (http://amzn.to/1G1sfXz)
• Civ Pro - Examples and Explanations: (http://amzn.to/1G1slOQ)
• Chemerinsky on Con Law: (http://amzn.to/1G1sstF)
• Chemerinsky - Federal Jurisdiction (Fed Courts) (http://amzn.to/1MN5vr9)

Multiple Choice:

• Glannon Guide To Civil Procedure: Learning Civil Procedure Through Multiple-Choice Questions and Analysis (http://amzn.to/1MN5vr9)
• Q&A Series (http://www.lexisnexis.com/store/catalog/catalog.jsp?id=cat80144)

CrunchTime:

• Civil Procedure (http://amzn.to/1MN5vr9)
• Contracts (http://amzn.to/1GqXRGe)
• Torts (http://amzn.to/1MN67Nq)
• Crim Law (http://amzn.to/1LVBhWp)
• Property (http://amzn.to/1MN6dEC)
• Con Law (http://amzn.to/1LVBt84)

(These are affiliate links)

If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know!

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

Are you struggling with certain things in law school? We have all been there. When you need help, it's critical to find the "right" resources to help you (and won't make you need even more help!). If you're not sure who to turn to for help, or what resources are available, tune in.

In this episode we discuss:

• Is it okay to ask for help in law school?
• How to approach professors so that they're willing to help you
• Should you go to your TA for help?
• How to use academic support services
• Why you should proceed with caution when asking for help from peers
• What books and substantive materials are useful
• What type of help is out there for students with learning disabilities
• Valuable resources on the internet
• How private tutors can get you prepared for success and help you with problems you encounter

Don't be afraid to ask for help in law school! The key is to try to solve the problem yourself first and formulate specific questions to ask. The better your questions, the better the help you will receive. Most of all, don't give up!

Best of luck!

Resources: (contains some affiliate links)

• Chirelstein on Contracts: (http://amzn.to/1Mnp9K4)
• Torts: (http://amzn.to/1G1sfXz)
• Civ Pro: (http://amzn.to/1G1slOQ)
• Chemerinsky on Con Law: (http://amzn.to/1G1sstF)

• Five Myths About the Law School Study Group (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/five-myths-about-the-law-school-study-group/)
• Lessons From My 1L Year - Be Careful With Study Groups: (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/lessons-from-my-1l-year-be-careful-with-study-groups/)
• How to Make the Most Out of Academic Guidance in Law School (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/how-to-make-the-most-out-of-academic-guidance-in-law-school/)
• Making the Most of Professor's Office Hours (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/making-most-of-professors-office-hours/)
• Avoiding Office Hours? Go and Get Something Out of It (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/avoiding-office-hours-go-and-get-something-out-of-it/)

If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know!

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

Studying in law school is not one-size fits all. Each student learns in a different way. The key is to recognize the type of learner you are and use that information to optimize your study style - for YOU.

In this episode we talk bout:

• The three main types of learning styles - Auditory, Visual and Kinesthetic
• Whether learning styles even exist
• How to figure out your learning preferences you are
• Specific techniques for each learning style in law school
• How to outline and what type of learner should (and shouldn't) utilize outlining
• Why you should probably handwrite your outlines
• The basics of attack plans, and why they're important (for everyone!)
• Using checklists vs. roadmaps for your attack plans
• Flowcharts, Flashcards, and Mnemonics and who can benefit from them

Resources:

• Learner Type Quiz - (http://homeworktips.about.com/od/homeworkhelp/a/lstyleqz.htm)
• Flash Cards or Flowcharts - What's Best? (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/flashcards-or-flowcharts-whats-best/)
• 5 Study Tips for Visual Learners (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/5-study-tips-for-visual-learners/)
• 5 Study Tips for Kinesthetic Learners (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/5-study-tips-for-kinesthetic-learners/)
• 5 Tips for Auditory Learners (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/5-study-tips-for-auditory-learners/)
• 4 Evidence Backed Law School Study Tips (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/4-evidence-backed-law-school-study-tipos/)
• 3 More Law School Study Tips (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/3-more-law-school-study-tips/)
• Secrets to Starting Law School Right - Hey Do You Know How to Memorize Stuff (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/secrets-to-starting-law-school-right-hey-do-you-know-how-to-memorize-stuff/)

If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know!

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

October is the time in law school where reality begins to set in. Whether you had a tough exam or are struggling with outlining, you may be feeling a little overwhelmed and defeated. You may be exhausted, burnt out, and wondering how you are going to prepare for exams or even what you're doing in law school in the first place. The good news is most law students go through this.

Don't flip out! Take our advice to get through the October Freakout so you can have a productive rest of the semester.

In this episode we discuss:

• Taking stock of where you are and where you should be
• How and where to get help if you are struggling
• What happens if you still feel completely lost in class?
• How long you should be spending on deep thinking tasks (outlining, reviewing concepts and practicing) versus other work
• How to know if your outlines are working for you
• Balancing extra-curricular activities and class work
• How to avoid having Legal Writing take over your life
• Getting things in order to set yourself up for success
• How to set goals that work

Don't let the October Freakout destroy your law school motivation. Stay strong, and you will get through it!

Best of luck!

Resources:

• Are You Having an October Freakout? Of Course You Are! (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/having-an-october-freakout-of-course-you-are/)
• Surviving the 1L October Freakout (http://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/10/surviving-the-october-1l-freakout/)
• It’s Time for a Mid-Semester Reality Check (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/time-for-a-mid-semester-reality-check/)
• Are You in Law School Crisis Mode? (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/are-you-in-law-school-crisis-mode-heres-how-to-get-out/)

If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know!

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

We will be honest with you, disasters in law school are inevitable. It's not a question of "if" disasters will happen, but "when." That's why it's crucial to be as prepared as possible to avoid total chaos when bad things happen. Law school is stressful enough without suffering through a total academic or life meltdown!

Alison and Lee share some of their own personal disasters in law school and other situations that you may encounter.

In this episode you will learn:

• What is the #1 problem that affects law school students?
• How and why to backup your computer files (seriously, just do it!)
• Ways to prevent and handle exam disasters
• How to prepare for the inevitable life meltdowns
• How to prepare your computer for exams
• How to overcome test anxiety
• How to rebound from a law school disaster
• Why it's important to build community

Resources:

• Dropbox - (http://dropbox.com/)
• One Password - (https://agilebits.com/onepassword)
• Last Pass - (https://lastpass.com/)
• Mind Over Bar - (http://mindoverbar.com/)
• Build a Survival Kit (Red Cross) - (http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/home-family/get-kit)
• Why You Need Renters Insurance (https://www.balancepro.net/education/publications/rentersinsurance.html)
• Why You Should Backup Your Files (https://www.backblaze.com/data-backup/backup-your-computer.html)

If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know!

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

Today we are talking about one important facet of your law school experience - learning to argue like a lawyer. From class to court, it's all basically the same.

So, what do Lawyers argue about? Some combination of:

1. The Facts
2. The Law
3. Policy

In this episode we discuss:

• Examples of the types of arguments you will find in law school
• How to argue like a lawyer
• Why law students struggle with the concept of ambiguity
• The importance of reading cases carefully
• Why law students struggle when trying to argue about the law
• Policy arguments and why they can be the most confusing type of argument
• How professors handle policy arguments
• What types of arguments will you see on exams and strategies for mastering them

If you liked this episode, please let us know!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 in law school.

Alison & Lee

Are your resume and cover letter ready to send out? Many law students wait until they're under the gun to craft their job application materials. The truth is you should write your resume now to avoid having to rush and create one when an opportunity presents itself.

Not all resumes and cover letters are created equal. Find out what makes a law student resume and cover letter stand out in a sea of applicants!

In this episode we talk about:

• Why you should do your resume and cover letter early in law school
• What your resume needs to convey
• How long the average hiring manager looks at your resume
• Learning to look at your resume from different perspectives
• How to make your resume stand out in a crowded field
• Common resume problems
• How to elaborate on a short resume
• How to explain experience that isn’t obviously related
• How you can get more experience for your resume
• Crafting different resumes for different types of jobs
• Where to get help writing your resume and cover letter
• The importance of consistency on LinkedIn and other social media profiles

Good luck in the job hunt!

Resources:

• The One Thing That Needs to Be On Your Résumé to Ace a Callback Interview (http://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/07/summer-associate-callback-law-firm-interview-tips/)
• The One Question That Will Improve Any Résumé (http://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/09/the-one-question-that-will-improve-any-resume/)
• Looking for Work? 7 Tips for a Remarkable Résumé (http://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/02/looking-for-a-legal-job-resume-tips/)
• Want a Job? Clean Up Your Online Paper Trail (http://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/06/want-a-job-clean-up-your-online-paper-trail/)

If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know!

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

What is it about the term Legal Writing that makes law students cringe? If you are a first-year law student, you're most likely enrolled in a Legal Research and Writing Class (LRW). This is a class that can strike fear into the heart of some law students. Others approach it with an "I got this" attitude only to be shocked when they realize they actually don't. The same writing skills that scored you a spot in law school do not always transfer when it comes to legal writing. It's just another class - what is everyone so afraid of?

1. You have to get comfortable with writing in a different way.
2. The exams and papers can be incredibly time-consuming and challenging.
3. It's hard to "unlearn" a style of writing you became comfortable with in your prior education.

In this episode we talk about:

• What makes legal writing so difficult?
• The different types of legal writing
• How your academic background can affect your success in your legal writing class
• Improving your legal writing skills
• How to handle legal writing if English isn't your first language
• Tools and tricks to stay organized
• Why legal writing is important to your future career (and passing the bar exam)

If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know!

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

Resources:

• Trello (http://www.trello.com) - Our favorite organizational tool!!!
• Be Ready to Throw Your Writing Style Out the Window (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/0l-to-1l-be-ready-to-throw-your-writing-style-out-the-window/)
• It is Important to Be Realistic About Assignments (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/it-is-important-to-be-realistic-about-assignments/)
• Legal Writing Tip: Imagine You're Talking to Your Grandmother (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/legal-writing-tip-imagine-youre-talking-to-your-grandma/)

Are lawyers actually more unhappy than your average professionals, or do they just like to complain a lot?

Studies have shown that 52% of practicing lawyers are dissatisfied in their careers. They suffer from depression rates 3.6 times higher than other professions. The divorce rate is higher among lawyers and especially among female lawyers.

Are you doomed to misery as a lawyer?

In this episode, we discuss why the profession is so messed up, and what you can do to shield yourself against the worst aspects of the legal profession. We talk about:

• Why lawyers are so unhappy
• Whether there's a link between pay and job satisfaction
• What intrinsic factors in the profession contribute to the widespread misery?
• "Phantom Blackberry syndrome" after leaving BigLaw
• Has technology made these problems worse?
• Perfectionism in the legal profession
• Is this all law schools' fault?
• What can you do to avoid or respond to these problems?
• How can you make your life better as a law student or lawyer?

The good news - not all lawyers are unhappy. The trick is to find a happy medium that works for you.

If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know! 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

Resources Mentioned:

1. Why Are Lawyers So Unhappy? (http://www.lawyerswithdepression.com/articles/why-are-lawyers-so-unhappy/)
2. Lawyers With Lower Pay Report More Happiness (http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/05/12/lawyers-with-lowest-pay-report-more-happiness/)
3. Law School Quadruples the Chance of Depression: Some Changes That May Help (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kate-mayer-mangan/law-school-quadruples-dep_b_5713337.html)
4. The Lawyer Who Became a Clown (http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/20/abandoning-the-work-i-hated/)
5. Dave Nee Foundation (http://www.daveneefoundation.org/scholarship/lawyers-and-depression/)
6. Warrior One - Mindfulness for Lawyers (http://warriorone.com/)

Welcome back! If you are a 2L or 3L who's stuggled in law school, this episode is for you. Today we're talking about how to overcome a 1L year that was less than stellar and raise your grades for the rest of your tenure in law school.

Your GPA as a 1L is important because it's used for on-campus interviews and Law Review, but don't forget that clerkships, internships, and future employers look at the big picture and you still have a long way to go. It's too early to get discouraged!

We discuss strategies to raise your GPA which include:

• Evaluating the problem
• Developing more effective pre-exam preparation strategies
• Secrets to eliminating distractions in class
• Managing your time effectively and getting more practice in
• Working on your exam writing skills
• Scheduling classes the smart way
• Taking advantage of electives and clinics
• Improving your GPA as a 3L - Is it even worth bothering?
• Getting in the right mindset for success

The most important things is to not get discouraged and give up. Continuously try to improve and change the way you prepare and study, and you'll see results!

If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know! 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/).

Good luck!

Alison & Lee

Resources:

• Demoralizing Feedback? Look at What You Did Right! (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/demoralizing-feedback-look-at-what-you-did-right/)