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! In this episode, Lee talks with Natalie Diggins, author of The Autistic Adult's Toolbox , about her late-in-life neurodivergent diagnosis and the practical "scaffolding" tools she developed to thrive in professional environments. The conversation centers around concrete strategies for meetings, note-taking, and self-advocacy in the workplace.    In t...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! This episode is part of the series "Law Every 1L Should Know", and today we're focusing on an important civil procedure topic -- personal jurisdiction. We'll discuss the two branches (general and specific jurisdiction) and we'll analyze a fact pattern at the end of the episode. Thanks to Juno for sponsoring this episode! If you're thinking about stud...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we have a special guest -- Teria Thornton from AccessLex Institute -- and we are talking about law school financing, loan repayment, and what you can do to improve your credit score.   In this episode we discuss: Introduction to AccessLex and our guest, Teria Thornton The school loan landscape before 2025 Changes with the One Big Beautiful Bil...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! This episode is part of the series "Law Every 1L Should Know", and today we're delving into real property. We'll do a quick orientation to what property law actually covers; then we'll talk about one of the toughest parts of 1L Property -- future interests; and finally, we'll do a deeper dive into adverse possession with a fact pattern at the end. Th...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! This episode is part of the series "Law Every 1L Should Know", and today we're focusing on torts. We briefly go through a review of the intentional torts, and we focus more thoroughly on negligence, since it is the most heavily tested topic in 1L Torts. To illustrate how negligence is tested on an exam, we go through a sample scenario. Thanks to Juno...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! This episode is part of the series "Law Every 1L Should Know", and today we're tackling contracts. We cover the three essential elements of contract formation under common law -- offer, acceptance, and consideration -- and apply the rules to a practical fact pattern. Thanks to Juno for sponsoring this episode! If you're thinking about student loans f...

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 S...

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...

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 pe...

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 s...

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 introd...

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 expl...

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...

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 discu...

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 R...

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  Jo...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today we're discussing ABA's Model Rule of Professional Conduct 3.3, which governs truth telling to the tribunal (a court, arbitrator, administrative agency, or any other body acting in an adjudicative capacity). We break down all of the rule's nuances and parts, and analyze a few hypothetical scenarios. In this episode we discuss: An overview of ABA...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! In a two-part episode, we discuss how organization is what makes legal writing usable and trustworthy -- allowing judges, supervisors, and clients to follow your reasoning and accept your conclusions. Together with Legal Writing professor and Law School Toolbox tutor Mary Fran Richardson, we cover five essential tips for keeping your legal writing cl...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! In a two-part episode, we discuss how organization is what makes legal writing usable and trustworthy -- allowing judges, supervisors, and clients to follow your reasoning and accept your conclusions. Together with Legal Writing professor and Law School Toolbox tutor Mary Fran Richardson, we cover five essential tips for keeping your legal writing cl...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today we're going through three rapid-fire legal ethics scenarios and asking you, the listener, "What would you do?" We then provide you with the answers based on the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct. In this episode we discuss: Scenario 1: Conflict of interest Scenario 2: Client plans to lie on the stand Scenario 3: Pro bono when you're overw...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, Lee is talking with Karis Stephen -- a plaintiff-side employment attorney and Law School Toolbox tutor -- about her career journey, law school success, and the CROWN Act.  In this episode we discuss: An introduction to our guest and her professional journey Exploring different career and life interests Working in the employment discrimination...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! This episode explains the concept of negligent infliction of emotional distress (NIED) in tort law, outlining the four specific situations in which a plaintiff can recover for emotional harm caused by another's negligence. In this episode we discuss: A review of the elements of negligence The four situations in which NIED claims are valid Negligent v...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, as part of our "Listen and Learn" series, we're discussing  the concept of injunctive relief (Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 65). We introduce three types of injunctions – temporary restraining orders (TROs), preliminary injunctions, and permanent injunctions, and the elements necessary for obtaining each of them. In this episode we dis...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! In this episode we explain the legal concepts of self-defense and defense of others, focusing on their importance in criminal law and in law school exams.   In this episode we discuss: Self-defense: rules and elements Imperfect self-defense Defense of others: rules and elements Two hypothetical scenarios from previous California bar exams Resources:...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we're diving into part one of a two-part series on the topic of impeachment. Specifically, we're focusing on character impeachment – that is, discrediting the credibility of a witness. In this episode we discuss: What is witness impeachment? Demonstration of bias Examining a witness's character for truthfulness Evidence of prior bad acts and c...