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 have a special guest, Jennifer Warren, to talk about how to improve your public speaking skills – something most law students and lawyers need to work on. In this episode, we discuss: Why public speaking skills are so important for a legal career The importance of being yourself when presenting The golden rule of the Law School Toolbox – PR...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we are pleased to welcome back Sadie Jones, an ex-BigLaw recruiter, to talk about how to handle difficult situations at work. In this episode, we discuss: What to tell your employer/prospective employer when the grades that got you the job have tanked or you've failed the bar exam How to tell your employer you're taking a judicial clerkship Wh...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we're talking about how to attack multiple choice questions on a law school exam - something we're seeing a lot more of these days! In this episode, we discuss: Why we are seeing more multiple choice questions on law school exams The right answer versus the best answer - how legal multiple choice questions are different than other multiple cho...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we're excited to be talking with Casey Berman, founder of Leave Law Behind, about why some attorneys are unhappy and what they can do to shift to a non-legal career.  In this episode, we discuss: Why unhappy attorneys tend to be unhappy How leaving the law requires shifting out of the typically attorney mindset What type of non-legal careers a...

Welcome to the Law School Toolbox Podcast. Today, we're sharing personal productivity tips you can use to organize your life and get everything done. Working effectively isn't just important for law school, but for life as a whole. In this podcast, we talk about different systems, strategies, and considerations you can explore to create a productivity plan that works for you. In this episode, we d...

Welcome to the Law School Toolbox Podcast! Today, we're talking with legal recruiter Liz Stone, of Stone Legal Search, about ways to proactively manage your career from law school onwards. A former litigator, Liz works primarily with attorneys in the middle of their careers looking to make a switch and brings to the podcast her insights on decisions to make early on to help ensure job satisfaction...

Welcome to the Law School Toolbox Podcast. Today, we're talking about what it's actually like to work in BigLaw, with ex-BigLaw recruiter, Sadie Jones. It's generally accepted that in BigLaw, you're expected to bill a ton of hours and work long nights in exchange for a hefty paycheck, but is that all there is to it? Learn more of the nuanced ins-and-outs of life working in a large law firm. In thi...

Welcome to the Law School Toolbox Podcast! Today, we're talking about thinking about the future and long-term goal setting in law school. Many people in their 30s and 40s look at their lives and wonder how they got there. Though it might seem far off when you're in your 20s, it's never too early to start thinking about what you might want your life to look like in the future, and to make the perso...

Welcome to the Law School Toolbox Podcast! Today, we're talking about how to go about making difficult decisions in law school, because, let's be honest, you'll almost certainly have to make some. Now that the first semester is over, this is the time of year when many law students face a variety of choices about the direction their legal education and career. In this podcast, we talk about some of...

Welcome to the Law School Toolbox Podcast! Today, we're talking about something that's incredibly important for everyone who's preparing for the bar exam, which is self-care. Because, let's face it, studying for the bar exam is stressful and, actually, so is legal practice. So, working on self-care during the bar exam study period is one thing that will probably help you pass and also help you in...

Welcome to the Law School Toolbox Podcast and to a whole new year! Today, we're talking about taking stock, regrouping, and a few resolutions you might want to consider for the new school year. January can be a rough time in law school. The weather is terrible in lots of places, the holiday break is over, and of course, grades are coming in. However, the first few weeks of the spring semester are...

Welcome to the Law School Toolbox Podcast! Today, we have guest Sadie Jones, an ex-BigLaw recruiter, here to talk about some resume no-gos: all those things that you should never do on your resume. Sadie has seen a lot of resumes, for different positions, from a variety of candidates, and at a diverse collection of law firms. She's got lots of valuable insights on things to avoid in your resume, s...

Welcome to the Law School Toolbox Podcast. Today, we're talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter guest, Sadie Jones, about how to get people to help you with your job search and how to keep them happy when they do help. As the saying goes, "It's not what you know, it's who you know," so don't be afraid to connect with your network for help. We'll talk about the different people you can reach out to, and h...

Welcome to the Law School Toolbox podcast. Today, we're talking about how to maintain a professional profile in the digital age where so much of your life is online, for better or worse. Technology is omnipresent; we are connected now more than ever, and in ways we don't even know about. If you want to maintain a professional image, it is important to be mindful of what you're posting, where you'r...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox Podcast. Today, we're talking about how not to be a jerk in your legal office environment with our special guest, Sadie Jones, who's a former BigLaw recruiter. True or not, lawyers have a terrible reputation when it comes to being nice and considerate in the office. Lawyers often have reputations of being jerks to other lawyers. Why is that? How true is it? H...

Welcome back! Today, we are talking about a very serious and important topic: mental health in the legal profession. The staggering statistics and heartbreaking stories of depression, substance abuse, and even suicide in law schools and in our legal profession have raised our concerns and the concerns of others. Because of this, we have reached out to attorney-turned-executive consultant and licen...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox Podcast! Today we're talking about transferring law schools after your 1L year. There are many different reasons why a law student might apply for a transfer, but in any case, you'll have to go through the application process – again – and that takes thought and effort. Our special guest is Mihal Ansik, who graduated from Harvard Law School as a transfer stud...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox Podcast. Today we're  talking about alternative bar prep options outside of the big commercial programs. Turns out, not everyone learns the same way, so you want to make sure your bar prep will work for you! Historically, most people studied for the bar exam the same way, taking a large commercial course such as BARBRI. Now, bar takers are fortunate to be abl...

Today, we're talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter, Sadie Jones, about preparing for the 1L job hunt. We'll also talk about the impact your 1L job might, or might not, have on your future job prospects. There are many rules and restrictions on the 1L job application process and a lot of things to consider when deciding what you want to do with your 1L summer, so tune in for some great information and a...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox Podcast! Today we're discussing tips for applying to law school with two application experts: Doretta McGinnis, who is also a tutor for us at the Law School Toolbox and the Bar Exam Toolbox, and Ned Luce. Doretta and Ned are independent educational consultants with a focus on undergrad and law school admissions. Together, they founded Admission Logic. In this...

Welcome to the Law School Toolbox Podcast! Today, we're talking with Pamela Hart, Director of the Animal Law Program at the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Animal law is a growing practice area, and we're excited to find out more about the work that is being done for animal rights and animal owners. Pamela also has some great general insights for people interested in pursuing public interest careers. I...

Welcome to the Law School Toolbox Podcast! Today, we're talking about a subject no one likes to think about: midterms. Law school midterms are becoming more and more common, especially for 1Ls. If you're a 1L, this will be the first time you stare down the barrel of a law school exam – and get a grade, which can be intimidating! Tune in while Lee and Alison discuss what you need to know about law...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox Podcast! Today, we're talking with Jeremy W. Richter, an attorney with Webster, Henry, Bradwell, Cohan, Speagle & DeShazo, in Birmingham, Alabama. Jeremy practices civil defense litigation and focuses on commercial auto/trucking litigation, premises liability, general business liability, and various other aspects of insurance defense litigation. He also write...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox Podcast! Today, we're chatting about settling into law school after your first month. The first four or five weeks of class can be a really pivotal turning point for a lot of students, especially 1Ls. But there's still plenty of adjusting that happens in your 2L and 3L years, too, with each year presenting unique challenges. In this episode, we discuss: Takin...

Welcome to the Law School Toolbox Podcast! Today we are talking about a topic every law student needs to think about – Networking! Whether you are an extrovert or an introvert, this episode is for you. Networking is a "bad word" for some folks and can even cause anxiety. You may dread having to get dressed up and go to a networking event to meet new people, but in this job market, legal networking...