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

Welcome back! Today's episode is about a very important topic: financial considerations before, during, and after law school. If you're thinking about taking out law school loans, or you already have, this one is for you!  In this episode we discuss: Why is law school debt such a huge issue for so many people?  What is the average law student debt?  The causes of this staggering debt load Pros and...

Welcome back! Today we are talking about how to find success during law school Moot Court. This can be a stressful experience for any law student, especially those with a fear of public speaking. Using these strategies to rock Moot Court and ace your oral arguments.   In this episode we discuss: What is Moot Court? How different law schools structure Moot Court Why is Moot Court so challenging? Wr...

Time for a mid-semester reality check! Second semester is interesting in law school because you're in a different position than you were last semester. You have a set of final exams under your belt and you may feel a little more prepared than last semester. Conversely, you may also have more obligations outside of the classroom, like job hunting, extracurricular activities, and moot court -- which...

Welcome back! Today we are discussing extracurricular activities in law school. You may be tempted to focus exclusively on studying and maintaining your grades, but extracurricular activities can help break up the monotony of law school and bolster your resume for the future. Do too many, however, and you might flunk out! As with many things, balance is key for a successful law school experience....

Welcome back! Today we are going to be talking about one of the most important decisions you will make as a lawyer - which law school to go to. If you are a pre-law struggling with your decision, we've got tips on how to critically evaluate your choices to make the best decision for you.  In this episode we discuss: How to dig into the law school data to make an informed decision on which law scho...

Happy 4th birthday to the Law School Toolbox! After reflecting on what we've learned from working with hundreds of law students over the past four years, we've compiled our top 10 tips to help you be a successful and happy law student. Enjoy! In this episode we discuss: Lee and Alison's favorite posts and advice from the past four years Why mindset matters so much in law school How to receive and...

Today we're celebrating the 4th Birthday of the Law School Toolbox!!! What started as a chance meeting on Twitter has matured into what we like to call a "real business." What have we learned along the way? Tune in to find out! In this episode we discuss: Why Alison and Lee prefer entrepreneurship to a law setting What was the biggest surprise about starting our own business? How Alison and Lee me...

Today, we are talking about a topic near and dear to our hearts, being a woman in the legal profession. It's 2016, are we really still having this same tired conversation about women in the workplace? Yes, yes we are. In this episode we discuss: What is it really like to be a woman in the legal workforce? Why is it so hard to be a woman in the legal profession? Lee and Alison share their experienc...

Today we are joined by Kipp Mueller, Columbia Law grad and the co-founder and CEO of SketchyLaw, an online education company which teaches legal rules using visual learning. He and Lee talk about how visual learning can help law students and the science behind it.  In this episode we discuss: What is visual learning?  How visual learning tools can benefit you in law school The science behind visua...

One of the biggest challenges law students face is how to handle pressure. Whether it's day-to day-stress or test anxiety, pressure and stress can be overwhelming, especially in law school. Today we have the New York Times bestselling author of "Performing Under Pressure: The Science of Doing Your Best When it Matters Most" and renowned pressure expert, Dr. Hank Weisinger, here to talk about handl...

Chances are, you've received at least some of your first semester law school grades by now. We hope you're jumping for joy, but the reality is that most students didn't do as well as they hoped. Don't panic - this isn't the end of your legal career. You have plenty of time to turn things around. The important thing is to stay focused, learn from your mistakes, and put a plan in place for success n...

Are you interviewing for a legal job? Whether you are interviewing for your first summer job, or one that will (hopefully) be more permanent, we have tips for many different types of interviews and situations.  In this episode we discuss: What universal traits are most interviewers looking for?  What traits are red flags for interviewers? How to dress for your interview Tailoring your approach for...

The fact that you are a 1L or 2L doesn't mean that you can't be thinking ahead to bar exam preparation. And if you're a 3L, you definitely need to be planning for the bar! It's important to keep bar prep on your radar throughout law school, so you will be ready when the big day arrives. Here are some tips for preparing successfully, whatever year you are! In this episode we discuss: The biggest mi...

Although it seems like it should be common sense, you'd be surprised by how many law students struggle with professionalism when they arrive at their first law job. This may be because many law students have limited work experience or have only been exposed to more casual work environments in the past. Now is the time to make a good first impression at your legal job and we have some advice to hel...

Although it's only December, today we're looking ahead to the summer. If you're a 1L, you're probably thinking about how (and where) you are going to find a summer job. We know a lot of you may be stressing out about this so we've got some useful tips and information about the basics of a 1L job search.  In this episode we discuss: Does it matter what you do after your 1L year of law school?  What...

Are exams looming on the horizon? In today's episode, we're dishing out some law school exam day tips. You probably have been preparing intensively for the last few weeks for exams, but have you prepared for the day of the exam? Athletes prepare for the day of the big game and so should you! Check out our tips for exam day success.  In this episode we discuss: Getting ready for the day of the exam...

In today's episode, we're doing things a bit differently. We've talked about how to study for a law exam, but today we are going to take an exam with you. Well, not actually TAKE it with you, but we're going over a real question to show you exactly how we'd approach an exam hypo, from start to finish.  Before listening to this episode, be sure to download the documents in the resources so you can...

In law school, you spend a lot of time preparing for exams. What most students don't spend time much on is putting yourself in your professor's shoes and focusing on what he or she is looking for in an exam answer. That's what this episode is about! Your goal should be to write a clean, well-organized, and thoughtful exam to give yourself an edge over your frazzled, disorganized classmates. We'll...

When you're counting the time to your first exam in weeks, rather than months, lots of law students start to panic. While we don’t suggest panicking, some concern is warranted! Time is going to go quickly, and you want to be sure you’re using it wisely in the last month or so until exams start. If you've got law school exams coming up, tune in! In this episode we discuss: Time management during la...

Not all law school exams are created equal. Different schools will use different types of exams and your professors can do whatever they want! In order to succeed, whether you're facing open-book, closed-book, multiple-choice, or take-home exams, it's critical to practice, to be resourceful, and to use tools and resources that are geared to your specific type of exam.  Don't stress out about what...

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 discussi...

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 will...

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 S...

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! Tak...

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 ot...