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 Marina Modlin, founder of Modlin Legal, with us to share some real-life estate planning advice. In this episode we discuss: Marina's background and current practice What does "estate planning" entail? The "default" system of estate planning versus the "opt-in" system Life events that should really trigger you to deal with your estate p...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! In today's episode from our "Listen and Learn" series, we're discussing the Taxing and Spending Clause of the Constitution, which specifies how Congress can collect taxes and allocate spending. In this episode we discuss: Different types of taxes that Congress collects The two general purposes for which Congress is permitted to lay or collect taxes R...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we're excited to have Derek Brainard, National Director of Financial Education at AccessLex Institute, talking with us about everyone's favorite topic - student loans! In this episode we discuss: Derek's background and current role Services offered by AccessLex Institute What should students and grads know about payments restarting? The big ne...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we have ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones with us to talk about looking for legal jobs in the current economy, where law firm hiring is slowing down and some layoffs may even be happening. In this episode we discuss: A look at recent periods of economic challenges What fuels BigLaw work? For students interested in BigLaw, how concerned should th...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today we are digging into a commonly-tested exam topic in Federal Civil Procedure – determining proper venue in civil actions. In this episode we discuss: What is venue, and how to distinguish between venue and jurisdiction How venue can be properly established and changed Venue statutes and their application Analyzing two essay questions, from the F...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today on the podcast, we have guest Alexis Yee-Garcia, who manages diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at a BigLaw firm. We talk about how people with diverse profiles - whether racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, gender identity, or sexual orientation - find their place in today's legal profession. In this episode we discuss: Alexis Yee-Garci...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! The topic of today's "Listen and Learn" episode is Criminal Procedure. Specifically, we're talking about a few topics related to the prosecution of a criminal trial: burden of proof, presumptions, and sufficiency of the evidence. In this episode we discuss: The burden of proof in a criminal case A review of the substantive law defining murder Rebutta...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, as part of our "Listen and Learn" series, we're discussing Criminal Procedure, specifically what is needed for a valid search warrant, and the situations in which a warrant is not required. In this episode we discuss: What is a warrant? Requirements for a valid search warrant Eight exceptions to the warrant requirement Analyzing two hypos, fro...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today we're talking about the parol evidence rule, which governs evidence that parties to a contract dispute can introduce when determining the specific terms of the contract. In this episode we discuss: The definition of parol evidence Exceptions to the parol evidence rule The difference between a partially integrated writing and a fully integrated...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! In today's episode from our "Listen and Learn" series, we talk about the two most heavily-tested types of legal remedies for a breach of contract. In this episode we discuss: Legal remedies and equitable remedies for a breach of contract The rules for expectation damages and consequential damages Different loss-mitigation scenarios Analyzing two hypo...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we have ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones with us to discuss how to prepare for the second round of interviews for summer associate positions.  In this episode we discuss: The basics of a callback interview Are interviews still virtual due to the pandemic? How callback interviews are different from the initial screening interviews How much do yo...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we're focusing on an important topic in Evidence – the Best Evidence Rule, which requires a witness to produce the document whose contents he or she is testifying about. In this episode we discuss: How Evidence is different from most other topics on a law school exam The Best Evidence Rule and its related exceptions Analyzing several hypos fro...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! If you're interested in working in a specialty area of the law, join us for this episode as we share tips on getting a niche job out of law school or working your way in over time. In this episode we discuss: What are some "niche" and "non-niche" areas of law? The keys to finding a niche job out of law school How can you work your way into a specialt...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we're discussing how to identify and work through Privileges and Immunities Clause issues on a law school exam. In this episode we discuss: Distinguishing between the Privileges and Immunities Clause of Article IV of the Constitution and the Privileges or Immunities Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment What steps to take to identify whether the...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we're talking about some scenarios that people often ask about if they're incoming law students. We address concerns related to finding your motivation, fitting into law school, succeeding academically, and more.   In this episode we discuss: Being a first-generation law student Leveling the playing field if you have learning differences Fitti...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we're chatting with ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones about how you should be preparing for a successful OCI process. In this episode we discuss: The basics of the OCI process Finalizing your application documents Scheduling time each week for the job search Preparing your story and questions to ask in an interview Looking for jobs outside of OC...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, in another "Listen and Learn" episode, we're focusing on assumption of risk as a defense to negligence in Tort law. In this episode we discuss: A review of the rule for assumption of risk What are some common situations that trigger this defense? Express vs. implied assumption of risk The Professional Rescuer Rule How a small change in the fac...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we're talking with guest Aliza Shatzman from The Legal Accountability Project about some of the things that can go wrong with judicial clerkships, and what clerks can do to protect themselves when that happens. Note: This episode was recorded several weeks ago. Based on Aliza's subsequent conversations with law schools, The Legal Accountabilit...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we're talking about life logistics as you prepare to start law school. We share tips for organizing yourself during this process so your transition to law school happens as smoothly as possible. In this episode we discuss: Transportation and housing logistics Academic logistics Automating recurring payments and setting up appointments early Th...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, as part of our "Listen and Learn" series, we're looking at the conditions that have to be satisfied in order to form a valid contract. We'll review the concepts and illustrate them with two essay questions from previous bar exams. In this episode we discuss: Determining the applicable law governing a contract The conditions that have to be sat...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! In today's "Listen and Learn" episode, we look at the various ways of establishing whether a court has jurisdiction over the parties in a lawsuit. In this episode we discuss: Establishing personal jurisdiction through traditional bases The difference between "domicile" and "presence" Long-arm statutes and ties to the forum state The two parts of the...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we're talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones about how to deal with difficult work situations and make the most out of your summer job experience. In this episode we discuss: Taking ownership of your work if you're given very little direction when you start How to turn things around if your first work assignment doesn't go well What shou...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! In today's episode, we're talking about contract defenses, including mistake, fraudulent misrepresentation, and non-disclosure. For a refresher on the concepts involved in contract formation, take a look at episode 161 of the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast . In this episode we discuss: Determining the governing law of a contract Conditions for a valid cont...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we're talking about what to do – and what not to do – the summer before law school. In this episode we discuss: Specific things you can do to prepare for starting law school What to think about if you're going to be moving How much substantive law should you try to learn over the summer? Should you try to meet classmates before orientation? Wh...

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we're excited to have ex-BigLaw recruiter Sadie Jones with us to talk about ways to keep your job search and career planning consistent as a law student, without overdoing it. In this episode we discuss: Finding a good balance between academics and career planning for each year of law school How much time to devote to job searching/career plan...