Libsyn Directory

537: Planning for a Better Second Semester in Law School

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

Release Date: 01/05/2026

549: Acing the Law Review Write-on Competition (w/Professor Dawn Young)

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! 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 Review for sponsoring this episode. Only until this Friday (April 3rd, 2026), you can save up to $1,100 on your 2027 or 2028 bar review course with just $25 down. Simply visit and select "Pay...

548: A Week in the Life of a Successful 1L – What You Actually Do Hour by Hour

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, 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 to explore your options and see how Juno can help you find a better rate. In this episode we discuss: The 1L weekly framework The "Thousand Minute Rule" A 1L student's weekday schedule breakdown...

547: Listen and Learn -- Duties to the Tribunal (Professional Responsibility)

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'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's Model Rules of Professional Conduct The elements of Rule 3.3 "Candor Toward the Tribunal" A few hypothetical scenarios that show how this topic appears on an exam Resources: ...

546: 5 Tips for Keeping Your Legal Writing Organized (Part 2)

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 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 clean and well organized. In this episode we discuss: Planning and outlining before you write Avoiding conclusory analysis Utilizing headers as signposts for your reader Organizing...

545: 5 Tips for Keeping Your Legal Writing Organized (Part 1)

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 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 clean and well organized. In this episode we discuss: How thinking like a reader helps your writing The starting point: Audience and purpose The characteristics of the most...

544: Quick Tips -- Rapid-Fire Legal Ethics Scenarios

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'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 overworked Resources: If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on () or your favorite listening app. And feel free to reach out to us directly. You can...

543: The CROWN Act – Fighting Discrimination in the Workplace (w/Karis Stephen)

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, 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 field Why it's advisable to find a professional mentor What is the CROWN Act and how it fights discrimination Women and workplace discrimination Three important pieces of advice for law...

542: Listen and Learn -- Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress (Torts)

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! 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 versus intentional infliction of emotional distress Hypotheticals and examples illustrating NIED Resources: If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or...

541: Listen and Learn -- Injunctions and Restraining Orders (Civ Pro)

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, 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 discuss: Overview of injunctive relief Temporary restraining orders (TROs) Preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions Sample questions from previous California bar exams ...

540: Listen and Learn -- Self-Defense and Defense of Others

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 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: If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on () or your favorite listening app. And feel free to reach out to us directly. You can...

More Episodes

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! In the first week of January, we're talking about the second semester – how to make a study plan, get feedback on your first-semester exams, and even use AI to help you out with organization and studying.

In this episode we discuss:

Dealing with disappointing first-semester grades
Engaging with professors and seeking feedback
Creating and sticking to a study schedule
Minimizing distractions and maximizing focus
Utilizing AI for academic success

Resources:

Download the Transcript
(https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-537-planning-for-a-better-second-semester-in-law-school/)

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/law-school-toolbox-podcast/id1027603976) or your favorite listening app. 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). If you're concerned about the bar exam, check out our sister site, the Bar Exam Toolbox (http://barexamtoolbox.com/). You can also sign up for our weekly podcast newsletter (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/get-law-school-podcast-updates/) to make sure you never miss an episode!

Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee

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