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

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 these dilemmas specifically, and offer suggestions for how to approach your decision-making process. In this episode, we discuss: Should you stay, or should you go? Deciding whether to drop out Which jobs should you apply for? And which should you accept? Choosing a clinic or externship Deciding whether to join a journal, and which one How to spend your time in law school, on a daily or weekly basis, or over a semester Different tools for helping you make thoughtful decisions Dealing with resistance to or disapproval of your choice Trusting your instincts Resources: Martha Beck, Finding Your Own North Star: Claiming the Life You Were Meant to Live (https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Your-Own-North-Star/dp/0812932188) Episode Transcript: Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Episode-130-Making-Difficult-Decisions-in-Law-School.pdf) If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/law-school-toolbox-podcast/id1027603976) (or your listening platform of choice). 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/). Thanks for listening! Alison & Lee

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 your career later. In this episode, we discuss: Paying attention to your breathing, and using breath work for mental wellness and stress relief Making time to exercise – it's good for your brain and memory! Laughter therapy – tricking your brain to produce more serotonin Mindfulness: what it is, why it works, and how to incorporate it in your daily routine Simple yoga poses for stress relief Allowing yourself breaks – you're not a robot Real life ways of getting adequate sleep and nourishing your body with food and water Resources: Yoga Breathing: Alternate Nostril Breathing Video Tutorial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VwufJrUhic) Breath + Sound: 30 Minute Guided Breathwork Experience (https://eastsidebreathers.bandcamp.com/track/breath-sound-30-minute-guided-breathwork-experience) Harvard Health Blog, "Regular exercise changes the brain to improve memory, thinking skills." (https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/regular-exercise-changes-brain-improve-memory-thinking-skills-201404097110) Cancer Treatment Centers of America – Laughter Therapy (https://www.cancercenter.com/treatments/laughter-therapy/) Kitten Therapy: The Prescription for Stress (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35T8wtmTbVg) Getting Started with Mindfulness (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35T8wtmTbVg) Being with Stressful Moments Rather Than Avoiding Them (https://www.mindful.org/being-with-stressful-moments/) Insight Timer App (https://insighttimer.com/) Free Guided Meditations: UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center (http://marc.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=22&fr=true) Living Peace: Connecting Your Spirituality with Your Work for Justice (https://www.amazon.com/Living-Peace-Connecting-Spirituality-Justice/dp/1499798024) com (https://www.yogaglo.com/) Yoga Outlet - How to do Child's Pose in Yoga (https://www.yogaoutlet.com/guides/how-to-do-child_s-pose-in-yoga/) Yoga Journal - Yoga for Inner Peace (https://www.yogajournal.com/poses/yoga-for-inner-peace-stress-relief-daily-practice-challenge) Get a Good Night's Sleep by Filtering Your Phone's Blue Light (https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/get-good-nights-sleep-filtering-phones-blue-light/) Mind Over Bar (http://mindoverbar.com/) Bar Exam Mind (http://mindoverbar.com/) Bar Exam Toolbox's own Mindfulness archives (http://barexamtoolbox.com/tag/mindfulness/) Episode Transcript: Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Episode-129-Self-Care-During-Bar-Prep.pdf) If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/law-school-toolbox-podcast/id1027603976) (or your listening platform of choice). 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/). Thanks for listening! Alison & Lee

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 a great time to evaluate what worked for you – and what didn't work – last semester. In this episode, we discuss: Grades: How important are they, and what do they mean for the future of your legal career? Action steps for the first few weeks of spring semester How to talk to your professors about your exams Reevaluating your study resources and making changes as necessary – academic support at your school, private tutoring, and study groups Maintaining or regaining life balance: Therapy, exercise, and social life Suggested New Year's Resolutions for law students! Resources: Second Semester ReBoot Course Podcast Episode 122: How to Transfer Law Schools (with Mihal Ansik) Podcast Episode 120: Preparing for the 1L Job Hunt (with Ex-BigLaw Recruiter Sadie Jones) Podcast Episode 106: How to Go to Office Hours and Make It Worth Your Time Episode Transcript: Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Episode-128-Regrouping-in-January.pdf) If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/law-school-toolbox-podcast/id1027603976) (or your listening platform of choice). 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/). Thanks for listening! Alison & Lee

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, so before you apply for that job, tune in! In this episode, we discuss: Basic organization and formatting – length and consistency matter! Jobs that should be left off your employment history Managing a break in employment Associations and affiliations you should leave off Being able to talk about anything and everything you include in your resume Making your resume relevant to the position you are applying for Resources: Podcast Episode 111: Resumes and Cover Letters (with an Ex-Biglaw Recruiter) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-111-resumes-cover-letters-ex-biglaw-recruiter/) Podcast Episode 120: Preparing for the 1L Job Hunt (with Ex-Biglaw Recruiter Sadie Jones) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-120-preparing-1l-job-hunt-ex-biglaw-recruiter-sadie-jones/) Podcast Episode 126: How to Get People to Help with Your Job Search (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-126-get-people-help-job-search/) Episode Transcript: Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Episode-127-Resume-No-Gos.pdf) If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/law-school-toolbox-podcast/id1027603976) (or your listening platform of choice). 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/). Thanks for listening! Alison & Lee

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 how to approach them based on the strength of your relationship. In this episode, we discuss: Different people who might be willing and able to help with your job search The work you need to do before making any contact How to be specific and direct in asking for help What can you realistically expect from someone who offers to help? The value of following up and staying in contact How to approach someone you don't know personally for help Episode Transcript: Download the Transcript (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Episode-126-How-to-get-help-with-your-job-search.pdf) If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/law-school-toolbox-podcast/id1027603976) (or your listening platform of choice). 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/). Want some personal help on your job search? Check out our career options! (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/careerdicta/career-help/) Thanks for listening! Alison & Lee

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're posting it, who can see it (intentionally or unintentionally), and other activities that might put you at risk. In this episode, we discuss: The common-sense factor: you don't live in a bubble, so respect your own privacy Data being collected by a variety of tech companies, which you may not even know about Creating separate personal/professional profiles, adjusting privacy settings, and other things to think about when protecting your professional image Proactive steps you can take to develop a positive professional profile Google stalk yourself: make sure you know what's out there about you, and take remedial measures if necessary Quitting the Internet! (No, really!) Resources: Gizmodo, "How Facebook Figures Out Everyone You've Ever Met." (https://gizmodo.com/how-facebook-figures-out-everyone-youve-ever-met-1819822691/amp) Medium (https://medium.com/) Ms. JD (https://ms-jd.org/) Episode Transcript: Download the Transcript (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Episode-125-Maintaining-a-Professional-Profile-in-the-Digital-Age.pdf) If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/law-school-toolbox-podcast/id1027603976) (or your listening platform of choice). 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/). Thanks for listening! Alison & Lee

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? How do you avoid being "that" person? Tune in to find out! In this episode, we discuss: Is there something unique about being a lawyer that leads to this negative reputation? Behaviors to avoid in the interview process so you don't come across as a jerk What you can do as a summer associate or junior associate to develop a pleasant reputation Appropriately monitoring your social media presence and activity as relates to coworkers and work matters The reality of sexism and sexual harassment in the workplace Being mindful of topics discussed on work email Resources: Alison Monahan, "What No One Tells You Before You Go to Law School: You're Entering a Sexist Profession." (https://ms-jd.org/blog/article/what-no-one-tells-you-you-go-law-school-youre-entering-sexist-profession) Episode Transcript: Download the Transcript (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Episode-124-Dont-be-a-Jerk-at-Work-with-Sadie-Jones.pdf) If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/law-school-toolbox-podcast/id1027603976) (or your listening platform of choice). 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/). Thanks for listening! Alison & Lee

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 licensed psychotherapist, Sarah Weinstein, to talk about this topic. In this episode, we discuss: The sobering statistics on depression and substance abuse among law students and lawyers Is there something inherent to law school and the legal profession that leads to such mental health concerns? Effects of competition, debt, and a down job market on law students Effects of stress, conflict, and high-stakes matters on lawyers Signs that you or someone you know might need to seek professional help What can be done to change this mental health climate? Resources: sarahweinsteintherapy.com (http://www.sarahweinsteintherapy.com/) Lawyers & Depression (Dave Nee Foundation) (http://www.daveneefoundation.org/scholarship/lawyers-and-depression/) WellnessCast (https://law.stanford.edu/directory/joseph-bankman/wellness-project/#slsnav-the-wellnesscast) Warrior One (https://warriorone.com/) Above the Law, "Did Law School Bullying Contribute to a Recent Graduate's Suicide?" (https://abovethelaw.com/2017/09/law-school-bullying-leads-to-recent-graduates-suicide/) Above the Law, "Bar Exam Suicides Are Disturbingly Common Among Recent Law School Graduates." (https://abovethelaw.com/2016/12/bar-exam-suicides-are-disturbingly-common-among-recent-law-school-graduates/) New York Times, "The Lawyer, the Addict: A high-powered Silicon Valley attorney dies. His ex-wife investigates, and finds a web of drug abuse in his profession." (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/15/business/lawyers-addiction-mental-health.html?_r=0) Business Insider, "We Need to Start Talking to Law Students About Depression and Suicide." (http://www.businessinsider.com/we-need-to-start-talking-to-law-students-about-depression-and-suicide-2014-4) Episode Transcript: Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Episode-123-Mental-Health-and-the-Legal-Profession.pdf) If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/law-school-toolbox-podcast/id1027603976) (or your listening platform of choice). 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/). Thanks for listening! Alison & Lee

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 student, and currently works to provide legal services and education tools to women working to reunify with their children and families after incarceration. She has great insight into the transfer process, so if you are considering transferring, tune in! In this episode, we discuss: Mihal's decision to transfer to Harvard Law School What to focus on as a 1L if you intend to apply for a transfer Elements of a law school transfer application Timing for working on and submitting your application? How many schools should you apply to? Factors to consider when deciding whether to accept a transfer if you are accepted Adjusting to your new school Resources: Ahead of the Curve: So You Want to Transfer Law Schools… (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/ahead-of-the-curve-so-you-want-to-transfer-law-schools/) Transferring Law Schools: How I Jumped Ship (Part 1) (https://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/10/transferring-law-schools-jumped-ship/) Transferring Law Schools: How I Jumped Ship (Part 2) (https://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/11/transferring-law-schools-jumped-ship-2/) Applying to Law School: Personal Statement or Essay (from LSAC) (https://lsac.org/jd/applying-to-law-school/whom-to-admit/personal-statement) Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Fire: Transfer Students in Law School (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/out-of-the-frying-pan-into-the-fire-transfer-students-in-law-school/) Episode Transcript: Download the Transcript (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Episode-122-How-to-Transfer-Law-Schools-with-Mihal-Ansik.pdf) If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/law-school-toolbox-podcast/id1027603976) (or your listening platform of choice). 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/). Thanks for listening! Alison & Lee

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 able to explore different prep options, try them out, and put together a personalized bar program that is going to give them the best chance at passing. In this episode, we discuss: Key elements necessary for any effective bar prep program The importance of feedback, and making sure you understand the level of feedback your program offers Is tutoring right for you? Creating an effective and reasonable study schedule for you and your life The pros and cons of a wide variety of bar prep resources How to self-study and pass the bar exam Resources: Themis Bar Review (https://www.themisbar.com/) BarMax (https://testmaxprep.com/bar-exam) Lean Sheets (http://www.leansheets.com/) SmartBarPrep (https://www.smartbarprep.com/) NCBE Subject Matter Outlines (http://ncbex.org/exams/mbe/preparing/) Brainy Bar Bank (https://barexamtoolbox.com/brainy-bar-bank/) State Bar of California Past Exams (http://www.calbar.ca.gov/Admissions/Examinations/California-Bar-Examination/Past-Exams) BarEssays.com (http://baressays.com/) BET Review of BarEssays.com and Discount Code (https://barexamtoolbox.com/tools-for-bar-exam-success-baressays-com/) Writing of the Week Course (https://barexamtoolbox.com/writing-of-the-week-wow-bar-essay-workshop/) Critical Pass (https://criticalpass.com/) Sketchy Law (https://www.sketchylaw.com/) AdaptiBar (https://www.adaptibar.com/) BET Review of AdaptiBar and Discount Code (https://barexamtoolbox.com/tools-for-bar-exam-success-adaptibar/) Emanuel's Strategies & Tactics for the MBE 2, Second Edition (https://www.amazon.com/Strategies-Tactics-Second-Emanuel-Review/dp/1454809930) Bar Exam Toolbox Bar Exam Self-Study Program (https://barexamtoolbox.com/bar-exam-self-study-program/) Bar Exam Toolbox (https://barexamtoolbox.com/) Bar Exam Toolbox Private Tutoring (https://barexamtoolbox.com/private-bar-exam-tutoring/) Episode Transcript: Download the Transcript (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Episode-121-Alternative-Bar-Prep-Options.pdf) If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/law-school-toolbox-podcast/id1027603976) (or your listening platform of choice). 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/). Thanks for listening! Alison & Lee