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

Welcome back! Today, we're talking with Ariel Salzer, tutor for the Law School Toolbox and Bar Exam Toolbox, about the upcoming July 2017 bar exam season! Change is in the air, especially with the new California bar exam format and new MBE scoring rules, so your strategy might shift a bit. But one thing remains constant: you can't get through any bar exam without deliberate, focused, and practical studying—and a lot of it. In this episode, we discuss: Changes to the California bar exam format from 3 days to 2 days Potential winners and losers with the new format The impact of reducing the California performance test to one 90-minute segment Chatter about the exam changes and the debate over lowering the passing score in California—and why you should ignore all of it during your bar exam prep Practicing active learning for the MBE and recognizing legally significant facts The benefits of, and strategies for, starting your bar prep early Resources: • Esqyr (http://www.esqyr.com/) • Esqyr 10% Off Coupon (http://www.esqyr.com/barexamtoolbox/) • SmartBarPrep.com (http://www.smartbarprep.com/) • State Bar of California Notice re: Modification to Format and Grading of the California Bar Examination Effective with July 2017 Administration (http://admissions.calbar.ca.gov/Portals/4/documents/Examinations/NoticeTwoDay0815_R.pdf) • "California bar exam's passing score should be lowered, critics say." (http://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/California-bar-exam-s-passing-score-should-be-10999240.php) • Sample 90-Minute Performance Test Instructions and File (http://admissions.calbar.ca.gov/Portals/4/documents/specialNotices/2017_Sample_90-MinutePT_File_R.pdf) • Podcast Episode 78: Advice for First-Time Bar Exam Takers (http://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-78-advice-first-time-bar-exam-takers/) • Podcast Episode 52: Bar Exam Tips for Mastering the MBE (http://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-52-bar-exam-tips-mastering-mbe/) • Please Do Not Spend All of Your Time Studying the Law! (http://barexamtoolbox.com/please-do-not-spend-all-of-your-time-studying-the-law/) • Can Studying Early Help You Pass the Bar Exam? (http://barexamtoolbox.com/can-studying-early-help-you-pass-the-bar-exam/) • How to Become Great at Taking the Bar Exam with Deliberate Practice (http://barexamtoolbox.com/become-great-taking-bar-exam/) • Why I Hired a Bar Exam Tutor (http://barexamtoolbox.com/hired-bar-exam-tutor) Bar Exam Workshops and Courses at BarExamToolbox.com: • Writing of the Week (WOW) Bar Essay Workshop (http://barexamtoolbox.com/writing-of-the-week-wow-bar-essay-workshop/) • California Bar Exam Tutoring (http://barexamtoolbox.com/california-bar-exam-tutoring/) • Florida Bar Exam Tutoring (http://barexamtoolbox.com/florida-bar-exam-tutoring/) • Uniform Bar Exam (UBE), MEE, and MPT Tutoring (http://barexamtoolbox.com/uniform-bar-exam-ube-mee-and-mpt-tutoring/) Episode Transcript: Download the Transcript (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Episode-90-2017-Bar-Exam-with-Ariel-Salzer.pdf) If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes (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 prepping for the bar exam, be sure to check out our Bar Exam Toolbox website (http://barexamtoolbox.com), too. Thanks for listening! Alison & Lee

Welcome back! Today, we're talking with Keri Clapp, professor and tutor for the Law School Toolbox and Bar Exam Toolbox, about important considerations to keep in mind as you make the transition from undergrad to law school. Keri, who teaches at both the undergraduate and law school level, offers her unique perspective to help us bring to light the key differences so you know what's in store. In this episode, we discuss: Differences between undergrad and law school teaching methods, course materials, and study habits How struggling with the material is normal and part of the learning process What it means to "think like a lawyer" Overcoming the initial resistance to, and awkwardness of, legal writing Understanding social and lifestyle differences Informational interviews and other ways to get a taste for what it's really like to be a law student and a lawyer before you take the plunge The importance of knowing yourself and your learning style Resources: Podcast Episode 1: Mindset – The Key to Success in Law School? (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-1-mindset-key-success-law-school/) Podcast Episode 43: Getting Mentally Prepared to Start Law School (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-43-getting-mentally-prepared-to-start-law-school/) Podcast Episode 7: Time and Life Management Basics (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-7-time-life-management-basics/) Podcast Episode 17: Where to Get Help in Law School (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-17-get-help-law-school/) Podcast Episode 2: Why Is Law School Hard? (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-2-law-school-hard/) Ginsberg, Ruth Bader. My Own Words. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2016. (https://www.amazon.com/Own-Words-Ruth-Bader-Ginsburg/dp/150114524X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1489105437&sr=8-1&keywords=ruth+bader+ginsburg) Toobin, Jeffrey. The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court. New York: Anchor Books, 2008. (https://www.amazon.com/Nine-Inside-Secret-World-Supreme/dp/1400096790/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1400096790&pd_rd_r=ZCXNXN9MR4ZHAJH5PW0X&pd_rd_w=WnS6D&pd_rd_wg=Z1Jcw&psc=1&refRID=ZCXNXN9MR4ZHAJH5PW0X) Vance, J.D. Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2016. (https://www.amazon.com/Hillbilly-Elegy-Memoir-Family-Culture/dp/0062300547/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1489027830&sr=1-1&keywords=hillbilly+elegy) Woodward, Bob. The Brethren: Inside the Supreme Court. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2005. (https://www.amazon.com/Brethren-Inside-Supreme-Court/dp/0743274024) Episode Transcript: Download the Transcript If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes (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, let's take a break, and talk about self-care strategies to keep your mojo strong as a law student. Law school is stressful enough on a good day, and, with everything going on in the world, global anxiety is at an all-time high. This combo is leading to a lot of stressed out, anxious law students! If this is you, we've got some strategies and advice to keep things from spinning out of control. In this episode, we discuss: - Simple self-care and why it's so important! - Scheduling time to "check in" with yourself - How to unplug from technology and reboot - Understanding your "Sphere of Control" - Balancing law school and maintaining focus in a tumultuous political environment - Remembering the big picture and finding perspective Resources: • Podcast Episode 1: Mindset – The Key to Success in Law School? (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-1-mindset-key-success-law-school/) • Podcast Episode 43: Getting Mentally Prepared to Start Law School (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-43-getting-mentally-prepared-to-start-law-school/) • Podcast Episode 15: The October Freakout (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-15-october-freakout/) • Podcast Episode 7: Time and Life Management Basics (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-7-time-life-management-basics/) • Podcast Episode 17: Where to Get Help in Law School (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-17-get-help-law-school/) • Podcast Episode 2: Why Is Law School Hard? (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-2-law-school-hard/) • Jain, Renee. "Teach your Child this Crucial Life Lesson (Challenge #2: Sphere of Control)." Huffington Post, Feb 21, 2017. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/teach-your-child-this-crucial-life-lesson-challenge_us_5898a6fde4b0985224db578e) • Ginsberg, Ruth Bader. My Own Words. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2016. (https://www.amazon.com/Own-Words-Ruth-Bader-Ginsburg/dp/150114524X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1489105437&sr=8-1&keywords=ruth+bader+ginsburg) Episode Transcript: Download the Transcript If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes (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). And 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're talking with Chris J. Henjum, an attorney and social entrepreneur. Chris is the co-founder of Esqyr.com, a public benefit corporation devoted to providing credible, affordable test prep (starting with the bar exam). Chris is also an attorney and analyst with Flaherty & Hood in St. Paul, Minnesota. If you're looking for bar prep options, or want to learn more about social entrepreneurship, tune in! In this episode we discuss: Why Chris took three bar exams, and then founded a bar prep company! Why are most bar prep courses so expensive? The challenges of balancing a side hustle with a full-time job and a new child What's it like to be a social entrepreneur, and what causes is Esqyr.com working to support? Chris and Lee discuss their favorite tools for organizing their lives and businesses Tips for success in law school and on the bar exam Why flash cards are terrible for learning the law How to handle failure and react to criticism Resources Esqyr (http://www.esqyr.com/) Trello (https://trello.com/) Xero (http://xero.com) Critical Pass Review (http://barexamtoolbox.com/tools-for-bar-exam-success-critical-pass-flashcards/) The Question I Have Never Been Asked About the Bar Exam (http://barexamtoolbox.com/question-ive-never-asked-bar-exam/) Special Discount for Podcast Listeners - 10% off Esqyr (Esqyr.com/barexamtoolbox) Episode Transcript: Download the Transcript If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes (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! Best of luck on the bar exam! Alison & Lee

Welcome back. Today, we're taking a little bit of a detour to talk about entrepreneurship. Or, maybe it's not such a detour, given the number of lawyers who end up creating solo practices or small firms, or who leave the law entirely to start new businesses! If you are looking to start your own business or create a side hustle, tune in! In this episode we discuss: Why everyone should think of themselves as an entrepreneur, even if they have a steady paycheck Why every BigLaw lawyer should read The 4-Hour Workweek Lee and Alison discuss their paths to entrepreneurship Why it might be a terrible idea to build a business around what you love to do Strategies for getting your business or side hustle off the ground How technology can make it easier to start a new business Books that we found helpful on the entrepreneurial path When it makes sense to work with a business or life coach Resources for raising funding for your new endeavor Why community matters if you want to be an entrepreneur (and how to build your community) Resources: Books The Startup of You by Reid Hoffman (https://www.amazon.com/Start-up-You-Future-Yourself-Transform-ebook/dp/B0050DIWHU/) The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss (https://www.amazon.com/4-Hour-Workweek-Expanded-Updated-Cutting-Edge-ebook/dp/B002WE46UW/) Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini (https://www.amazon.com/Influence-Psychology-Persuasion-Business-Essentials-ebook/dp/B002BD2UUC/) Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck (https://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Psychology-Carol-S-Dweck-ebook/dp/B000FCKPHG/) Brene Brown books (https://www.amazon.com/Bren%C3%A9-Brown/e/B001JP45BA/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1487290640&sr=8-1) Finding Your Own North Star by Martha Beck (https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Your-Own-North-Star/dp/0812932188/) $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau (https://www.amazon.com/100-Startup-Reinvent-Living-Create-ebook/dp/B0067TGSOK/) Birthing the Elephant: The Woman's Go-For-It Guide to Overcoming the Big Challenges of Launching a Business (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D5BDK9E/) Pour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time by Harold Schultz (https://www.amazon.com/Pour-Your-Heart-Into-Starbucks-ebook/dp/B007MB5UIW/) Steve Jobs Biography (https://www.amazon.com/Steve-Jobs-Walter-Isaacson-ebook/dp/B004W2UBYW/) People to Follow Rachel Rogers, The Small Business Bodyguard (http://smallbusinessbodyguard.com/) Chris Guillebeau (https://chrisguillebeau.com/) Ramit Sethi, I Will Teach You To Be Rich (http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/) Marie Forleo (https://www.marieforleo.com/) Pat Flynn, Smart Passive Income (https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/) Meg Keene (http://www.megkeene.com/) Seth Godin (http://www.sethgodin.com/sg/) Tim Ferris (http://www.timothyferris.com/) Copyblogger (http://www.copyblogger.com/) Software Clio (http://www.clio.com/) Zapier (https://zapier.com/) Resources for Raising Capital Elizabeth Yin (http://blog.elizabethyin.com/) Mark Suster, Both Sides of the Table (https://bothsidesofthetable.com/) Other Resources Podcast: Seth Godin Tells Lawyers How to Make Art and Start a Ruckus (https://www.countertax.ca/bnlpodcast/s01e10-seth-godin) CodeX FutureLaw Conference at Stanford University (https://law.stanford.edu/event/codex-futurelaw-conference-2017/) Upwork (for outsourcing) (https://www.upwork.com/) Harvard Business Review Emails (https://hbr.org/email-newsletters) Episode Transcript: Download the Transcript If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes (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). Thanks for listening! Good luck with your path to entrepreneurship! Alison & Lee

Welcome back. Today, we're talking with Grover Cleveland, a Seattle lawyer and speaker and the author of the bestselling career advice book for new lawyers, Swimming Lessons for Baby Sharks: The Essential Guide to Thriving as a New Lawyer. If you're in law school or are starting your legal career in a law firm, tune in! In this episode we discuss: Grover tells us about the origin of his bestselling book, Swimming Lessons for Baby Sharks Lee and Grover share their experiences as new associates The most common mistakes summer associates and new full-time associates make What lawyers should wear to the office The soft skills law students need to succeed in their legal careers The realities of work/life balance, and how to ask about the topic in interviews How to set boundaries Getting feedback on your performance Resources Grover's Website (http://www.swimminglessonsforbabysharks.com/) Swimming Lessons for Baby Sharks (https://www.amazon.com/Swimming-Lessons-Sharks-Career-Guides/dp/1634606868/) Episode Transcript: Download the Transcript If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes (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). Thanks for listening! Alison & Lee

Welcome back! Today, we're talking with Law School Toolbox tutor (and former law professor) Jason Jones about a very important aspect of law school exam success – using legal rules. Some of you might be thinking, "Duh, of course, I know how to use legal rules. It's all we talk about in class and I have them all in my outline." But, we see A LOT of exam answers – where students swear they knew the rules going in – that really don't include rules at all. If you want to set yourself up for legal rule success, tune in! In this episode we discuss: What's the rule supposed to accomplish in legal writing? Why it's important to have accurate, complete rule statements Common issues students have with using legal rules effectively What a bad rule statement looks like Do you need to memorize your rule statements exactly? How do you know if the rules in your outline are correct and easy to use? Is it okay to just look up the rules in a commercial outline? Alison and Jason share examples of what do to (and not to do) with rules in legal writing Resources A Formula For Rule Analysis Success (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/formula-rule-analysis-success/) 3 Steps to Using Cases to Explain the Law (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/3-steps-using-cases-explain-law/) How and Why: Deepening Your Legal Reasoning (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/how-and-why-deepening-your-legal-reasoning/) Legal Writing 101 podcast (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-11-legal-writing-101/) Getting to Maybe: How To Excel at Law School Exams (https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Maybe-Excel-School-Exams/dp/0890897603) Episode Transcript: Download the Transcript If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes (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). Thanks for listening! Good luck with those rule statements! Alison & Lee

Welcome to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today we've got a special episode for you. We are honored to be talking with several volunteer lawyers who sprung into action at airports around the country, helping people caught up in the chaos that ensued after President Trump issued his executive order on immigration. This executive order, issued at the close of business on Friday, January 27th, 2017 resulted in a slew of deportations and detentions of travelers who were traveling with what they thought were valid visas. It's also generated a number of emergency injunctions in federal courts around the country. Tune in to hear what the situation was like on the ground, and how lawyers and law students can get involved to help. In this episode we discuss: Interviews with lawyers on the front lines: Sarah Sherman Stokes, Professor at Boston University School of Law volunteering with students in Boston, and Cindy Grossman, law firm tax partner volunteering at Newark Airport What was really going on at the airports and in the courts How lawyers got involved and self-organized a response How lawyers can, and did, help, even if they have other areas of substantive expertise The challenges of getting information to travelers who might need help What information, if any, lawyers were able to get about people being detained Classes to can take if you are interested in immigration law, and activities to participate in The value of law school clinics for building confidence and legal skills Issues that immigrants face, beyond just immigration How law students and lawyers can get involved and help The importance of lawyers brushing up on their general civil rights skills What it's like to fight the good fight in difficult situations Resources Lawyers for Good Government Website (http://www.lawyersforgoodgovernment.org/) Lawyers for Good Government Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/lawyersforgoodgovernment/) No Ban USA (https://nobanusa.com/) No Ban USA (for JFK) (https://nobanusa.com/jfk/) No Ban USA (for Newark) (https://nobanusa.com/ewr) Help the Lawyers Twitter (https://twitter.com/helpthelawyers) Free Law Project - Airport Cases (https://free.law/featured-cases/airport-cases/) How Lawyers are Using Tech to Fight for Justice in US Airports (https://www.clio.com/blog/help-the-lawyers-tech/) These are the Attorneys Fighting Trump's Immigration Ban at Airports Around the Country (http://nymag.com/thecut/2017/01/the-women-fighting-trumps-immigration-ban.html) Twitter Accounts: @DullesJustice (http://twitter.com/DullesJustice) @EWR_Lawyers (http://twitter.com/EWR_Lawyers) @nobanjfk (http://twitter.com/nobanjfk) @DFWDetained (http://twitter.com/DFWDetained) @OneJusticeOrg (http://twitter.com/OneJusticeOrg) @centrolegal (http://twitter.com/centrolegal) @LAXLawyers (http://twitter.com/LAXLawyers) @OpenBoston (https://twitter.com/openboston) Episode Transcript: Download the Transcript If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes. 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). Thanks for listening! Alison & Lee

Welcome back! Today we're talking with Okeoma Moronu, a BigLaw mid-level associate and creator of The Happy Lawyer Project. Are you a law student wondering if you can be happy as a lawyer? Are you a lawyer looking for happiness? It's really not impossible. Tune in for fresh ideas! In this episode we discuss: Can lawyers really be happy? Advice for young associates deciding what type of law to focus on Corporate or litigation? What are the pros and cons? How to make BigLaw work for you How to know if you should leave the law profession entirely How to find happiness as a lawyer or law student What to do in law school to prepare for a happy career How to connect with the Happy Lawyer Project Resources The Happy Lawyer Project (www.thehappylawyerproject.com) Why Are Lawyers So Unhappy (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-10-lawyers-unhappy/) Episode Transcript: Download a copy of the transcript If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes. 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). Thanks for listening! Alison & Lee

Welcome back! Today we're talking about something that's not discussed all that often in law school, which is emotional intelligence. This is an important piece of the puzzle for happiness and success in your law career and in life. Want to know how to develop these skills? Tune in! In this episode we discuss: What is emotional intelligence? Why is emotional intelligence important in legal work? Can better emotional intelligence make you a better lawyer (or will it just make you soft)? How to handle the stress of navigating rough waters for your clients Why there's persistent conflict in the legal profession and how to handle it Lee and Alison give examples of conflict from their legal work Personality types and how they affect your lawyering The importance of empathy and compassion in lawyers Exercises and resources for developing emotional intelligence Resources How to Be a Success at Everything (https://www.fastcompany.com/3042330/how-to-be-a-success-at-everything/how-one-simple-change-can-make-you-a-better-listener) 4 Rituals That Make You Happy, According to Neuroscience (http://time.com/4042834/neuroscience-happy-rituals/?xid=fbshare) Jeena Cho (http://jeenacho.com/) Judi Cohen, Warrior One (http://warriorone.com/) When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron (https://www.amazon.com/When-Things-Fall-Apart-Anniversary/dp/1611803438/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1484089071&sr=1-4&keywords=things+fall+apart) Books by Brene Brown (https://www.amazon.com/Bren%C3%A9-Brown/e/B001JP45BA/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1484926896&sr=1-1) Books by the Dalai Lama (https://www.amazon.com/Dalai-Lama/e/B000AQ027U/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1484927209&sr=1-1) The Places That Scare You by Pema Chodron (https://www.amazon.com/Places-That-Scare-You-Fearlessness-ebook/dp/B00BBXJH7W/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1484927287&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Places+that+scare+you) Episode Transcript: Download a copy of the transcript If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes. 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). Thanks for listening! Alison & Lee