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 today's episode, Steve Schwartz from LSAT Unplugged shares the latest changes to the LSAT format. We also explore the evolving role of AI in test preparation and admissions and offer practical advice for effective LSAT study strategies.  In this episode we discuss: The latest LSAT format, consisting of: logical reasoning tasks reading comprehension tasks writing sample The role of AI in test prep and admissions LSAT prep strategies and resources Resources LSAT Unplugged (https://www.unpluggedprep.com/) LSAT Unplugged & Law School Admissions podcast (https://lsatunplugged.libsyn.com/) YouTube: LSAT Unplugged & Law School Admissions (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjZbY0gbWSt6i53hXWTJ0zw) LawHub (https://www.lawhub.org/) Podcast Episode 448: 10 Things to Consider When Applying to Law School (w/Steve Schwartz) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-448-10-things-to-consider-when-applying-to-law-school-w-steve-schwartz/) Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-524-lsat-changes-and-prep-strategies-with-ai-w-steve-schwartz/) 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

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! In today's episode, we're focusing on one of the most highly-tested topics on law school exams: Negligence. In particular, we're talking about the different ways in which factual causation can be demonstrated. In this episode we discuss: Review of the elements of negligence What is factual causation and the five tests that are used to prove it Analyzing two hypos from previous California bar exams Resources: "Listen and Learn" series (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/law-school-toolbox-podcast-substantive-law-topics/#listen-learn) California Bar Examination – Essay Questions and Selected Answers, February 2019 (https://makethisyourlasttime.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Feb-2019-Essays.pdf) California Bar Examination – Essay Questions and Selected Answers, July 2017 (https://makethisyourlasttime.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/July-2017-Essays.pdf) Summers v. Tice (https://casetext.com/case/summers-v-tice) Sindell v. Abbott Laboratories (https://wiki.harvard.edu/confluence/display/GNME/Sindell+v.+Abbott+Laboratories) Podcast Episode 382: Listen and Learn – Negligence: Proximate Cause (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-382-listen-and-learn-negligence-proximate-cause/) Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-523-listen-and-learn-negligence-factual-causation/) 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

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today we're talking about a topic we've been thinking about a lot recently – whether social media is destroying our ability to focus. We reflect on how our daily routines were impacted by a week-long break from social media, and how we used the freed up time. In this episode we discuss: Pain points that led to our social media break Effects of a social media detox Reflections on how social media has evolved Implications of excessive social media usage for law students Resources Tough Broad: From Boogie Boarding to Wing Walking – How Outdoor Adventure Improves Our Lives as We Age, by Caroline Paul (https://www.amazon.com/Tough-Broad-Boarding-Walking_How-Adventure/dp/1635576490) The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, by Jonathan Haidt (https://www.amazon.com/Anxious-Generation-Rewiring-Childhood-Epidemic/dp/0593655036) Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence, by Dr. Anna Lembke (https://www.amazon.com/Dopamine-Nation-Finding-Balance-Indulgence/dp/1524746746/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0) Digital Distraction: When Is Media Helpful and Harmful While You Are Studying (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/digital-distraction-media-helpful-harmful-studying/) Exercising Your Focus and Attention Muscles (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/exercising-your-focus-and-attention-muscles/) Alison and Lee check their social media usage (https://youtu.be/7YwpbE7z5yI) Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-522-is-social-media-destroying-our-ability-to-focus/) 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

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we're speaking with Nikhil Agarwal from Juno about how law students can make smarter choices about student loans. We focus on the benefits of group negotiation for better interest rates and the differences between federal and private loans. Thanks to Juno for their support in sponsoring this episode! In this episode we discuss: An introduction to our guest, and the origin of Juno group loan negotiation Understanding student loan options The power of a lower interest rate How Juno's team guides students to make the best decisions for themselves Resources JoinJuno.com (https://joinjuno.com/) Podcast Episode 96: How to Rapidly Pay Off Law School Debt (with Guest Financial Panther) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-96-how-to-rapidly-pay-off-law-school-debt-with-guest-financial-panther/) Podcast Episode 383: Talking About Money with Jesse Mecham, Founder of You Need A Budget (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-383-talking-about-money-with-jesse-mecham-founder-of-you-need-a-budget/) The Reality of Law School Debt and Planning for It (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/the-reality-of-law-school-debt-and-planning-for-it/) 5 Strategies to Save Money in Law School (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/5-strategies-to-save-money-in-law-school/) Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-521-smarter-borrowing-how-juno-helps-lower-student-loans/) 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

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! This episode features a discussion with Dan Smith from Themis Bar Review about the upcoming NextGen Bar Exam, highlighting its new computer-based format and integrated question sets, as well as the importance of memorization and practical skills. The conversation also covers how Themis is adapting its prep materials for the new exam format.  Note: This episode is sponsored by Themis Bar Review – the gold standard in bar exam preparation. Save $1,200 on any 2026 Themis Bar Review course by using the code LAWSCHOOLTB1200 at checkout. (This offer is valid until October 15, 2025.) In this episode we discuss: Changes to the bar exam with the NextGen format How Themis materials support bar studiers Bar prep timeline for NextGen In-school bar preparation programs Choosing your jurisdiction for the exam Resources Themis Bar Review (https://www.themisbar.com/) NextGen UBE Content Scope Outlines (https://www.ncbex.org/exams/nextgen/content-scope) The California Bar Experiment/Fiasco (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT5txTOjOHmTwR9HiPiib3N-STp7PxM-O) Podcast Episode 372: The NextGen Bar Exam (w/Doretta McGinnis) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-372-the-nextgen-bar-exam-w-doretta-mcginnis/) Podcast Episode 413: Preparing for the Bar Exam with Themis and UWorld (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-413-preparing-for-the-bar-exam-with-themis-and-uworld/) Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-520-preparing-for-the-nextgen-bar-exam-with-themis/) 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

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! In today's episode, we're discussing torts – specifically, the intentional tort of false imprisonment and the associated defense, shopkeeper's privilege. We also go through several sample questions and apply the law to the fact patterns. In this episode we discuss: An overview of intentional torts The elements of false imprisonment Hypothetical scenarios from previous California bar exams The shopkeeper's privilege defense to false imprisonment Resources: "Listen and Learn" series (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/law-school-toolbox-podcast-substantive-law-topics/#listen-learn) California Bar Examination – Essay Questions and Selected Answers, July 2010 (https://juraxbar.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/July-2010-CBX.pdf) California Bar Examination – Essay Questions and Selected Answers, July 2006 (https://nwculaw.edu/pdf/bar/July%202006%20Essays%20and%20Sample%20Answers.pdf) Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-519-listen-and-learn-false-imprisonment-and-shopkeepers-privilege-torts/) 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

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today Alison is speaking with Susan Stone and Kristina Supler from KJK's Student & Athlete Defense Group about ways poor decisions in the past might (or might not) derail your law school and bar exam journey. In this episode we discuss: The work our guests do to save futures Life decisions that might derail your journey When it's time to get help How to handle the following scenarios: Academic misconduct  Social media mishaps Past criminal offenses Resources KJK's Student & Athlete Defense Group (https://studentdefense.kjk.com/) Susan Stone: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-c-stone-5551102b/) Kristina Supler: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristina-supler-5b5a826/) Podcast Episode 212: Bouncing Back from a Major Mistake (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-212-bouncing-back-from-a-major-mistake/) Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-518-will-past-poor-decisions-derail-your-legal-career-w-susan-stone-and-kristina-supler/) 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

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today Alison is speaking with USF law professors Megan Hutchinson and Nicole Phillips about how they are teaching law students to use AI responsibly -- emphasizing ethical, professional, and practical applications. In this episode we discuss: How AI is taught at USF School of Law Student and faculty reactions to AI The human side of lawyering Potential pitfalls and responsible AI use Tech resources for law students  Resources The New York Times: I'm a LinkedIn Executive. I See the Bottom Rung of the Career Ladder Breaking. (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/19/opinion/linkedin-ai-entry-level-jobs.html?amp;referringSource=articleShare) USF: Megan Hutchinson (https://www.usfca.edu/law/faculty/megan-hutchinson) UCLA: Megan Hutchinson (https://law.ucla.edu/faculty/faculty-profiles/megan-r-hutchinson) USF: Nicole Phillips (https://www.usfca.edu/law/faculty/nicole-phillips) LinkedIn: Megan Hutchinson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-hutchinson-6428691/) LinkedIn: Nicole Phillips (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolelphillips/) Podcast Episode 480: Ethical Uses of AI in Law School (w/Professor Susan Tanner) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-480-ethical-uses-of-ai-in-law-school-w-professor-susan-tanner/) Podcast Episode 505: Breaking ADHD Barriers with the Help of AI (w/Lindsay Scola) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-505-breaking-adhd-barriers-with-the-help-of-ai-w-lindsay-scola/) Podcast Episode 513: Grappling with AI as a Law Student and Lawyer (1L Summer Series) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-513-grappling-with-ai-as-a-law-student-and-lawyer-1l-summer-series/) Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-517-teaching-ai-in-law-school-w-megan-hutchinson-and-nicole-phillips/) 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

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we're focusing on the basics of Criminal Law – that is, the elements of a crime. Specifically, we're going to spend some time diving into the two most important elements: causation and mens rea. In this episode we discuss: The four elements necessary to prove a crime The defendant's state of mind and criminal intent when they commit a crime Actual and proximate causation Two hypos from previous California bar exams Resources: "Listen and Learn" series (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/law-school-toolbox-podcast-substantive-law-topics/#listen-learn) California Bar Examination – Essay Questions and Selected Answers, July 2007 (https://nwculaw.edu/pdf/bar/July%202007%20Essays%20and%20Sample%20Answers.pdf) California Bar Examination – Essay Questions and Selected Answers, October 2020 (https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Portals/0/documents/admissions/Examinations/October-2020-Essay-Selected-Answers.pdf) Podcast Episode 357: Listen and Learn – Prosecution of a Criminal Trial (Burdens, Presumptions, Sufficiency) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-357-listen-and-learn-prosecution-of-a-criminal-trial-burdens-presumptions-sufficiency/) Podcast Episode 406: Listen and Learn – Defenses to a Crime (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-406-listen-and-learn-defenses-to-a-crime/) Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 218: Listen and Learn – Intent Under the Model Penal Code (Criminal Law) (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-218-listen-and-learn-intent-under-the-model-penal-code-criminal-law/) Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-516-listen-and-learn-elements-of-a-crime/) 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

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! In this episode we offer practical advice for law students on preparing for class, handling the Socratic method, and managing anxiety about being called on. We emphasize that mistakes are normal and that efficient reading and note-taking are key. We encourage law students to approach class participation as a learning opportunity and to focus on developing confidence and communication skills. In this episode we discuss: What is the Socratic method and why do law schools use it? What is the most effective way to prepare for a law school class? How to manage anxiety about classroom participation What if you're genuinely unprepared for class one day? Resources Start Law School Right! (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/start-law-school-right/) Podcast Episode 62: Surviving the Socratic Method in Law School (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-62-surviving-the-socratic-method-in-law-school-classes/) Podcast Episode 102: How to Read Cases and Prepare for Class in Law School (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/16176-2/) Podcast Episode 398: Start Law School Right – The Socratic Method (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-398-start-law-school-right-the-socratic-method/) Be Prepared and Speak Up! A Different Approach to the Socratic Method (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/be-prepared-and-speak-up-a-different-approach-to-the-socratic-method/) What's the Point of Reading Cases in Law School? (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/whats-the-point-of-reading-cases-in-law-school/) Notes? Case Briefs? Highlighting? How Do You Prepare for Class? (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/notes-case-briefs-highlighting-how-do-you-prepare-for-class/) Ahead of the Curve: What Should You Be Doing to Prepare for Class as a 1L and How Long Should It Take? (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/ahead-of-the-curve-what-should-you-be-doing-to-prepare-for-class-as-a-1l-and-how-long-should-it-take/) Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-515-how-to-prepare-for-class-and-not-freak-out-when-you-get-called-on-1l-summer-series/) 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