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

Alison Monahan and Lee Burgess - Law School Toolbox, LLC
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Mar 17, 2025 • 21min

495: Listen and Learn -- Partnership Liability

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! This is the second installment of our episodes on partnerships. Previously, we covered the creation of the three main types of partnerships – general partnerships, limited partnerships, and limited liability partnerships. Today we will focus on the power and liability of partners in a partnership. In this episode we discuss: Authority of partners in a partnership Liability of partners in different partnership types: General partnership Limited partnership (LP) Limited liability partnership (LLP) Applying the rules to 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 2023 (https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Portals/0/documents/admissions/Examinations/July-2023-CBX-Questions-and-Selected-Answers.pdf) California Bar Examination – Essay Questions and Selected Answers, July 2014 (https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Portals/0/documents/admissions/gbx/July2014CBX_SelectedAnswersEssays1-6_R.pdf) Podcast Episode 464: Listen and Learn – Partnership Formation (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-464-listen-and-learn-partnership-formation/) Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-495-listen-and-learn-partnership-liability/) 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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Mar 10, 2025 • 30min

494: Top 10 Tips for a Legal Resume

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, Lee and Alison are talking about resumes. It's important to have a clean, professional resume that highlights your relevant experiences and interests. Join us as we share our top 10 resume tips for law students. In this episode we discuss: Polishing the look of your resume  Explaining gaps in education/employment history Tailoring your application materials to specific jobs How to approach the "Interests" section in your resume Getting feedback And more! Resources CareerDicta (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/careerdicta/) Podcast Episode 111: Resumes and Cover Letters (with an ex-BigLaw Recruiter) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-111-resumes-cover-letters-ex-biglaw-recruiter/) Advice from a Law Recruiter, Part One: Top Tips for a Perfect Resume (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/advice-law-recruiter-part-one-resumes/) Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-494-top-10-tips-for-a-legal-resume/) 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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Mar 3, 2025 • 8min

493: A Legal Writing Makeover (Part 4 – The Conclusion)

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! This is the final episode of a four-part series called "Legal Writing Makeover." In this complete series, we take a piece of legal writing that could use improvement and transform it into legal writing A+, one section of IRAC at a time. Previously we covered the issue statement, rule statement, and analysis section, and today we finish off with the conclusion. In this episode we discuss: A review of a sample exam answer How to write a good conclusion that earns you the maximum points on an exam Resources: Tutoring for Law School Success (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/tutoring-for-law-school-success/) Legal Writing in Law School (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/legal-writing-in-law-school/) Three Cs of Legal Writing…And One T (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/three-cs-of-legal-writingand-one-t/) Five Tips for a Great Legal Writing Assignment (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/five-tips-for-a-great-legal-writing-assignment/) The Elusive Mini-IRAC (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/the-elusive-mini-irac/) Podcast Episode 489: A Legal Writing Makeover (Part 1 – The Issue Statement) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-489-a-legal-writing-makeover-part-1-the-issue-statement/) Podcast Episode 490: A Legal Writing Makeover (Part 2 – The Rule Statement) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-490-a-legal-writing-makeover-part-2-the-rule-statement/) Podcast Episode 491: A Legal Writing Makeover (Part 3 – The Analysis Section) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-491-a-legal-writing-makeover-part-3-the-analysis-section/) Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-493-a-legal-writing-makeover-part-4-the-conclusion/) 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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Feb 27, 2025 • 40min

492: Legal Writing and IRAC (w/Rebecca Petrilli from Themis Bar Review)

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today we are excited to welcome Rebecca Petrilli – Midwest Attorney Director at Themis Bar Review – back to the podcast to discuss IRAC and best practices for legal writing on exams, including the bar exam. Note: This episode is sponsored by Themis Bar Review – the gold standard in bar exam preparation. Save $900 on any July 2025 Themis Bar Review course by using the code LAWSCHOOLTB900 at checkout. (This offer is valid until May 19, 2025.) In this episode we discuss: Understanding the IRAC structure  Law school exam grading scale Is a longer essay always better? Handling unknown law on an exam Resources at Themis for law school and bar exam students  Resources: Themis Bar Review (https://www.themisbar.com/) Law School Essentials (https://www.themisbar.com/law-school-essentials) Examples & Explanations series (https://aspenpublishing.com/collections/examples-explanations) Podcast Episode 407: Start Law School Right – Exam Writing 101 (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-407-start-law-school-right-exam-writing-101/) Legal Writing in Law School (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/legal-writing-in-law-school/) Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-492-legal-writing-and-irac-w-rebecca-petrilli-from-themis-bar-review/) 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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Feb 24, 2025 • 10min

491: A Legal Writing Makeover (Part 3 – The Analysis Section)

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! This is the third episode of a four-part series called "Legal Writing Makeover." In this complete series, we take a piece of legal writing that could use improvement and transform it into legal writing A+, one section of IRAC at a time. Previously we discussed the issue statement and rule statement, and today we continue with the analysis section. In this episode we discuss: An analysis section from a sample exam answer How to write a good analysis that earns you the maximum points on an exam Resources: Tutoring for Law School Success (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/tutoring-for-law-school-success/) Legal Writing in Law School (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/legal-writing-in-law-school/) Three Cs of Legal Writing…And one T (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/three-cs-of-legal-writingand-one-t/) Five Tips for a Great Legal Writing Assignment (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/five-tips-for-a-great-legal-writing-assignment/) The Elusive Mini-IRAC (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/the-elusive-mini-irac/) If X, Y, and Z, Then A: Legal Analysis Is Simple (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/if-xy-and-z-then-a-legal-analysis-is-simple/) Podcast Episode 489: A Legal Writing Makeover (Part 1 – The Issue Statement) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-489-a-legal-writing-makeover-part-1-the-issue-statement/) Podcast Episode 490: A Legal Writing Makeover (Part 2 – The Rule Statement) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-490-a-legal-writing-makeover-part-2-the-rule-statement/) Podcast Episode 493: A Legal Writing Makeover (Part 4 – The Conclusion) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-493-a-legal-writing-makeover-part-4-the-conclusion/) Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-491-a-legal-writing-makeover-part-3-the-analysis-section/) 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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Feb 17, 2025 • 10min

490: A Legal Writing Makeover (Part 2 – The Rule Statement)

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! This is the second episode of a four-part series called "Legal Writing Makeover". In this complete series, we take a piece of legal writing that could use improvement and transform it into legal writing A+, one section of IRAC at a time. Last time we discussed the issue statement, and today we continue with the rule statement. In this episode we discuss: A rule statement from a sample exam answer How to write a good rule statement that earns you the maximum points on an exam  Resources: Tutoring for Law School Success (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/tutoring-for-law-school-success/) Legal Writing in Law School (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/legal-writing-in-law-school/) Three Cs of Legal Writing…And one T (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/three-cs-of-legal-writingand-one-t/) Five Tips for a Great Legal Writing Assignment (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/five-tips-for-a-great-legal-writing-assignment/) The Elusive Mini-IRAC (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/the-elusive-mini-irac/) Prepare for Exams by Pre-Writing Rule Sections (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/prepare-for-exams-by-pre-writing-rule-sections/) Podcast Episode 489: A Legal Writing Makeover (Part 1 – The Issue Statement) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-489-a-legal-writing-makeover-part-1-the-issue-statement/) Podcast Episode 491: A Legal Writing Makeover (Part 3 – The Analysis Section) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-491-a-legal-writing-makeover-part-3-the-analysis-section/) Podcast Episode 493: A Legal Writing Makeover (Part 4 – The Conclusion) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-493-a-legal-writing-makeover-part-4-the-conclusion/) Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-490-a-legal-writing-makeover-part-2-the-rule-statement/) 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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Feb 10, 2025 • 7min

489: A Legal Writing Makeover (Part 1 - The Issue Statement)

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! This is the first episode of a four-part series called "Legal Writing Makeover." In this complete series, we take a piece of legal writing that could use improvement and transform it into legal writing A+, one section of IRAC at a time. We begin by discussing the issue statement. In this episode we discuss: An issue statement from a sample exam answer How to write a good issue statement that earns you the maximum points on an exam  Resources: Tutoring for Law School Success (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/tutoring-for-law-school-success/) Legal Writing in Law School (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/legal-writing-in-law-school/) Three Cs of Legal Writing…And one T (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/three-cs-of-legal-writingand-one-t/) Five Tips for a Great Legal Writing Assignment (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/five-tips-for-a-great-legal-writing-assignment/) The Elusive Mini-IRAC (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/the-elusive-mini-irac/) Podcast Episode 490: A Legal Writing Makeover (Part 2 – The Rule Statement) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-490-a-legal-writing-makeover-part-2-the-rule-statement/) Podcast Episode 491: A Legal Writing Makeover (Part 3 – The Analysis Section) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-491-a-legal-writing-makeover-part-3-the-analysis-section/) Podcast Episode 493: A Legal Writing Makeover (Part 4 – The Conclusion) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-493-a-legal-writing-makeover-part-4-the-conclusion/) Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-489-a-legal-writing-makeover-part-1-the-issue-statement/) 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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Feb 3, 2025 • 28min

488: The Second Semester Job Hunt (w/Sadie Jones)

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! In this episode, we discuss job search strategies for 1L and 2L students in their second semester. We address key issues such as lack of interview responses or offers, and whether it's worth it to wait for your dream job. In this episode we discuss: How concerned should you be if you're a 1L or 2L and you don't have a summer job yet? What to work on at this point to secure a summer job? Key issues such as lack of interview responses, offers, and whether to wait for your "dream job" How important is LinkedIn in your job search? Resources: CareerDicta (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/careerdicta/) Law School Toolbox Podcast: Careers (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/law-school-toolbox-podcast-archive/careers/) Podcast Episode 232: Finding a 1L Summer Job in the Spring (w/Sadie Jones) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-232-finding-a-1l-summer-job-in-the-spring-w-sadie-jones/) Spring Semester Sprint: SOS Suggestions for Snagging a 2L Summer Job (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/spring-semester-sprint-sos-suggestions-for-snagging-a-2l-summer-job/) Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-488-the-second-semester-job-hunt-w-sadie-jones/) 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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Jan 27, 2025 • 20min

487: Listen and Learn -- Consideration (Contract Law)

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, in an episode from our "Listen and Learn" series, we're discussing an important concept from Contract Law - consideration - which is one of the three requirements of contract formation. In this episode we discuss: The three requirements of contract formation What is consideration? The two ways in which consideration can be provided The situations in which there is never valid consideration Examples 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 2008 (https://nwculaw.edu/pdf/bar/July%202008%20Essays%20and%20Sample%20Answers.pdf) California Bar Examination – Essay Questions and Selected Answers, July 2006 (https://nwculaw.edu/pdf/bar/July%202006%20Essays%20and%20Sample%20Answers.pdf) California Bar Examination – Essay Questions and Selected Answers, July 2002 (https://juraxbar.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/July-2002-CBX.pdf) Podcast Episode 245: Listen and Learn – Promissory Estoppel (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-245-listen-and-learn-promissory-estoppel/) Podcast Episode 344: Listen and Learn – Contract Formation (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-344-listen-and-learn-contract-formation/) Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-487-listen-and-learn-consideration-contract-law/) 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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Jan 20, 2025 • 24min

486: Preparing for the Bar Exam as a 3L (Part 2)

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! In this episode, we're continuing our conversation from last week on how to prepare for the bar exam as a 3L. Today we cover the differences between the UBE and state-specific exams, we emphasize the importance of adopting a growth mindset and avoiding burnout during bar prep, and we share practical advice on which law school classes are a "must" for the bar exam. In this episode we discuss: The Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) versus state-specific exams The role your mindset plays in being successful on the bar Choosing the right classes for bar prep How to practice essays and performance tests effectively Avoiding burnout during the bar study period Resources UBE (MEE + MPT) Writing of the Week (WOW) Course (https://barexamtoolbox.com/ube-mee-mpt-writing-of-the-week-wow-bar-exam-course/) The Brainy Bar Bank: Streamlining Bar Study (https://barexamtoolbox.com/brainy-bar-bank/) NCBE: National Conference of Bar Examiners (https://www.ncbex.org/) NextGen Bar Exam (https://nextgenbarexam.ncbex.org/) Podcast Episode 1: Mindset – The Key to Success in Law School? (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-1-mindset-key-success-law-school/) Podcast Episode 63: Dealing with Self-Sabotaging Behavior in Law School (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-63-dealing-self-sabotaging-behavior-law-school/) Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 46: Should You Take Bar Classes in Law School, and When? (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-46-should-you-take-bar-classes-in-law-school-and-when/) Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 52: Avoiding Burnout While Studying for the Bar Exam (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-52-avoiding-burnout-while-studying-for-the-bar-exam/) Writing Practice, From Week One Until the Bar Exam (https://barexamtoolbox.com/writing-practice-from-week-one-until-the-bar-exam/) Download the Transcript  (https://barexamtoolbox.com/episode-486-preparing-for-the-bar-exam-as-a-3l-part-2/) 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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