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

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 559 episodes Latest Jun 1, 2026

The Law School Toolbox podcast is an engaging show for law students about law school, the bar exam, legal careers, and life. Each week, we offer practical tips and advice on academic matters, careers, and more. The podcast is hosted by opinionated law school and bar exam experts Alison Monahan and Lee Burgess. Our goal is to impart useful, actionable advice in an entertaining manner.

Episodes

559: Law Every 1L Should Know -- Torts Jun 8, 2026 21:08 Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! This episode is part of the series "Law Every 1L Should Know", and today we're focusing on torts. We briefly go through a review of the intentional torts, and we focus more thoroughly on negligence, since it is the most heavily tested topic in 1L Torts. To illustrate how negligence is tested on an exam, we go through a sample scenario. Thanks to Juno
558: Law Every 1L Should Know -- Contract Formation Jun 1, 2026 22:42 Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! This episode is part of the series "Law Every 1L Should Know", and today we're tackling contracts. We cover the three essential elements of contract formation under common law -- offer, acceptance, and consideration -- and apply the rules to a practical fact pattern. Thanks to Juno for sponsoring this episode! If you're thinking about student loans f
557: This is How Your Brain Actually Learns (The Brain Science Behind Our RAMP Tool) May 25, 2026 29:47 Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we explain the neuroscience behind our RAMP bar study tool -- which we introduced in a recent episode. We discuss the limitation of working memory, which makes it essential to move legal rules into long-term memory through spaced repetition and scaffolding.  In this episode we discuss: The research and science behind our RAMP bar study too
556: How Much Do Grades Matter for Different Career Paths? May 18, 2026 22:30 Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today we're talking about the legal jobs for which grades matter a lot, where they matter somewhat, and where they really don't matter much at all. We also share some tips for what you should do if your grades so far aren't what you had hoped for. Thanks to Juno for sponsoring this episode! If you're thinking about student loans for law school, head
555: Listen and Learn -- The Breach Element of a Negligence Claim (Torts) May 11, 2026 20:45 Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we're discussing the different methods a plaintiff may use to establish the second element of a negligence claim -- breach. We also talk about the "res ipsa loquitur" doctrine, and we will walk through several hypotheticals involving breach of the standard of care.  In this episode we discuss: An overview of negligence claims The reas
554: How We're Thinking About NextGen Prep Differently (Plus, Try Our New Tool for Free!) May 4, 2026 36:46 Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today we're discussing how we're thinking about preparing for the NextGen bar exam differently -- and we're excited to introduce a new tool we've built to help you learn and retain the rules you need to know. In this episode we discuss: An overview of the NextGen UBE The big misconception: No memorization is required for the NextGen Why traditiona
553: NextGen Bar Exam: What Law Schools (and Students) Need to Do Differently (w/Quentin Huff) Apr 27, 2026 34:01 Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, Alison is speaking with Quentin Huff -- Director of Bar Support at Purdue Global Law School -- about the NextGen bar exam, which shifts focus from memorization to practical legal skills. Find out what's actually changing, and what it means for how students and professors might approach law school classes.  In this episode we discuss: An int
552: Too Much Reading, Not Enough Time? Tips for Overloaded Weeks in Law School Apr 20, 2026 19:32 Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! This episode covers law school survival strategies for when you're overwhelmed and behind on the material. Lee outlines a triage framework -- prioritizing class attendance, case reading, and black-letter law understanding.  Thanks to Juno for sponsoring this episode! If you're thinking about student loans for law school, head to JoinJuno.com to expl
551: Listen and Learn -- Warranties and Disclaimers Under the UCC (Contracts) Apr 13, 2026 25:03 Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today we're discussing contract law – specifically, warranties and the disclaimer of warranties under the UCC. We explain both express and implied warranties and how they can be disclaimed. We also go through several examples to illustrate these rules in practice. In this episode we discuss: Express and implied warranties under the UCC Dis
550: Financial Planning for Law Students and Young Lawyers (w/Alexandra Sandberg) Apr 6, 2026 37:35 Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! In this episode, Lee and financial advisor Alexandra Sandberg discuss financial planning for law school graduates and early-career attorneys. The conversation includes essential topics, including student loan repayment, budgeting, tax planning, and how to evaluate job offers by looking at total compensation, not just salary.  In this episode we dis
549: Acing the Law Review Write-on Competition (w/Professor Dawn Young) Mar 30, 2026 42:08 Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! This episode features a conversation with Professor Dawn Young from Loyola University Chicago School of Law about legal writing, bluebooking, and law review write-on competitions. Professor Young explains how the write-on competition works and what 1L students need to focus on if they decide to participate.   Note: We would like to thank Themis Bar
548: A Week in the Life of a Successful 1L – What You Actually Do Hour by Hour Mar 23, 2026 21:34 Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! In this episode, we discuss time management strategies for first-year law students, walking through a detailed weekday schedule. We cover how to manage class and reading time with active study techniques, regular breaks, and actual downtime. Thanks to Juno for sponsoring this episode! If you're thinking about student loans for law school, head to Joi

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