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 a two-part episode, we discuss how organization is what makes legal writing usable and trustworthy -- allowing judges, supervisors, and clients to follow your reasoning and accept your conclusions. Together with Legal Writing professor and Law School Toolbox tutor Mary Fran Richardson, we cover five essential tips for keeping your legal writing clean and well organized.    
In this episode we discuss:
How thinking like a reader helps your writing
The starting point: Audience and purpose
The characteristics of the most effective legal writing
AI and legal writing: Why you still need your own voice
Macro and micro organization of legal writing
Remember to follow the directions!
Resources:

Tutoring for Law School Success (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/tutoring-for-law-school-success/)
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/)
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/)
Mastering Legal Writing (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/mastering-legal-writing/)
Three Cs of Legal Writing…And One T (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/three-cs-of-legal-writingand-one-t/)
Demoralizing Feedback? Look at What You Did Right (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/demoralizing-feedback-look-at-what-you-did-right/)
Using IRAC on Law School Exams (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/using-irac-on-law-school-exams/)
Legal Writing Tip: Imagine You're Talking to Your Grandma (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/legal-writing-tip-imagine-youre-talking-to-your-grandma/)








Download the Transcript 
(https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-545-5-tips-for-keeping-your-legal-writing-organized-part-1/)
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 going through three rapid-fire legal ethics scenarios and asking you, the listener, "What would you do?" We then provide you with the answers based on the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct.
In this episode we discuss:
Scenario 1: Conflict of interest
Scenario 2: Client plans to lie on the stand
Scenario 3: Pro bono when you're overworked
Resources:

Tutoring for Law School Success (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/tutoring-for-law-school-success/)
ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct (https://www.americanbar.org/groups/professional_responsibility/publications/model_rules_of_professional_conduct/model_rules_of_professional_conduct_table_of_contents/)
Professional Responsibility 101 – A Quick Look at Upperclassmen Courses (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/professional-responsibility-101-a-quick-look-at-upperclassmen-courses/)








Download the Transcript 
(https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-544-quick-tips-rapid-fire-legal-ethics-scenarios/)
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, Lee is talking with Karis Stephen -- a plaintiff-side employment attorney and Law School Toolbox tutor -- about her career journey, law school success, and the CROWN Act. 
In this episode we discuss:
An introduction to our guest and her professional journey
Exploring different career and life interests
Working in the employment discrimination field
Why it's advisable to find a professional mentor
What is the CROWN Act and how it fights discrimination
Women and workplace discrimination
Three important pieces of advice for law students
Resources:

Tutoring for Law School Success (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/tutoring-for-law-school-success/)
The CROWN Act (https://www.thecrownact.com/)
In-N-Out former employee files $3-million lawsuit, saying he was fired over his hairstyle (https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-06-16/in-n-out-former-employee-files-3-million-lawsuit-saying-he-was-fired-over-his-hair-style)
Podcast Episode 358: Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession (w/Alexis Yee-Garcia) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-358-diversity-and-inclusion-in-the-legal-profession-w-alexis-yee-garcia/)
Podcast Episode 387: Breaking Diversity Barriers (w/Jason Parker from Canamac Productions) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-387-breaking-diversity-barriers-w-jason-parker-from-canamac-productions/)








Download the Transcript 
(https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-543-the-crown-act-fighting-discrimination-in-the-workplace-w-karis-stephen/)
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 explains the concept of negligent infliction of emotional distress (NIED) in tort law, outlining the four specific situations in which a plaintiff can recover for emotional harm caused by another's negligence.
In this episode we discuss:







A review of the elements of negligence
The four situations in which NIED claims are valid
Negligent versus intentional infliction of emotional distress
Hypotheticals and examples illustrating NIED







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, February 2011 (https://juraxbar.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/February-2011-CBX.pdf)







Download the Transcript 
(https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-542-listen-and-learn-negligent-infliction-of-emotional-distress-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, as part of our "Listen and Learn" series, we're discussing  the concept of injunctive relief (Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 65). We introduce three types of injunctions – temporary restraining orders (TROs), preliminary injunctions, and permanent injunctions, and the elements necessary for obtaining each of them.
In this episode we discuss:







Overview of injunctive relief
Temporary restraining orders (TROs)
Preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions
Sample questions 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 2019 (https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Portals/0/documents/admissions/July-2019-Essay-Questions-and-Answers.pdf)
California Bar Examination – Essay Questions and Selected Answers, July 2008 (https://nwculaw.edu/pdf/bar/July%202008%20Essays%20and%20Sample%20Answers.pdf)







Download the Transcript 
(https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-541-listen-and-learn-injunctions-and-restraining-orders-civ-pro/)
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