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
  • 4.6 (527)
  • How To
  • Updated Weekly

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 Law School Toolbox podcast is hosted by opinionated law school and bar exam experts Alison Monahan and Lee Burgess. You might not always agree with us, but we guarantee you won't be bored listening! Our goal is to impart useful, actionable advice in an entertaining manner. Join us! And, if you have an opinion on the show, please drop by and offer a review. We're here to help, and we'd love to hear from you!

  1. 4d ago

    Listen and Learn -- Crimes Against the Person (Part 2)

    Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! We're continuing the discussion from last week on crimes against the person. In the previous episode, we covered the basic elements of assault, battery, false imprisonment, and kidnapping, and walked through a scenario involving these crimes. Today, we'll build on that foundation by analyzing more complex hypotheticals that test the boundaries of these offenses.  In this episode we discuss: A review of the elements of assault, battery, false imprisonment, and kidnapping Analyzing two hypothetical scenarios involving crimes against the person Resources: "Listen and Learn" series (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/law-school-toolbox-podcast-substantive-law-topics/#listen-learn) Podcast Episode 288: Listen and Learn – Assault and Battery (Torts) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-288-listen-and-learn-assault-and-battery-torts/) Podcast Episode 519: Listen and Learn – False Imprisonment and Shopkeeper's Privilege (Torts) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-519-listen-and-learn-false-imprisonment-and-shopkeepers-privilege-torts/) Podcast Episode 570: Listen and Learn – Crimes Against the Person (Part 1) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-570-listen-and-learn-crimes-against-the-person-part-1/) Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-571-listen-and-learn-crimes-against-the-person-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

  2. Aug 24

    Listen and Learn -- Crimes Against the Person (Part 1)

    Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we're discussing four crimes against the person – assault, battery, false imprisonment, and kidnapping. We'll walk through the elements of each crime and see an example of how they may appear and interact on a law school exam. In this episode we discuss: The elements of assault, battery, false imprisonment, and kidnapping Analysis of a hypothetical scenario involving crimes against the person Resources: "Listen and Learn" series (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/law-school-toolbox-podcast-substantive-law-topics/#listen-learn) Podcast Episode 288: Listen and Learn – Assault and Battery (Torts) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-288-listen-and-learn-assault-and-battery-torts/) Podcast Episode 519: Listen and Learn – False Imprisonment and Shopkeeper's Privilege (Torts) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-519-listen-and-learn-false-imprisonment-and-shopkeepers-privilege-torts/) Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-570-listen-and-learn-crimes-against-the-person-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

  3. Aug 17

    Listen and Learn -- Strict Liability: Animals and Dangerous Activities (Part 2)

    Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! This is Part 2 of a two-part series on strict liability as it relates to animals (both wild and domestic), as well as certain super dangerous activities.  In this episode we discuss: Strict liability for abnormally dangerous activities Strict liability for keeping wild and domestic animals Two hypothetical scenarios illustrating the above concepts 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 2009 (https://nwculaw.edu/pdf/bar/July%202009%20Essays%20and%20Sample%20Answers.pdf) Foster v. Preston Mill Co. (https://www.casebriefs.com/blog/law/torts/torts-keyed-to-prosser/strict-liability/foster-v-preston-mill-co/) Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 131: Listen and Learn – Strict Products Liability (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-131-listen-and-learn-strict-products-liability/) Podcast Episode 523: Listen and Learn – Negligence: Factual Causation (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-523-listen-and-learn-negligence-factual-causation/) Podcast Episode 568: Listen and Learn – Strict Liability: Animals and Dangerous Activities (Part 1) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-568-listen-and-learn-strict-liability-animals-and-dangerous-activities-part-1/) Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-569-listen-and-learn-strict-liability-animals-and-dangerous-activities-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

  4. Aug 10

    Listen and Learn -- Strict Liability: Animals and Dangerous Activities (Part 1)

    Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! This is Part 1 of a two-part series on strict liability as it relates to animals (both wild and domestic), as well as certain super dangerous activities. Join us next week for the second episode on this topic. In this episode we discuss: Overview of strict liability in torts What activities are considered abnormally dangerous? Strict liability as it relates to keeping wild and domestic animals A fact pattern from the February 2008 California bar exam 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 2008 (https://nwculaw.edu/pdf/bar/February%202008%20Essays%20and%20Sample%20Answers.pdf) Foster v. Preston Mill Co. (https://www.casebriefs.com/blog/law/torts/torts-keyed-to-prosser/strict-liability/foster-v-preston-mill-co/) Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-568-listen-and-learn-strict-liability-animals-and-dangerous-activities-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

  5. Aug 3

    Law Every 1L Should Know -- Constitutional Law

    Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! In this episode, we're discussing fundamental concepts that are taught in first-year Con Law classes. First, we'll look at justiciability – the set of threshold doctrines that decide whether a federal court is allowed to hear a constitutional case in the first place. Then we'll move to the individual rights side and dig into the single most important analytical tool in the entire area – the levels of scrutiny (sometimes called standards of review). We'll finish by working through a fact pattern that ties it all together. Thanks to Juno for sponsoring this episode! If you're thinking about student loans for law school, head to JoinJuno.com to explore your options and see how Juno can help you find a better rate.    In this episode we discuss: An overview of constitutional law Standing, and other justiciability doctrines Levels of scrutiny Foundational cases you'll likely study as a 1L A fact pattern walkthrough Resources: JoinJuno.com (https://joinjuno.com/) Marbury v. Madison (https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/5/137/) Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife (https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/504/555/) Loving v. Virginia (https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/388/1/) Craig v. Boren (https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/429/190/) Mississippi University for Women v. Hogan (https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/458/718/) Podcast Episode 295: Listen and Learn – Due Process and Equal Protection (Con Law) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-295-listen-and-learn-due-process-and-equal-protection-con-law/) Podcast Episode 334: Listen and Learn – Standards of Review (Con Law) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-334-listen-and-learn-standards-of-review-con-law/) Podcast Episode 521: Smarter Borrowing: How Juno Helps Lower Student Loans (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-521-smarter-borrowing-how-juno-helps-lower-student-loans/) Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-567-law-every-1l-should-know-constitutional-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

  6. Jul 27

    Law Every 1L Should Know -- Criminal Law

    Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we're diving into the fundamentals of criminal law. First, we'll walk through the building blocks of any crime – the elements that the prosecution has to prove for someone to be found guilty. Then we'll take those building blocks and apply them to the single most heavily tested topic in 1L Criminal Law – homicide. We'll see how the different homicide crimes are really distinguished by the defendant's mental state, and we'll work through a fact pattern at the end. Thanks to Juno for sponsoring this episode! If you're thinking about student loans for law school, head to JoinJuno.com to explore your options and see how Juno can help you find a better rate.    In this episode we discuss: An introduction to criminal law The elements of a crime, which the prosecution has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt The homicide hierarchy A fact pattern walkthrough Resources: JoinJuno.com (https://joinjuno.com/) Model Penal Code (https://www.legal-tools.org/doc/08d77d/pdf) Podcast Episode 248: Listen and Learn – Introduction to Homicide (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-248-listen-and-learn-introduction-to-homicide/) Podcast Episode 305: Listen and Learn – Property Crimes (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-305-listen-and-learn-property-crimes/) Podcast Episode 406: Listen and Learn – Defenses to a Crime (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-406-listen-and-learn-defenses-to-a-crime/) Podcast Episode 482: Listen and Learn – Assault and Battery (Crim Law) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-482-listen-and-learn-assault-and-battery-crim-law/) Podcast Episode 516: Listen and Learn – Elements of a Crime (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-516-listen-and-learn-elements-of-a-crime/) Podcast Episode 521: Smarter Borrowing: How Juno Helps Lower Student Loans (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-521-smarter-borrowing-how-juno-helps-lower-student-loans/) Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-566-law-every-1l-should-know-criminal-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

  7. Jul 20

    Law School Accreditation in 2026: A Conversation with Jennifer Rosato Perea

    Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today Alison is talking with the ABA's Managing Director of Accreditation and Legal Education about law school accreditation -- what's been happening in Texas and Florida, and what it means for current and prospective law students. In this episode we discuss: An introduction to our guest, Jennifer Rosato Perea What does law school accreditation actually mean? Changes to accreditation in Texas and Florida, and what they mean for students The portability of a law degree Choosing a law school in 2026 Resources: American Bar Association (https://www.americanbar.org/) Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-565-law-school-accreditation-in-2026-a-conversation-with-jennifer-rosato-perea/) 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

  8. Jul 13

    Law Every 1L Should Know -- Evidence

    Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we're diving into a fundamental concept in legal trials -- evidence. We'll discuss the foundation that evidence is built around – relevance, and then we'll focus on the most important topic in all of evidence – hearsay. We'll learn what hearsay is, why the law distrusts it, and the major ways it still gets admitted. And we'll finish with a fact pattern that illustrates how hearsay is tested on an exam. Thanks to Juno for sponsoring this episode! If you're thinking about student loans for law school, head to JoinJuno.com to explore your options and see how Juno can help you find a better rate.    In this episode we discuss: Evidence law and relevance What is defined as "hearsay" and what is "non-hearsay"? Most common hearsay exceptions A fact pattern walkthrough Resources: JoinJuno.com (https://joinjuno.com/) Podcast Episode 259: Listen and Learn – Relevance in Evidence (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-259-listen-and-learn-relevance-in-evidence/) Podcast Episode 261: Listen and Learn – The Basics of Hearsay (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-261-listen-and-learn-the-basics-of-hearsay/) Podcast Episode 271: Listen and Learn – Hearsay Exceptions: Present Sense Impression and State of Mind (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-271-listen-and-learn-hearsay-exceptions-present-sense-impression-and-state-of-mind/) Podcast Episode 281: Listen and Learn – Character Evidence (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-281-listen-and-learn-character-evidence/) Podcast Episode 296: Listen and Learn – Hearsay Exceptions: Government and Business Records (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-296-listen-and-learn-hearsay-exceptions-government-and-business-records/) Podcast Episode 301: Listen and Learn – The Confrontation Clause (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-301-listen-and-learn-the-confrontation-clause/) Podcast Episode 308: Listen and Learn – More Hearsay Exceptions (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-308-listen-and-learn-more-hearsay-exceptions/) Podcast Episode 315: Listen and Learn – Non-Hearsay (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-315-listen-and-learn-non-hearsay/) Podcast Episode 326: Listen and Learn – Multiple Hearsay (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-326-listen-and-learn-multiple-hearsay/) Podcast Episode 410: Listen and Learn – Relevance Issues (Evidence) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-410-listen-and-learn-relevance-issues-evidence/) Podcast Episode 521: Smarter Borrowing: How Juno Helps Lower Student Loans (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-521-smarter-borrowing-how-juno-helps-lower-student-loans/) Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-564-law-every-1l-should-know-evidence/) 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

See All (572)

4.6
out of 5
527 Ratings

About

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 Law School Toolbox podcast is hosted by opinionated law school and bar exam experts Alison Monahan and Lee Burgess. You might not always agree with us, but we guarantee you won't be bored listening! Our goal is to impart useful, actionable advice in an entertaining manner. Join us! And, if you have an opinion on the show, please drop by and offer a review. We're here to help, and we'd love to hear from you!

Information