Shows
Beyond the BriefcaseReflecting on the 2L RecruitOn the last episode of Season 3 of Beyond the Briefcase, your hosts reflect upon the 2L recruit. Now with summer placements (and hopefully articles!) lined up, Sarah and Meg catch you up on their experiences with OCIs, Call Day, and Interview Week. Disclaimer: What Sarah and Meg say is wholly their personal opinions and experiences. By no means will this reflect your experience going through the 2L job recruit. As your hosts will share - no two experiences in the recruit are the same! Sarah and Meg predominantly participated in the Toronto pr...2024-12-2355 minBeyond the BriefcasePillow Talk: Health and Law SchoolIn this episode of Beyond the Briefcase, Sarah and Meg chat about a topic near and dear to their hearts: navigating personal health emergencies and law school. They talk candidly about what they went through this summer (cancer and POTS!) and what they did to make the most of their summer placements and school years. Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe for more. Don't hesitate to contact us if there are some topics you would like covered on the show! We wo...2024-12-1633 minBeyond the BriefcaseUpper Year ExtracurricularsHow seriously should you approach extracurriculars in your upper years of law school? In this episode of Beyond the Briefcase, Sarah and Meg chat about how many extracurriculars they're pursuing, and their philosophy on juggling school, research, volunteering, and work. Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe for more. Don't hesitate to contact us if there are some topics you would like covered on the show! We would love to hear from you. Please note that the views and opinions exp...2024-12-0921 minBeyond the BriefcasePillow Talk: Staying Motivated as an Upper Year Law StudentIt's another Pillow Talk! In this episode of Beyond the Briefcase, Sarah and Meg chat about staying motivated as law students in the upper years of the program. Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe for more. Don't hesitate to contact us if there are some topics you would like covered on the show! We would love to hear from you. Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this episode are our own and do not necessarily reflect tho...2024-12-0223 minBeyond the BriefcaseUpper Year Course SelectionIn this episode of Beyond the Briefcase, Sarah and Meg chat about how they selected their 2L courses (using a certain algorithmic software which shall not be named...). They explore what to consider when balancing one's academic year - from the recruit to studying abroad to being able to have a four-day weekend! Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe for more. Don't hesitate to contact us if there are some topics you would like covered on the show! We would love to...2024-11-2523 minBeyond the BriefcaseNow with some Hindsight... What to Consider when Applying to Law SchoolWe began this show chatting about how to get into law school. In this episode of Beyond the Briefcase, we revisit the subject, now halfway through the program, and with plenty of 20/20 hindsight! Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe for more. Don't hesitate to contact us if there are some topics you would like covered on the show! We would love to hear from you. Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this episode are our own and...2024-11-1834 minBeyond the BriefcaseNavigating 2L (Initial Thoughts and Observations)In this episode of Beyond the Briefcase, Sarah and Meg chat about their first impressions of 2L. They explore: academics, extracurriculars, and balancing work/life! Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe for more. Don't hesitate to contact us if there are some topics you would like covered on the show! We would love to hear from you. Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this episode are our own and do not necessarily reflect those of our la...2024-11-1131 minBeyond the BriefcasePreparing for 2LWelcome back! In this episode of Beyond the Briefcase, Sarah and Meg chat about how they prepared for their second year of law school. They explore: academics, the 2L recruit, mentorship opportunities, and social outings! Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe for more. Don't hesitate to contact us if there are some topics you would like covered on the show! We would love to hear from you. Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this episode are our...2024-11-0427 minBeyond the BriefcasePillow Talk: Work/Life Balance during the SummerThis week, it’s our first Pillow Talk of the season! In this episode of Beyond the Briefcase, Sarah and I discuss the best practices and realities of balancing work and life as a summer law student in 1L. Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe for more. Don't hesitate to contact us if there are some topics you would like covered on the show! We would love to hear from you. Please note that the views and opinions expressed in t...2024-10-2826 minBeyond the BriefcaseThe 2L Recruit (Summer Edition)In this episode of Beyond the Briefcase, Sarah and Meg discuss their prepwork for the 2L recruit over their 1L summer. Want to know about the timelines for the Toronto and New York recruit, what types of materials to assemble, and how to organize coffee chats? This episode is for you! Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe for more. Don't hesitate to contact us if there are some topics you would like covered on the show! We would love to hear fr...2024-10-2146 minBeyond the Briefcase1L Summer Placements RecapOn the first episode of Season 3 of Beyond the Briefcase, your hosts recap their 1L summer. Sarah and Meg catch you up on their work as summer students and how their placements shaped their plans for the 2L recruit. This marks the start of Season 3! If you've made it this far, thank you so much for your support :)Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe for more. Don't hesitate to contact us if there are some topics you would like co...2024-10-1435 minBeyond the BriefcaseSecond Semester Recap (Wrapping Up 1L)On the last episode of Season 2 of Beyond the Briefcase, your hosts reflect upon the second semester of law school. Sarah and Meg catch you up on workload, juggling extracurriculars, job hunting, and socializing. They share with you what they look forward to in the summer and 2L!This marks the end of Season 2. If you've made it this far, thank you so much for your support :) Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe for more. Don't hesitate to contact u...2024-04-1534 minBeyond the BriefcaseOur First Moot!On this episode of Beyond the Briefcase, your hosts chat about their very first moot! Sarah and Meg give you the rundown on the Hicks Morley Moot (labour and employment law), how they prepared, and the kinds of feedback they received to do better next time. Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe for more. Don't hesitate to contact us if there are some topics you would like covered on the show! We would love to hear from you. Please not...2024-04-0829 minBeyond the BriefcaseInterview with Valerie Sedlezky: Charity LawOn this episode of Beyond the Briefcase, your hosts chat with Valerie Sedlezky, a lawyer who specializes in not-for-profit and charity law, about the importance of self-confidence in law school, articling, and writing the bar exam.LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST Valerie's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/valerie-sedlezky-b8165b197 Valerie's most recent article: https://www.torkin.com/insights/publication/the-cra-s-how-to-guide-for-charities-making-grants-to-non-qualified-doneesSupport the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe for more. Don't hesitate to contact us if there are some top...2024-04-0142 minBeyond the BriefcaseInterview with Julian Sarafian: For Creators, By CreatorsOn this episode of Beyond the Briefcase, your hosts chat with Julian Sarafian, a Harvard-grad lawyer who transitioned from Big Law to content creation. Meg and Sarah talk to Julian about his work in mental health advocacy, his tremendous success on TikTok, his law firm, For Creators, By Creators, and his upcoming memoir! LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST Julian's TikTok: @juliansarafianJulian's law firm: https://www.forcreatorsbycreators.co/Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe for more. Don...2024-03-2552 minBeyond the BriefcaseInterview with Harris Rosen: Higher Education LawOn this episode of Beyond the Briefcase, your hosts chat with Harris Rosen, a pioneer in the private career college sector in Canada, about his experiences starting out in compliance and transitioning to a career with private equity groups on large transactional deals. LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST Harris's website: https://harrisrosen.com/Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe for more. Don't hesitate to contact us if there are some topics you would like covered on the sho...2024-03-1841 minBeyond the BriefcaseInterview with Melanie Banka Goela: Mental Health in Law SchoolOn this episode of Beyond the Briefcase, your hosts chat with Melanie Banka Goela, a lawyer-turned-therapist about her experiences pioneering the Ontario Law Student Mental Health Initiative, counselling law students and lawyers, and starting her own practice, "From Anxiety to Ease." LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST Melanie's website: https://fromanxietytoease.com/Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe for more. Don't hesitate to contact us if there are some topics you would like covered on the show! We wou...2024-03-1153 minBeyond the BriefcasePillow Talk: Navigating Work-Talk and ConfidentialityOn this episode of Beyond the Briefcase, your hosts bring you the first episode in a mini-series called Pillow Talk where they chat candidly about some of the more sensitive topics in the legal profession. Sarah and Meg explore when and what to say to your coworkers and employers, and why confidentiality is especially important in a field like law.Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe for more. Don't hesitate to contact us if there are some topics you would like c...2024-03-0427 minBeyond the BriefcaseTips for Effective Legal Speech and WritingOn this episode of Beyond the Briefcase, your hosts chat about tips for effective legal speech and writing. Sarah and Meg explore how to respond to cold calling, realistic ways to improve point forward writing, and how their prior experiences helped and hindered their legal communication. Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe for more. Don't hesitate to contact us if there are some topics you would like covered on the show! We would love to hear from you. Please not...2024-02-2629 minBeyond the BriefcaseInterview with Jennifer Friedman: Canada's Animal LawyerIt's Season 2's first guest interview! On this episode of Beyond the Briefcase, your hosts chat with Jennifer Friedman about her 18 years of practice in the area of animal law, during which she became the first General Counsel for the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and prosecuted for the Ontario (horse) Racing Commission for 8 years. LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST Jennifer's website: https://www.canadasanimallawyer.com/Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe fo...2024-02-1938 minBeyond the BriefcaseThe 1L Summer RecruitOn this episode of Beyond the Briefcase, your hosts chat about summer placement applications as first-year students (AKA the 1L recruit). Sarah and Meg explore the logistics of applications, what they're proud of, and what they wish they had done instead. Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe for more. Don't hesitate to contact us if there are some topics you would like covered on the show! We would love to hear from you. Please note that the views and opi...2024-02-1239 minBeyond the BriefcaseRecapping Our First Semester of Law SchoolOn this episode of Beyond the Briefcase, your hosts reflect upon their first semester of law school. Sarah and Meg speak candidly about what went well, what didn't, and how law school impacted their academic, professional, and personal lives. Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe for more. Don't hesitate to contact us if there are some topics you would like covered on the show! We would love to hear from you. Please note that the views and opinions expressed in...2024-02-0536 minBeyond the BriefcaseNavigating Our First Exam Season in Law SchoolWelcome to Season 2! On this episode of Beyond the Briefcase, your hosts chat about their first exam season of law school. Sarah and Meg explore their study strategies, and how they felt before, during, and after test days! Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe for more. Don't hesitate to contact us if there are some topics you would like covered on the show! We would love to hear from you. Please note that the views and opinions ex...2024-01-2932 minBeyond the BriefcaseDealing with Rejection in Law SchoolOn this episode of Beyond the Briefcase, your hosts explore how to deal with failure and rejection in law school. We share with you our experiences, and some tips and tricks to meet rejection with your head up high.This episode is part of a mini-series on some bad habits that law students may encounter. If you’re interested in learning more about procrastination and imposter syndrome, look forward to these last three episodes of this season!Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star ra...2023-11-2731 minBeyond the BriefcaseOvercoming Imposter Syndrome in Law SchoolOn this episode of Beyond the Briefcase, your hosts explore one of the bad habits that potentially plagues all students - imposter syndrome. We share with you our experiences, and some tips and tricks to keeping imposter syndrome at bay during law school.This episode is part of a mini-series on some bad habits that law students may encounter. If you’re interested in learning more about procrastination and dealing with rejection, look forward to the last three episodes of this season!Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcast...2023-11-2032 minBeyond the BriefcaseOvercoming Procrastination in Law SchoolOn this episode of Beyond the Briefcase, your hosts explore one of the bad habits that potentially plagues all students - procrastination. We share with you our experiences, and some tips and tricks to keeping procrastination at bay during law school. This episode is part of a mini-series on some bad habits that law students may encounter. If you’re interested in learning more about imposter syndrome and dealing with rejection, look forward to our upcoming episodes! Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star ra...2023-11-1333 minBeyond the BriefcaseInterview with Adam Feldman: Legal Analytics in US LawOn this episode of Beyond the Briefcase, your hosts interview Adam Feldman. Tune in to learn more about transitioning from legal practice to doctoral research, legal analytics and big data, and Adam's experience mentoring law school hopefuls and students. LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST Adam's blog: https://empiricalscotus.com/ Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe for more. Don't hesitate to contact us if there are some topics you would like covered on the show! We would love to h...2023-11-061h 01Beyond the BriefcaseOur Experiences with Mental Health and Law SchoolOn this week's episode, your hosts talk about their experiences navigating mental health before and during law school. They chat candidly about therapy, maintaining good health, and peer mentorship programs at their school. Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe for more. Don't hesitate to contact us if there are some topics you would like covered on the show! We would love to hear from you. Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this episode are our own and...2023-10-3033 minBeyond the BriefcaseInterview with Amy ter Haar: Creating and Seizing OpportunitiesOn this episode of Beyond the Briefcase, your hosts interview Amy ter Haar. Tune in to learn more about starting a law firm, being in-house counsel, working in legal education, and being flexible in pursuing your interests in law school. Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe for more. Don't hesitate to contact us if there are some topics you would like covered on the show! We would love to hear from you. Please note that the views and opinions exp...2023-10-2348 minBeyond the BriefcaseUpdate: First Month of Law SchoolOn this week's episode, your hosts catch up and talk about their first month of law school! They chat about prepping case briefs, juggling extracurriculars, and navigating social events as "mature" students. Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe for more. Don't hesitate to contact us if there are some topics you would like covered on the show! We would love to hear from you. Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this episode are our own and do...2023-10-1636 minBeyond the BriefcaseInterview with Nik Khakhar: Articling in Criminal LawOn this episode of Beyond the Briefcase, your hosts interview Nik Khakhar. Tune in to learn more about legal research, criminal law, and how to go through law school without disregarding your other priorities and interests.Please note that the opinions expressed by Nik in this episode are his own, and do not represent or reflect those of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC).LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST Nik Khakhar is an articling student at the PPSC, and a published author in the field of criminal law. He is a recent gr...2023-10-091h 03Beyond the BriefcaseInterview with Mathilde Do Chi: International Food LawOn this week of Beyond the Briefcase, your hosts talk to Mathilde Do Chi. Mathilde practices food law, with a focus on alternative protein products, and advises clients across the world. Tune in to learn more about this niche area of law and how European law differs from Canadian law. LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST Mathilde's Consultancy: veganfoodlaw.comSupport the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe for more. Don't hesitate to contact us if there are some topics you...2023-10-0251 minBeyond the BriefcaseInterview with Paula Price: Self-Trust, Experiential Learning, and Legal CoachingOn this week's episode of Beyond the Briefcase, your hosts talk to Paula Price, founder of Uplevel Lawyer Coaching and creator of the Joyful Practice for Women Lawyers podcast. We discuss how to be trusting of oneself, experiential learning in law school and coaching, and creating and managing podcasts as professionals. LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST: Uplevel Lawyer Coaching: https://uplevellawyercoaching.com/The Joyful Practice for Women Lawyers Podcast: https://thejoyfulpractice.com/podcast/Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5...2023-09-251h 04Beyond the BriefcaseInterview with Aaron Baer: Legal Tech, Remote Work, and 4L AcademyOn this week's episode of Beyond the Briefcase, your hosts talk to Aaron Baer, founder of 4L Academy. We explore Baer's involvement in legal tech, the iterative ease of remote work, and his experience developing a program that trains law students and lawyers in modern ways.LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST: Aaron Baer's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronbaer2/4L Website: https://www.notion.so/4L-Academy-Home-Public-b1ce7065ef234d1dadc4add472c05af8Join the 4L mailing list to stay up-to-date on upcoming free events: https://www.4lacademy.ca/ (bottom l...2023-09-1853 minBeyond the BriefcaseShould the LSAT Remain a Requirement for Law School?On this week's episode of Beyond the Briefcase, your hosts explore the pros and cons of the LSAT as the standardized test for law school admission. They explore alternatives (JD-Next, the GRE) and dive into issues of language and resource accessibility. References: Anthony, L.C., Alessandro, S.P. & Reese, M.R. (2013) Predictive validity of the LSAT: A national summary of the 2011 and 2012 LSAT correlation studies. LSAT Technical Reports. https://www.lsac.org/data-research/research/predictive-validity-lsat-national-summary-2011-and-2012-lsat-correlation Manhattan Review (n.d.). The LSAT as a predictor of success in law school. https://www.manhattanreview.com...2023-09-1130 minBeyond the BriefcaseInterview with Hala Omar: Choosing the Right Law School for You (Osgoode Hall Law School)On this week's episode of Beyond the Briefcase, your hosts talk to Hala Omar, a 3L at Osgoode Hall Law School. We candidly discuss her experience as a law student and her advice for incoming law students and hopefuls. Hala tells you how to manage the overwhelming amount of reading, how to get a legal internship/work experience and gives us a look at her own personal journey and the reasons why she chose the JD program at Osgoode Hall Law School.Support the podcast!Follow us on our socialsInstagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcast2023-09-0432 minBeyond the BriefcaseHow to Build a Strong NetworkIn this episode, we let you know how you can build a strong network! Networking can be very helpful when going through the process of applying to law school and is extremely important for lawyers. To help you start networking ASAP, we go over networking tips for undergraduate students, how to successfully cold call/cold email, and explore a daily approach to networking. We also explore ways of maintaining your relationships and your network over time - so that the connections you made stay strong and can be leveraged at any time. Support the podcast!Follow...2023-08-2824 minBeyond the BriefcaseRoadmap to Getting into Law School: Application ProcessThis is the third and final episode of the Roadmap to Law School series. We want to help any listeners who are law school hopefuls succeed in their law school applications! In this episode we dive into the application process - with a focus on the Ontario system. We explore the timeline you should follow as an applicant to get everything ready on time, the Ontario Law School Application System (OLSAS), how to write a strong personal and diversity statement/optional essay, and how to get strong references.Support the podcast!Follow us on our socials2023-08-2130 minBeyond the BriefcaseRoadmap to Getting into Law School: LSATThis is the second episode of the Roadmap to Law School series. We want to help any listeners who are law school hopefuls succeed in their law school applications! In this episode, we talk about all things LSAT. We go over the content of the exam and give you tips and tricks to successfully complete all sections. We also share our own LSAT experiences, and answer a very important question: do LSAT scores really matter? We even broach the topic of phasing out the LSAT (which will be covered in more detail in another one of our episodes...2023-08-2132 minBeyond the BriefcaseRoadmap to Getting into Law School: Pre-LawThis is the first episode of the Roadmap to Law School series. In this episode, we discuss our own pre-law experiences and provide suggestions for those of you who have yet to reach some of the stages that precede law school. Through the lenses of high school and undergraduate studies, we will go over programs/courses, extracurriculars, volunteer and work experiences that can contribute to your portfolio, and help you get into law school. For those of you that didn't know you wanted to go to law school until much later - don't worry! We cover this...2023-08-2125 minBeyond the BriefcaseIntroductionGet to know your hosts: Sarah and Meg, and learn what this podcast is all about!In this episode, your hosts share what you can expect from the podcast, a quick overview of their backgrounds (including what brings them to law school and what kinds of law they hope to pursue), and what excites them most about the podcast.Support the podcast!Follow us on our socials Instagram: @beyondthebriefcasepodcastGive us a 5-star rating and subscribe for more. Don't hesitate to contact us if there are some topics you would l...2023-08-2121 min