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! Today Alison is speaking with USF law professors Megan Hutchinson and Nicole Phillips about how they are teaching law students to use AI responsibly -- emphasizing ethical, professional, and practical applications.

In this episode we discuss:

• How AI is taught at USF School of Law
• Student and faculty reactions to AI
• The human side of lawyering
• Potential pitfalls and responsible AI use
• Tech resources for law students

Resources:

• The New York Times: I'm a LinkedIn Executive. I See the Bottom Rung of the Career Ladder Breaking. (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/19/opinion/linkedin-ai-entry-level-jobs.html?amp;referringSource=articleShare)
• USF: Megan Hutchinson (https://www.usfca.edu/law/faculty/megan-hutchinson)
• UCLA: Megan Hutchinson (https://law.ucla.edu/faculty/faculty-profiles/megan-r-hutchinson)
• USF: Nicole Phillips (https://www.usfca.edu/law/faculty/nicole-phillips)
• LinkedIn: Megan Hutchinson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-hutchinson-6428691/)
• LinkedIn: Nicole Phillips (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolelphillips/)
• Podcast Episode 480: Ethical Uses of AI in Law School (w/Professor Susan Tanner) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-480-ethical-uses-of-ai-in-law-school-w-professor-susan-tanner/)
• Podcast Episode 505: Breaking ADHD Barriers with the Help of AI (w/Lindsay Scola) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-505-breaking-adhd-barriers-with-the-help-of-ai-w-lindsay-scola/)
• Podcast Episode 513: Grappling with AI as a Law Student and Lawyer (1L Summer Series) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-513-grappling-with-ai-as-a-law-student-and-lawyer-1l-summer-series/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-517-teaching-ai-in-law-school-w-megan-hutchinson-and-nicole-phillips/)

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 focusing on the basics of Criminal Law – that is, the elements of a crime. Specifically, we're going to spend some time diving into the two most important elements: causation and mens rea.

In this episode we discuss:

• The four elements necessary to prove a crime
• The defendant's state of mind and criminal intent when they commit a crime
• Actual and proximate causation
• 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 2007 (https://nwculaw.edu/pdf/bar/July%202007%20Essays%20and%20Sample%20Answers.pdf)
• California Bar Examination – Essay Questions and Selected Answers, October 2020 (https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Portals/0/documents/admissions/Examinations/October-2020-Essay-Selected-Answers.pdf)
• Podcast Episode 357: Listen and Learn – Prosecution of a Criminal Trial (Burdens, Presumptions, Sufficiency) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-357-listen-and-learn-prosecution-of-a-criminal-trial-burdens-presumptions-sufficiency/)
• Podcast Episode 406: Listen and Learn – Defenses to a Crime (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-406-listen-and-learn-defenses-to-a-crime/)
• Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 218: Listen and Learn – Intent Under the Model Penal Code (Criminal Law) (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-218-listen-and-learn-intent-under-the-model-penal-code-criminal-law/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-516-listen-and-learn-elements-of-a-crime/)

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! In this episode we offer practical advice for law students on preparing for class, handling the Socratic method, and managing anxiety about being called on. We emphasize that mistakes are normal and that efficient reading and note-taking are key. We encourage law students to approach class participation as a learning opportunity and to focus on developing confidence and communication skills.

In this episode we discuss:

• What is the Socratic method and why do law schools use it?
• What is the most effective way to prepare for a law school class?
• How to manage anxiety about classroom participation
• What if you're genuinely unprepared for class one day?

Resources:

• Start Law School Right! (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/start-law-school-right/)
• Podcast Episode 62: Surviving the Socratic Method in Law School (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-62-surviving-the-socratic-method-in-law-school-classes/)
• Podcast Episode 102: How to Read Cases and Prepare for Class in Law School (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/16176-2/)
• Podcast Episode 398: Start Law School Right – The Socratic Method (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-398-start-law-school-right-the-socratic-method/)
• Be Prepared and Speak Up! A Different Approach to the Socratic Method (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/be-prepared-and-speak-up-a-different-approach-to-the-socratic-method/)
• What's the Point of Reading Cases in Law School? (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/whats-the-point-of-reading-cases-in-law-school/)
• Notes? Case Briefs? Highlighting? How Do You Prepare for Class? (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/notes-case-briefs-highlighting-how-do-you-prepare-for-class/)
• Ahead of the Curve: What Should You Be Doing to Prepare for Class as a 1L and How Long Should It Take? (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/ahead-of-the-curve-what-should-you-be-doing-to-prepare-for-class-as-a-1l-and-how-long-should-it-take/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-515-how-to-prepare-for-class-and-not-freak-out-when-you-get-called-on-1l-summer-series/)

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 Civil Procedure – specifically, the following topics related to discovery: motions to compel, interrogatories, and physical/mental examinations.

In this episode we discuss:

• An overview of discovery
• The specific rules related to motions to compel, interrogatories, and physical/mental examinations during discovery
• An analysis of two 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, February 2023 (https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Portals/0/documents/admissions/Examinations/February2023CBXessayQsandAnswers.pdf)
• Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 204: Listen and Learn – Scope of Discovery and Work-Product Privilege (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-204-listen-and-learn-scope-of-discovery-and-the-work-product-privilege/)
• Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 237: Listen and Learn – Discovery (Civ Pro) (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-237-listen-and-learn-discovery-civ-pro/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-514-listen-and-learn-discovery-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

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, in our 1L summer series, we're exploring whether law students should continue to study as hard if AI can already perform many tasks for us. We're highlighting AI's current capabilities and limitations, underscoring the enduring importance of human skills such as judgment, emotional intelligence, and creative problem-solving.

In this episode we discuss:

• What aspects of legal work can AI currently handle, and what are its limitations?
• What legal skills will remain uniquely human even as AI advances?
• How might the legal profession transform with AI, and what new opportunities will emerge?
• What should you consider when deciding if law school is still worth it in the AI era?
• How is legal education adapting to incorporate AI tools?

Resources:

• Start Law School Right! (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/start-law-school-right/)
• Podcast Episode 430: The Paxton AI Founders Talk About Their AI Legal Assistant (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-430-the-paxtonai-founders-talk-about-their-ai-legal-assistant/)
• Podcast Episode 449: Implications of AI for the Legal Profession (w/Kevin Surace) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-449-implications-of-ai-for-the-legal-profession-w-kevin-surace/)
• Podcast Episode 480: Ethical Uses of AI in Law School (w/Professor Susan Tanner) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-480-ethical-uses-of-ai-in-law-school-w-professor-susan-tanner/)
• Podcast Episode 500: The Next Generation of Legal Careers: How AI Is Reshaping Legal Education and Practice (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-500-the-next-generation-of-legal-careers-how-ai-is-reshaping-legal-education-and-practice/)
• Podcast Episode 505: Breaking ADHD Barriers with the Help of AI (w/Lindsay Scola) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-505-breaking-adhd-barriers-with-the-help-of-ai-w-lindsay-scola/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-513-grappling-with-ai-as-a-law-student-and-lawyer-1l-summer-series/)

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 is the second part of our discussion on landlord/tenant law. In this episode, we focus on the differences between lease assignment and subletting.

In this episode we discuss:

• Assignment of a lease
• Subletting a property
• A sample question illustrating the concept of lease assignment

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 2015 (https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Portals/0/documents/admissions/gbx/Feb2015_CBXSelectedAnswers_EssayQuestions1-6_R.pdf)
• Podcast Episode 511: Listen and Learn – Landlord/Tenant Law (Part 1) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-511-listen-and-learn-landlord-tenant-law-part-1/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-512-listen-and-learn-landlord-tenant-law-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

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! In this episode, we discuss the essentials of leaseholds in landlord/tenant law. We cover the different types of leasehold estates, as well as the obligations of tenants and landlords, and we analyze a sample question. Next week, we'll focus on assignment and subletting.

In this episode we discuss:

• The four types of leasehold estates that can be created with a lease
• Duties of landlords and tenants
• Implied warranty of habitability
• Actual vs. constructive eviction
• A hypothetical scenario illustrating leaseholds

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 2023 (https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Portals/0/documents/admissions/Examinations/February2023CBXessayQsandAnswers.pdf)
• Podcast Episode 265: Listen and Learn – Constructive Eviction (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-265-listen-and-learn-constructive-eviction/)
• Podcast Episode 319: Listen and Learn – Negligence: Duties of Landlords, Owners, and Possessors of Land (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-319-listen-and-learn-negligence-duties-of-landlords-owners-and-possessors-of-land/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-511-listen-and-learn-landlord-tenant-law-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! In this episode of our 1L summer series, we discuss how to organize your time efficiently and maintain focus in law school. We go through the structured daily routine of 1Ls, the importance of deep work, and the use of organizational tools for effective time management. We also explain two productive approaches to studying - the Pomodoro Technique and the Circles Method, and provide tips on combating procrastination.

In this episode we discuss:

• What does a typical law student's weekly schedule look like?
• The best calendar and task management systems for law students
• How to use the Pomodoro Technique and other focused work methods effectively
• How to avoid procrastination when the workload feels overwhelming
• Balancing immediate deadlines with long-term projects like outlining

Resources:

• Start Law School Right! (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/start-law-school-right/)
• Podcast Episode 432: Creating New Habits and Optimizing Time Management (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-432-creating-new-habits-and-optimizing-time-management/)
• Law School Toolbox Experts Share: How Should Law Students Create a Study Schedule? (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/law-school-toolbox-experts-share-how-would-you-advise-law-students-to-create-a-study-schedule/)
• How to Calendar Your Way to Better Grades and More Free Time (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/how-to-calendar-your-way-to-better-grades-and-more-free-time/)
• Pomodoro Technique (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique)
• Need to Get More Done in Law School? Try The Circles. (https://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/08/tips-time-management-awesomeness-with-the-circles/)
• Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World, by Cal Newport (https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Work-Focused-Distracted-Paperback/dp/B0F79RGMLM/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0)
• Are You a Procrastinator? Break the Cycle with the Procrastination Wheel (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/12523-2/)
• Organizational Tools for Outlining Legal Subject Areas (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/organizational-tools-for-outlining-legal-subject-areas/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-510-how-do-i-organize-my-time-and-stay-focused-1l-summer-series/)

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 is the second episode of a two-part discussion of third-party rights in contracts. Last time we covered assignments and delegations, and today we focus on third-party beneficiaries.

In this episode we discuss:

• A recap of assignment and delegation of contractual rights and obligations
• Intended and incidental third-party beneficiaries
• Illustrative examples of third-party beneficiaries

Resources:

• "Listen and Learn" series (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/law-school-toolbox-podcast-substantive-law-topics/#listen-learn)
• Podcast Episode 508: Listen and Learn – Third-Party Rights in Contracts (Part 1) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-508-listen-and-learn-third-party-rights-in-contracts-part-1-rules/)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-509-listen-and-learn-third-party-rights-in-contracts-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

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! This is the first episode of a two-part discussion of third-party rights in contracts. Today we focus on assignments and delegations, starting with the basic definitions and the specific rules governing them, and then applying these concepts to some practical scenarios. Next week, we'll cover third-party beneficiaries.

In this episode we discuss:

• Overview of assignment and delegation of contractual rights and obligations
• Key terminology used in third-party rights in contracts
• The rules governing assignment and delegation
• Illustrative examples of third-party rights

Resources:

• "Listen and Learn" series (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/law-school-toolbox-podcast-substantive-law-topics/#listen-learn)

Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-508-listen-and-learn-third-party-rights-in-contracts-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