516: Listen and Learn -- Elements of a Crime

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, 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