Raising Lawyers Who Can Think When AI Does the Thinking (Alexandra Sepulveda) Notes To My Legal Self S15E1

Welcome to Season 15, Episode 1 of Notes to My (Legal) Self.Olga Mack sits down with Alexandra Sepulveda, Associate General Counsel at Trust & Will, to explore one of the biggest questions facing the legal profession today: How do we raise lawyers who can think when AI does the thinking? Together, they examine why judgment, not just knowledge, will define the next generation of legal professionals and why curiosity, mentorship, and real-world experience matter more than ever in an AI-assisted future.Alexandra brings decades of experience spanning litigation, commercial contracting, startups, and in-house leadership. From patent litigation and General Mills to high-growth technology companies and Trust & Will, she shares how her unconventional career shaped the practical judgment that AI cannot replicate and why developing legal intuition has never been more important.In this episode, you'll discover:• Why AI can generate answers, but not legal judgment• How junior lawyers can build intuition when AI handles routine work• The "Oreo Cookie" approach to using AI: Human → AI → Human• Why the most powerful negotiation tactic may be the purposeful pause• How in-house lawyers should invest AI's time savings into stronger business relationships• Why mentorship and your personal "board of directors" matter more than ever• How law schools and legal organizations should rethink training for the AI era• Practical habits that help lawyers sharpen judgment, curiosity, and critical thinking every dayWhether you're an aspiring lawyer, an experienced in-house counsel, a legal operations professional, or a leader preparing your team for the future of work, this conversation offers practical insights on developing the one capability AI cannot replace: human judgment. If you've ever wondered how lawyers can remain indispensable in an increasingly automated profession, this episode is for you.Takeaways:• AI can accelerate legal work, but it cannot replace human judgment.• Purposeful pauses and thoughtful questions are often more powerful than immediate answers.• Legal professionals should use AI to amplify, not outsource, their thinking.• Developing judgment requires deliberate practice, mentorship, and business context.• The future belongs to lawyers who stay curious, adaptable, and deeply connected to their organizations.S U B S C R I B E!Want to be a guest on NTMLS or know someone who should be? Reach out! Self-nominations are acts of courage.Engage with us below like, comment, and subscribe to follow the future of in-house law!Thank you for watching!Like, Comment, Subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode!Subscribe to our channel: @NotesToMyLegalSelfINTERSECTION OF LAW AND FUN®#InHouseCounsel #LegalLeadership #GeneralCounsel #ProfessionalDevelopment #NotesToMyLegalSelf