Studying law can involve a lot of information, unfamiliar terminology and new ways of thinking.
Add work, family and other responsibilities into the mix and it can be difficult to know where to begin.
There is no single study method that works perfectly for everyone. The aim is to find a small number of approaches that help you understand what you are learning, remember it and apply it when you need to.
Here are some practical methods you can experiment with.
1. Use active recall
Active recall means trying to retrieve information from memory rather than simply reading it again.
Instead of repeatedly looking through the same page of notes, close them and ask yourself what you can remember.
You could:
- answer practise questions
- use flashcards
- write down everything you remember about a topic
- create your own questions
- explain a legal principle without looking at your materials
- list the key elements of a topic from memory and then check what you missed
The important part is making your brain do some work.
Getting something wrong is not necessarily a problem. Discovering the gaps in your knowledge gives you something useful to work on.
2. Revisit topics over time
It is easy to feel that you know something immediately after studying it.
A better test is whether you can still remember and use it later.
Spaced repetition means returning to a topic several times over a longer period rather than trying to learn everything in one long session.
For example, you might:
- study a new topic
- briefly review it a day or two later
- return to it again the following week
- revisit it later as part of your wider revision
You do not need to follow a complicated schedule.
The basic idea is simply to keep bringing important information back into your study rather than learning it once and leaving it behind.
3. Mix related topics
Interleaving involves moving between related subjects or types of problem rather than spending all your time repeating the same activity.
For example, instead of spending an entire revision session doing one type of question, you might work on several related areas.
That can help you practise recognising what kind of knowledge or approach a question requires.
This is different from constantly distracting yourself or trying to do several things at the same time.
Give each task your attention, but vary what you practise during a longer study period.
4. Use mind maps and visual summaries
Mind maps can be useful when you need to see how different parts of a topic fit together.
You might use:
- keywords
- short phrases
- arrows
- diagrams
- symbols
- colour coding
Try to keep them concise.
The goal is not to reproduce your textbook on a large sheet of paper. It is to create something that helps you see the structure of the subject quickly.
They can be particularly useful once you have already studied a topic and want to summarise it.
5. Make your notes work for you
Some people love taking notes. Others find that extensive note-taking takes time without helping them remember very much.
Either can be fine.
If you do take notes, try putting information into your own words rather than copying large sections of text.
Then do something with those notes.
Turn them into:
- questions
- flashcards
- diagrams
- short summaries
- practise answers
- checklists
Your notes can be the starting point for learning rather than the finished product.
6. Try teaching the topic
One of the simplest ways to discover whether you really understand something is to try to explain it.
You do not need an actual classroom.
Explain the topic to:
- another learner
- a friend or family member
- an imaginary audience
- yourself, out loud
Try explaining it without reading directly from your notes.
You may quickly notice the areas where your explanation becomes vague or where you need to check something.
Those are useful clues about what to study next.
7. Practise applying what you know
Remembering information matters, but legal study also requires you to use it.
Make time for practise as well as reading.
Depending on your course and assessment, that might include:
- practise questions
- scenario-based exercises
- written answers
- legal research
- identifying issues in a problem
- explaining why a particular principle applies
- reviewing feedback and trying again
Do not wait until the end of your studies before testing whether you can apply what you have learned.
8. Build an organisation system you will actually use
Organisation does not need to look impressive.
It needs to help you know:
- what you need to study
- what you have already covered
- where your materials are
- what deadlines are approaching
- what needs another review
You might prefer:
- a paper planner
- a digital calendar
- a task list
- colour coding
- folders
- digital notebooks
- a simple weekly study plan
Choose something you can realistically maintain.
A very complicated organisation system can become another job in itself.
Make study fit around real life
A perfect study timetable rarely survives contact with real life.
Work becomes busy. Children get ill. Plans change. Energy levels vary.
If you miss a study session, you have not failed.
Review the plan and continue.
A realistic plan that you can adapt is usually more useful than an ambitious timetable that makes you feel permanently behind.
You might find it easier to identify:
- your essential study tasks for the week
- additional tasks if you have more time
- periods when you usually concentrate best
- small pieces of study that can fit into shorter gaps
Consistency matters more than trying to study constantly.
Know when to take a break
Sometimes continuing to stare at the same material is not productive.
If you notice that you are reading without taking anything in, struggling to concentrate or becoming increasingly frustrated, take a break.
Move around.
Have something to eat or drink.
Do something different for a while.
Then come back to the work.
Taking time away from studying can be part of studying effectively.
Ask for help before a small problem becomes a big one
Independent learning does not mean doing everything alone.
If you are struggling to understand something, falling behind or unsure how to approach your studies, ask for help.
Depending on your learning provider, that might mean speaking to:
- your tutor
- a subject specialist
- learner support
- another learner
- your employer or workplace supervisor
You do not need to wait until an assessment is approaching.
A simple study session to try
If you are unsure where to begin, try something simple:
- Start: decide what you want to understand or practise.
- Study: work through the relevant material.
- Recall: close the material and identify what you remember.
- Apply: complete a question, activity or short exercise.
- Check: compare your answer with your materials or feedback.
- Record: note anything you need to revisit.
That is often more useful than measuring success only by how long you have been sitting at a desk.
Final study tips
You do not need to use every study method you come across.
Experiment, then keep the approaches that genuinely help you.
Try to remember:
- study methods are tools, not rules
- different subjects may need different approaches
- plans can change
- breaks are allowed
- active practise is important
- asking for help is part of learning
- you do not need elaborate stationery or expensive apps to study effectively
- progress does not have to look perfect
Most importantly, pay attention to what helps you understand, remember and apply what you are learning.
Your study routine should support your learning, not become another thing to feel guilty about.
Studying with Brightlink
Brightlink Law School provides flexible online legal learning designed to work around the realities of learners’ lives.
Our approach combines independent study with access to people who can help you understand your learning, ask questions, receive feedback and keep moving forward.
You can find out more about our Flexible Learning approach or Talk to Us if you are considering legal study and want to understand your options.