How flash cards help me ace law exams

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Flash cards... we've all used them at some point. Children use them all the time while learning basic mathematics and learning how to read. People use them extensively when learning vocabulary. So what about using flash cards to study law? I use flash cards extensively. I usually start making them in the first few weeks of a semester but struggle to continue making them until exams are close. Yet again it happened this semester, although I'm still ahead of last year!

Flash Cards? Why would I want flash cards?

Lots of people know what flash cards are and how to use them, but don't actually know how they work. According to Wikipedia, flash cards work by engaging active recall, which supposedly works better than passively reading notes. I'm not the only law student who uses flash card (here and here plus many more) and there is a good reason why: they work!

So what do I need?

Image: ObiterGirl/obitergirl.blogspot.com

You're going to need some index cards, preferably 3x5. In Australia you can buy a box of 500 for around $15 or a 100 card packet for less than $5. I prefer to use plain white, although you can get a number of different colours.  

You'll also need your notes and some pens. I like to use permanent markers, at least for the prompt side, but you have to be careful that the pen doesn't go through to the other side.

If you want to put your cards on a ring you will need a hole punch and some clip rings. If you want to colour-code them for each subject you could put coloured-circle stickers on them. I used to do that but don't anymore.

So how do I make these?

Take a flash card and write your prompt on the front. Flip the card upside down and write the answer on this side. On the bottom right hand corner of the card draw three squares in a pen not pencil. If you want to flip through them on a ring (or two) punch a hole in the card and attach the rings.

What goes on these cards?

If you usually summarise your readings and class notes, making flash cards is relatively simple. Some people recommend only making your cards once you have outlined. Ideally that does make it easier, especially in exam preparation. If I've already made a summary, I use that to guide my flash cards. If I define something in my summary, I make a flash card. For a legal rule, I try and put the entire rule on a card, but it can be difficult. 

If you haven't outlined your work or you are making your flash cards throughout the semester it can be more difficult. If you summarise your notes week-by-week (because we all intend to do it!) you can use that. I know that when I am making my cards week by week I end up with many more than I would if I was making them in the last few weeks before exams. 

For cases I write the name of the case on one side (usually just the parties and the year) and the facts on the other. I break a case card into a few sections. At the top of the card I write what it applies to, particularly if it is an authority case. The next section is Facts, which I try to keep minimal. I also put the Issue and what was Held. If there is anything else that is important to the case, I also put that in at the end. I don't recommend making a card for every case that you are given to read or is listed or you'll never finish making them. I just make a card for the authority cases and any cases that are starred in my teacher's notes. At my law school important cases (ie: the ones we should read) are starred and we are expected to know these in detail. If the teacher went into detail on a case I make sure that I make a card for that one as well. Ideally you want as little information as possible, so try and keep it simple; some facts, and the law. 

What about those little squares?

When I'm studying properly with them I try and review the cards 3 times a day. Every time I get a particular card correct I use a pencil to tick one of the boxes. The next day's first review is important. If I get a card with 3 ticks correct again it gets moved to the inactive pile. Inactive doesn't mean that I don't review it again but that I only review it once per day as opposed to 3 times each day. My ultimate aim is to have all cards in my inactive piles before the exam. 

Why 3 times a day? I got the idea from here a few years back. The main part of this technique is getting the answer correct after a night of sleep. If you get it wrong then you don't know it, no matter how many times you answered correctly the day before. Does it work? It works for me. Having the squares and the goal of moving it into the other pile is incentive. Yes, gaining the knowledge should be your incentive and goal but when you're frantically studying, gaining knowledge for your future career isn't exactly what is on your mind!

So what do I do with all these cards?

I don't write questions on my cards because, let's face it, it's not necessary. If you write a term or legal principle and definition on the cards you can usually use them back to front. I like to answer the cards out loud, mainly because it means that I can't cheat! You could get a friend or family member to help but in my experience it is easier to work through them myself. It does take quite a bit of time to work through all cards, particularly at the end of a semester and if you have made cards for each case. The time it takes in itself if incentive for getting the answers correct and moving them into the inactive pile.

What about all my subjects?

Flash cards are a great way of studying, but if you are taking a full load of classes, particularly law classes, getting through all flash cards can be a challenge, particularly if you keep the cards grouped separately. So should you mix them up? I say no, and I'm not alone. While there are topics that can interact, in law school it's a little unlikely as each subject has a distinct focus. Keeping the subjects separate also makes it easier if you want to focus solely on a single subject.

Electronic vs Paper?

I said I wasn't going to talk about Anki and such but I just couldn't help myself. If you have a look online there are plenty of people who are advocates of electronic flashcards through programs such as Anki and Quizlet. Anki is great because it spaces your cards out based on how well you know them. Spaced Repetition is a well-known method of learning and, in a way, is what my method of revision with my flashcards does. My main issue with Quizlet is that there is such a large bank of legal flash cards so there is a temptation to use these instead of creating your own cards. There are many problems in this, not only because creating your own cards helps to solidify the knowledge but also because jurisdictional differences could result in you learning the wrong information. Anki has the benefits of an iphone application and accessibility from anywhere in the world, although I do believe that paper-based cards have their own benefits. 

Making the cards may be more time-consuming on paper, but actually writing the cards out helps to learn the information as well. Paper cards are portable regardless of whether you have a smart phone. There is also the benefit of being away from a computer or device capable of promoting procrastination!

I must say that I do use Anki, but I wouldn't use it for studying my class notes for exams. I have used it for French vocabulary and I prefer it to my paper based cards for that.

The Verdict?

Ultimately, flash cards are a great study tool. They are, however, a study tool and are not a replacement for any other methods of studying. I don't use flash cards alone, I still summarise my notes, make mindmaps (depending on the subject) and do past exams and practice questions.