In my last law blog post, we looked at why taking notes is important and some of the basics of how to do this, as well as using notes to revise for exams. In this blog post, we will be focusing more on note-taking methods, as well as computer versus handwritten. You can then try out a few different options before settling on one particular method that works well for you. Make sure it is also one that will be easy to revise from, as this is a key function of note-taking.
Cornell Method
The first method we will be looking at is the Cornell method. This is one of the most popular methods out there and is great for reviewing your notes when it comes to exam time. To use the Cornell system, you need to divide your page into three sections. First, rule a couple of inches off the bottom of the paper, which will be the summary section. In the space above, put another line about three inches in from the left. This space on the left will be the cue section.
The final section to the top right should be the biggest and is the notes section. This is the section that you will use for initial note-taking, whether this is in a lecture or while reading a textbook. You can write these in any format you want, but an outline with bullet points and abbreviations is often easiest, especially if you are trying to keep up with a lecturer.
After you have finished the actual note-taking, it is time to go back and review your notes. Firstly, fill in the cue section with headings, questions and the main points. These should be things that will jog your memory and help with revision. The summary section is exactly what it sounds like; it summarises all of the main points as simply as possible.
Mind Map
If you are a more visual learner, you may find that mind mapping is better suited to you. This means placing the main topic in the middle, then drawing lines out to ideas related to this. For example, if the topic of the lecture is contract law, you might have lines going out to the requirements for a contract to be valid, then lines going out from these showing which case or law establishes this.
When you review it, you can make new connections and add any other supporting evidence you know. Mind maps are great for showing how topics relate to each other and letting you look at the topic as a whole.
Outline Method
The outline approach is one of the simplest methods you can use and requires you to write out four or five key points that you expect to be covered in your lecture or reading. Then, you just add sub-headings to these as you go along, using bullet points or similar. This makes it very easy to keep up with what is going on and record as much as possible.
However, this method is quite hard to revise from as everything is there and it can be a little overwhelming when you look back over it! It is best to try to organise your notes after each note-taking session so that you stay on top of them as you go along. Summarise and rearrange them into a way that is easier for your method of revision. You may find that this ends up looking a lot like the Cornell system, so you could swap to this method if you think it will help.
Computer or Handwritten?
Once you have chosen what method to use, you will need to decide whether you will use a computer or handwrite all of your notes. Of course, this may be decided for you if your lecturer does not allow computers! Otherwise, it is up to you, so we will now look at some of the pros and cons of each of these methods.
One of the advantages of using a computer is that you will probably be able to type much quicker than you can write, so if you have a lecturer who tends to talk very fast, typing gives you a better chance of keeping up.
Computer notes also have more flexibility; there is no need to guess how much space you will need; you can just make more as necessary. You can also move things around, so if you write something in the wrong place, it is easy to fix this and other errors that you may find in your review.
On the other hand, typing doesn’t help you to remember facts as much as writing it yourself does, especially if you do copy down everything rather than summarising it, as having to focus on summarising makes you actually think about what you are writing. Also, if you are the sort of person who gets easily distracted, having access to the internet is not ideal!
One advantage of handwritten notes is that you can customise them exactly as you want them – you can use a mixture of highlighting and underlining in different colours. It’s fiddlier to do this on a computer screen. You can also use whatever layout works for you, with no need to worry about the formatting going wrong – text will stay where you wrote it originally, no matter how much more you add.
Handwriting your notes also improves your focus and helps you to remember more. Also, there is no risk of being distracted by email or the internet on a piece of paper!
However, handwriting your notes tends to be slower, so if you have a fast lecturer it may be difficult to keep up, especially if you struggle to keep your writing neat. You may also find that your hand starts hurting towards the end of a long lecture.
Wrapping Up
I hope that this helps you with your legal note-taking. This is an important skill to have, so make sure you start as soon as possible and decide what is right for you. In my next blog post, we will be looking at how laws are made, so come back in two weeks for that. Good luck with your course!
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