I am finiding legal so hard this year, there is so much content and I struggle to remember it all. Does anyone have any tips?
Hey, hdxx,
Yep, Legal Studies is basically just memorization --> application. It’s a lot to take in, so don’t stress. It’s not just you. The entirety of VCE courses are made to challenge a person’s ability to retain and apply information – it’s rough. So I do this:
- Rewrite the notes I am given/what’s in the book
- Taking each study design dot-point and elaborating on that in conjunction with my notes
- Making flashcards or lists for definitions
- Reading these aloud or explaining them to friends
For case studies, you should pick out the main points and summarise them as concisely as possible. For example:
"The Roach Case (
Roach v Electoral Commission, 2007). Vicki Lee Roach. Imprisoned for 5 years for multiple offences. Argued against 2006 amendment to the 2004
Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Prisoner Voting and Other Measures) Act (Cth), claiming that this restriction on a significant amount of the population (~20,000 people) was also a restriction on the Commonwealth Constitution’s Sections 7 and 24, which call for a responsible government…" etc.
Have you got either A+ or ATAR Notes notes? They're actually really helpful for summarising things. Remember, if you're trying to understand a concept, don't condense it. Put it in your own words first, or ask for clarification.
Again, this is a lot to do – it’s not a bad thing to be struggling right now. Just know that you are capable and you can do it, and do it well. Keep practicing. Good luck!