Anki For Law: The Best Way To Actually Remember Cases And Articles (Most Students Don’t Do This) – Learn how to use flashcards properly for law and the smarter alternative to Anki on iPhone and iPad.
Anki for law actually means using spaced repetition to lock in cases, statutes, and tests. See why many switch to Flashrecall and what really works long-term.
How Flashrecall app helps you remember faster. It's free
So… Does “Anki For Law” Actually Work?
Alright, let’s talk about this: anki for law is basically using spaced repetition flashcards to memorize cases, statutes, and legal concepts so they actually stick long-term instead of evaporating before exams. It matters because law is insanely detail-heavy—case names, ratios, sections, tests—and your brain just can’t hold all that by rereading notes. With something like Anki or a similar app, you keep reviewing the hard stuff right before you’re about to forget it, so it moves into long‑term memory. For example, you can create cards for Donoghue v Stevenson, the facts, and the legal principle, and keep seeing them on a smart schedule. Apps like Flashrecall do this automatically for you with spaced repetition and active recall, but with a cleaner, faster experience on iPhone and iPad:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
What “Anki For Law” Really Means (Without The Hype)
When people say anki for law, they usually mean one of two things:
1. Using Anki itself to study law
2. Looking for an Anki-style app that actually feels nice to use on mobile and fits law school life
The core idea is simple:
- You turn cases, statutes, and concepts into flashcards
- The app uses spaced repetition to decide when you see them again
- You use active recall (answer from memory before flipping the card)
- Over time, what used to feel impossible (like remembering 100+ cases) becomes normal
That’s exactly what Flashrecall does too—it’s basically “Anki energy” but more modern and way easier to get started with, especially on iOS.
Why Spaced Repetition Is So Good For Law Students
Law is brutal because you don’t just need “vibes” understanding—you need:
- Precise wording (statutes, tests, definitions)
- Case names + facts + ratio
- Structure (elements of offences, steps in legal tests)
Spaced repetition is perfect for this because:
- You review harder cards more often and easy ones less often
- You stop wasting time rereading what you already know
- You see stuff again right before you’d forget it, which makes memory stronger
In Flashrecall, this is built in:
- Every card you rate as “hard” or “easy” automatically gets a new review date
- You get study reminders, so you don’t have to remember to open the app
- It works offline, so you can grind cards on the train, in the library, wherever
Anki vs Flashrecall For Law: What’s The Difference?
Let’s be real: Anki is powerful, but it can feel like learning a second degree just to use it properly.
Here’s a quick comparison for law students:
1. Setup And Learning Curve
- Anki
- Super customizable but… lots of settings
- Desktop-first, mobile apps can feel clunky
- You often have to watch YouTube tutorials just to get going
- Flashrecall
- Designed to be fast and simple from day one
- Native on iPhone and iPad, super clean interface
- You just open it, make cards, and it handles spaced repetition automatically
👉 If you just want to study law, not study how to use a flashcard program, Flashrecall is way less hassle:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
2. Making Law Flashcards
Law content is messy: screenshots, PDFs, lecture slides, YouTube lectures, random notes.
- Anki
- Great for typed cards
- Adding images/PDFs/YouTube stuff is possible but more manual
- Flashrecall
- You can create cards instantly from:
- Images (e.g. photo of a textbook page or whiteboard)
- Text
- Audio
- PDFs
- YouTube links
- Typed prompts
- You can still make cards manually if you like total control
Example:
You’ve got a 60-page PDF on Contract Law. Instead of rewriting everything, you can feed sections into Flashrecall and quickly turn key points into flashcards.
3. Studying Style
- Anki
- Classic Q/A flashcards
- Powerful but quite plain
- Flashrecall
- Built-in active recall (you see the prompt, think, then reveal)
- Spaced repetition + auto reminders baked in
- You can chat with the flashcard if you’re unsure—seriously useful for law.
That last one is huge: if you forget what a case is really about, you can literally chat with the card content to get more explanation and context instead of leaving the app to search.
How To Use Flashcards For Law The Smart Way
Let’s talk strategy, not just apps.
1. What To Turn Into Flashcards
Flashrecall automatically keeps track and reminds you of the cards you don't remember well so you remember faster. Like this :
For anki for law style studying, focus on stuff you actually need to recall in the exam:
- Cases
- Name
- Facts (short, just enough to recognize it)
- Ratio / legal principle
- Statutes & Articles
- Section number + short wording
- When it applies
- Tests / Elements
- E.g. “Negligence – elements”
- E.g. “Consideration – requirements”
- Definitions
- “Offer”, “acceptance”, “mens rea”, “promissory estoppel”, etc.
Try this format:
- Front: “Donoghue v Stevenson – key principle?”
- Back: “Established the neighbour principle in negligence – duty of care owed to persons closely and directly affected by one’s acts or omissions.”
In Flashrecall, you can create these super fast, and if you’re unsure how to phrase something, you can just chat with the card content to refine it.
2. Don’t Cram Your Cards
Law students love to make “essay cards” that are just walls of text. That kills your memory and motivation.
Instead:
- One concept per card
- Keep it short and clear
- If a card feels heavy, split it into 2–3 smaller cards
For example, instead of:
> “Explain the entire test for duty of care in negligence”
Make:
- Card 1: “Duty of care – what is the Caparo 3-stage test?”
- Card 2: “Caparo test – stage 1?”
- Card 3: “Caparo test – stage 2?”
- Card 4: “Caparo test – stage 3?”
Flashrecall’s fast card creation makes this painless.
How To Use Flashrecall As Your “Anki For Law” On iPhone/iPad
Here’s a simple workflow you can use:
Step 1: Import Or Create Your Cards
- Take photos of textbook pages or notes → turn key bits into cards
- Paste text from PDFs or lecture slides → generate cards
- Add YouTube links from law lectures → pull key info into flashcards
- Or just type cards manually while you revise
Flashrecall is free to start, so you can try this without committing to anything:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Step 2: Build Decks By Subject Or Module
Some simple ideas:
- “Contract Law – Cases”
- “Criminal Law – Offences & Defences”
- “Tort – Key Principles”
- “EU Law – Articles & Cases”
- “Evidence – Rules & Exceptions”
This keeps everything organized and makes it easier to do targeted review before specific exams.
Step 3: Use Daily Review (Short Sessions, Often)
Instead of 3-hour death sessions:
- Aim for 10–20 minutes a day
- Let Flashrecall’s spaced repetition + reminders tell you what to review
- When you rate cards as easy/hard, the app automatically schedules the next review
Because it works offline, you can knock out reviews:
- On the bus
- Walking to class (well, maybe not walking, but you get it)
- Waiting for lectures to start
Step 4: Use “Chat With The Flashcard” When You’re Stuck
This is where Flashrecall really shines vs classic Anki.
Example:
- You see: “R v Cunningham – what did it decide about mens rea?”
- Your brain: “I… vaguely remember? Something about recklessness?”
- Instead of just flipping and moving on, you can chat with the card to get:
- A clearer explanation
- Extra examples
- A simpler wording
That turns your flashcards into a mini tutor, not just a memory quiz.
Example: Turning A Law Topic Into Flashcards
Let’s say you’re doing Criminal Law – Theft.
You might create cards like:
- Card 1
- Front: “Definition of theft (statute)?”
- Back: “Dishonestly appropriating property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it. (Theft Act 1968, s1)”
- Card 2
- Front: “Theft – 5 elements?”
- Back: “Dishonesty, appropriation, property, belonging to another, intention to permanently deprive.”
- Card 3
- Front: “Appropriation – key case?”
- Back: “R v Morris – assuming any of the rights of the owner can be appropriation.”
- Card 4
- Front: “Dishonesty – test?”
- Back: “Ghosh test (now modified by Ivey): objective standard of ordinary decent people.”
You run these daily in Flashrecall, and by exam time, you’re not trying to “remember from vibes”—you’ve literally drilled it into your brain.
Why Flashrecall Works So Well For Law (Not Just For Exams)
Using something like Anki for law isn’t just about passing one exam. It’s about:
- Building a long-term mental library of legal concepts
- Feeling less panicked when revision season hits
- Having key cases and sections ready to go in internships, moots, and practice
Flashrecall helps with that because:
- It’s fast, modern, and easy to use – you’ll actually stick with it
- It works for any subject – law, languages, medicine, business, whatever
- It runs on both iPhone and iPad, so you can study anywhere
- It’s free to start, so you can test it as your “Anki for law” setup without risk
If you like the idea of spaced repetition and Anki-style learning but don’t want the friction, Flashrecall is honestly a smoother option for day-to-day law studying:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Quick Recap: Using “Anki For Law” The Smart Way
- “Anki for law” just means using spaced repetition flashcards to remember cases, statutes, and concepts
- It works insanely well for law because the subject is memory-heavy and detail-focused
- You don’t have to use Anki specifically—Flashrecall gives you the same spaced repetition benefits with a simpler, more modern iOS experience
- Use it to:
- Turn notes, PDFs, images, and YouTube lectures into cards
- Drill cases, articles, definitions, and tests daily
- Get automatic reminders and smart scheduling
- Chat with your flashcards when you’re unsure about something
If you’re serious about not blanking on case names and legal tests in your next exam, try setting up your first law deck in Flashrecall and give it a week. You’ll feel the difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Anki good for studying?
Anki is powerful but requires manual card creation and has a steep learning curve. Flashrecall offers AI-powered card generation from your notes, images, PDFs, and videos, making it faster and easier to create effective flashcards.
What's the fastest way to create flashcards?
Manually typing cards works but takes time. Many students now use AI generators that turn notes into flashcards instantly. Flashrecall does this automatically from text, images, or PDFs.
How do I start spaced repetition?
You can manually schedule your reviews, but most people use apps that automate this. Flashrecall uses built-in spaced repetition so you review cards at the perfect time.
What is active recall and how does it work?
Active recall is the process of actively retrieving information from memory rather than passively reviewing it. Flashrecall forces proper active recall by making you think before revealing answers, then uses spaced repetition to optimize your review schedule.
How can I study more effectively for this test?
Effective exam prep combines active recall, spaced repetition, and regular practice. Flashrecall helps by automatically generating flashcards from your study materials and using spaced repetition to ensure you remember everything when exam day arrives.
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Research References
The information in this article is based on peer-reviewed research and established studies in cognitive psychology and learning science.
Cepeda, N. J., Pashler, H., Vul, E., Wixted, J. T., & Rohrer, D. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks: A review and quantitative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 354-380
Meta-analysis showing spaced repetition significantly improves long-term retention compared to massed practice
Carpenter, S. K., Cepeda, N. J., Rohrer, D., Kang, S. H., & Pashler, H. (2012). Using spacing to enhance diverse forms of learning: Review of recent research and implications for instruction. Educational Psychology Review, 24(3), 369-378
Review showing spacing effects work across different types of learning materials and contexts
Kang, S. H. (2016). Spaced repetition promotes efficient and effective learning: Policy implications for instruction. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 3(1), 12-19
Policy review advocating for spaced repetition in educational settings based on extensive research evidence
Karpicke, J. D., & Roediger, H. L. (2008). The critical importance of retrieval for learning. Science, 319(5865), 966-968
Research demonstrating that active recall (retrieval practice) is more effective than re-reading for long-term learning
Roediger, H. L., & Butler, A. C. (2011). The critical role of retrieval practice in long-term retention. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 15(1), 20-27
Review of research showing retrieval practice (active recall) as one of the most effective learning strategies
Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K. A., Marsh, E. J., Nathan, M. J., & Willingham, D. T. (2013). Improving students' learning with effective learning techniques: Promising directions from cognitive and educational psychology. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4-58
Comprehensive review ranking learning techniques, with practice testing and distributed practice rated as highly effective

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