When law students begin studying for the bar, they are oftentimes overwhelmed by the amount of material they have to cover. Many tend to become hermits for the months leading up to the exam, locked away in their rooms, trying to relearn and retain everything they’ve covered in law school. However, attempting to organize all of this information is half the battle.
Luckily, there are plenty of strategies you can adopt in order to maximize your study time. Some of the most effective tools are apps. With the advent of digital and mobile technology, you now have the capability to access legal information in seconds when you need specific information in a crunch, rather than wasting your time trying to go through your notes on criminal and civil procedure. Here are some of the best apps for studying that go over current laws, court cases, and terms.
1. Fastcase
While you won't be needing (or have the time) to look up cases on a regular basis during your bar review, Fastcase gives you access to countless court cases in every state. This allows you to refer back to case summaries and decisions with just a tap of your finger.
In addition, it is updated daily, so you won’t ever have to worry about missing an important case result.
Availability: iOS and Android
Price: Free
2. Study Songs
Ever wonder why you know every song you hear on the radio by heart, but cannot for the life of you remember key terms for the bar exam? It may have something to do with the catchy tune. How did you learn the alphabet? Or the names of all 50 states? Study Songs utilizes this concept by creating songs that include legal terms for users. Before you know it, you’ll be humming songs about torts and contracts instead of breakups.
Availability: iOS
Price: Free
3. U.S. Constitution and Facts
Quick—what’s the 4th amendment?
With this app, you can review the U.S. Constitution, The Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, and Articles of Confederation right in the palm of your hand. Important dates and list of signers are also available, as well as famous court cases.
By the way, the answer is the right to be protected from unreasonable searches and seizures. Remember, you always need a warrant.
Availability: iOS
Price: $1.99
4. The Law Dictionary and Guide
The pocket dictionary has just gotten smaller. This is another great app for studying because it provides more than 14,000 legal terms that are sure to turn up on the bar exam. You can also bookmark the entries you refer back to the most and access other law resources and articles. Although it doesn’t provide musical melodies, you’ll know that if you ever forget an important term, you can look it up in a matter of seconds.
Availability: iOS and Android
Price: Free
