The Feynman Technique

Article written by James Tonge, Philosophy Undergraduate at The University of Manchester.

As a law student, you will come across a range of niche technique concepts spanning various legal disciplines. As such, it is essential that you nail down an effective technique to deepen your understanding which will translate to achieving better grades. One such technique was developed by Richard Feynman, a Nobel laureate in physics. The Feynman technique is useful for demonstrating an understanding of topics which are complex and require one to work through the jargon to grasp the concept. While this is particularly useful for physics, this article will discuss how the technique can be applied to your legal studies.

There exists a plethora of information on this technique, but what is important to us is the following four steps:

1. Select a concept to learn.

To begin, carefully define the exact area of information or understanding that you wish to gain. Take out a piece of blank paper and write down what you already know about the subject. Add to your sheet as you learn more about the subject. Some suggest using a different colour pen which can act as motivation as you watch your knowledge grow.

2. Teach it to a child.

Ask yourself, can I communicate the concept you’ve chosen to a 12-year-old? Act as if you are explaining this knowledge, theory, or other idea to a child when speaking aloud or rewriting your notes. Simplifying your notes will allow you to assess your understanding and removing jargon will uncover the depth of your understanding. Using analogies, simplified terms, and step-by-step bullet points will be useful for this task.

3. Review and refine your understanding.