Speed Reading for Legal Minds: Work Smarter, Not Harder! 

If you have ever stared down a mountain of legal texts and wondered if you’d need a time machine to get through it all, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Law school is demanding enough on its own, but for many of us, it is just one item on a very crowded to-do-list. Juggling lectures, seminars, work, and life outside the library meant it was imperative that I found a way to read smarter, not harder. And that’s how I stumbled into speed reading- a skill I had to teach myself out of sheer necessity.

The good news? You do not have to figure it out the hard way. In this article, I am going to hand you the cheat codes for getting started with speed reading and doing it right. Just remember to pace yourself: practice makes progress before it ever makes perfect.

Now, you might be wondering, “Isn’t speed reading just skimming?” There is actually an important difference and understanding it, can and will transform how you tackle your workload.

Skimming vs Speed Reading: Know the Difference

Skimming is akin to glancing at the headlines of a newspaper- you get the gist but miss the details. Contrariwise, speed reading is a deliberate technique that helps you absorb information faster while maintaining comprehension. It is about training your eyes and brain to work together efficiently, focusing on chunks of text and filtering out distractions.

For legal minds, this distinction matters. Skimming might help you decide if a case or journal article is relevant, but speed reading allows you to grasp the key arguments and reasoning without getting bogged down in every single word. Mastering this skill means you are able to cover more ground without sacrificing understanding – a crucial advantage when deadlines loom.

Why Speed Reading Matters in Legal Studies (and Beyond)

The volume of reading in law school can feel overwhelming, and the pressure to keep up is relentless. Speed reading helps you manage this load by increasing your reading pace without losing comprehension. This isn’t just about cramming for examinations; it is a skill that will serve you well throughout your legal career, where lengthy documents and tight deadlines are the norm.

While AI tools and summaries can assist, nothing beats the confidence and control that comes from mastering your own reading speed. Developing this skill means you are not just relying on technology but also sharpening your mental agility and focus, which are invaluable in any professional setting.

Practical Speed Reading Tips for Legal Minds

1. Preview with Purpose

Before you dive into a dense case, statute, or journal article, take two minutes to scan the document.

Look at:

• Headings and subheadings: These are your signposts as they tell you what is coming.
• Case names, dates, and parties: Note the essentials so you do not get lost in the details.
• Summaries and conclusions: Many judgments and articles have a summary or concluding paragraph. Read these first so you know the main point before you get into the details.

How to use it: If you are reading a 30-page judgment or lengthy journal article, spend the first minute scanning the structure. This gives you a mental map and helps your brain prioritise information as you read.

2. Use a Pointer or Guide

That voice in your head reading along with you? That is what is referred to as subvocalisation and it can significantly slow you down. While some subvocalisation helps with comprehension, excessive “inner speech” is like having someone repeat every statement three times.

Usage of a pointer or guide is a proven technique to reduce subvocalisation. It sounds simple, but guiding your eyes with a pen, your finger, or even a ruler can make a huge difference. It also helps in reducing backtracking (when your eyes jump backward) and keeps you moving forward at a steady pace.

3. Chunking: Read in Phrases, Not Words

Legal cases and journal articles often contain long, complex sentences, but you can train your eyes to read in “chunks” or phrases instead of word-by-word. Experienced readers leverage what is termed, “The Block Reading Method”, wherein they read in blocks, taking in groups of words at once.

How to use it: Instead of reading “The defendant, having been duly sworn, stated that…”as eight separate words, read it as two or three meaningful groups: “The defendant / having been duly sworn / stated that…”. Begin with short phrases, then gradually increase the chunk size as you get comfortable.

4. Active Reading: Engage with the Text

Speed reading isn’t passive. To properly retain what you read, you need to engage with the material.

Here’s a little secret from my own speed-reading routine: I always have a pencil in hand (see Tip 2!). As I speed read, my mind often sparks immediate thoughts or questions about the material. Instead of letting those ideas slip away, I quickly pencil them down- whether it is a quick highlight, underline or a brief note in the margin.

• Ask questions: What is the judge’s main argument? What is the focus sentence here?
• Highlight or annotate: Mark up key points, legal principles, or turning points as they come to mind. Do not worry about neatness- these notes are your mental anchors during speed reading.
• Summarise: After each section, pause briefly to jot down a one-sentence summary. This reinforces your understanding and makes reviewing later much easier.

5. Use Technology Wisely

Digital tools can turbocharge your speed-reading practice:

• Text-to-speech apps: Listen to cases or readings while commuting.
• Document search: Use Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F) to jump straight to key terms, parties, or issues in digital documents.

Try reading a judgment or article on your laptop with a speed-reading extension, then listen to the summary on your phone while on the go.

6. Practice, Practice, Practice

Speed reading is a skill, not a magic trick. Set aside 10 minutes a day to practice these techniques on your assigned readings. Track your progress over a few weeks, you will notice a real difference.

You can start by timing yourself reading a page at your normal speed, then try again with a pointer or chunking. Celebrate small wins and keep building your pace!

Final Thoughts: Balancing Speed and Comprehension

Speed reading is a tool, not a replacement for deep analysis. Use it to get through first passes of reading or more importantly, during examination season, to review material quickly. When you encounter tricky or critical texts, slow down and read carefully. To retain what you have read, complement speed reading with flashcards or discussing the material with peers.

Mastering speed reading takes time and patience, but it is worth every minute. This skill will help you conquer your reading list, reduce stress, and free up time for other equally important parts of your life. Remember, it is about PROGRESS, not perfection. With practice you will find yourself reading faster, understanding more, and working smarter- exactly what every legal mind needs!

Article written by Fareeda Bakare, a law graduate from The University of Sheffield and the 2024 Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) Prize-winner for Best Performer in Law of Public Companies.