The White Book is central to the Bar Course, particularly for civil litigation exams. While the open-book format sounds reassuring, the reality is that without a well-organised system, you won’t have time to find what you need. Tabbing is the solution – but it must be done strategically.
Why Tab the White Book?
- Closed-book vs open-book. The first civil litigation exam is closed-book, but the second allows you to bring in the White Book.
- Limited exam time. At 2.5 hours, you do not have time to search for every answer, and you definitely cannot read through commentary in full during the exam. Tabbing allows you to locate rules and commentary quickly.
Step 1: Create a List of Rules and Commentary
Start with the syllabus. Make a list of all CPR rules and practice directions required, then locate them in the book. Don’t stop at rules – the commentary is often where the answers come from. Use the syllabus as provided by the BSB as to what is examinable for the exam. For further information on “examinable reading” check my other post out *here*
Click to access BT-Civil-Litigation-Updated-Syllabus-2024-2025.pdf
Click to access BT-Civil-Litigation-Syllabus-Summary-of-Changes-2025-2026-30-June-2025.pdf
Step 2: Use Top and Side Tabs
Top tabs: Label each CPR part clearly (e.g., Part 17). These help you flip directly to the right section.
Side tabs: Use larger paper tabs to mark examinable sub-sections or practice directions. Write clearly on them; small tabs aren’t practical under pressure.
Step 3: Highlight What Is Examinable
Only some commentary paragraphs are examinable. Be exact:
- Highlight paragraph numbers, not entire blocks of text.
- If the syllabus says “up to the third sentence,” mark that point with a line. This avoids wasting time on commentary not listed in the syllabus.
Step 4: Annotate with Post-it Notes
- Summarise long commentary. If a section is dense, break it down into bullet points on a post-it.
- Insert practice answers. If you get a practice question wrong, write the correct answer on a post-it and stick it where it belongs in the book. Similar questions often reappear.
Step 5: Use Colour Coding (If Helpful)
Assign colours to themes rather than syllabus areas, this is because there are simply too many for that to work!
For example, mine were like:
Blue = court procedures, judgments, appeals
Yellow = core principles and ADR
Pink = evidence (disclosure, witnesses)
Orange = money (costs, sanctions)
Keep it simple – overcomplicating colours can create confusion.
Step 6: Keep Tabs Neat
Align tabs carefully down the side of the book. Misaligned or random tabs are harder to use quickly and so could cost you marks.
Step 7: Choose the Right Tools
- Paper tabs hold up better than plastic ones.
- Pastel highlighters minimise bleed-through on thin pages.
- Bible highlighters (wax-based) are an alternative if you want zero bleed.
Final Tip
Don’t treat the White Book as something too precious to touch. It’s a tool. Utilise it. Write on it, stick things in it, and make it work for you. The more exam-ready you make it now, the calmer you’ll feel under timed conditions.
Break Through The Bar 
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