Ask HN: How to structure or display complex rules/information

I've changed careers and am no longer programming (a bit of VBScript now and again doesn't count does it?!).

My new career involves a few years of training and I need to learn, memorise then apply rules - tax law if you are interested.

These laws involve things like (not exhaustive!):

- The name of the law, when it was introduced, when it's effective from, maybe when it expires - Rules for applying the law - Time limits - Exceptions to the rules - Rules for the exceptions - Exceptions to the exceptions to the rules - Other rules predicated on these rules

Do you have any suggestions on intelligent ways of structuring these in more accessible and easily memorised ways? I was thinking of something along the lines of a mind map but it quickly becomes crowded.

It could be software based or good old pen and paper. Flashcards just don't cut it, the links are often an important part of the knowledge.

Thanks