In legal writing, especially at a university, it’s very important to follow specific formatting rules. These rules help make your work look professional and clear. The main things to keep in mind are margins, fonts, and how you arrange your pages.
Margins
The sizes of the margins in legal documents usually follow a standard. Here’s what you should use:
These sizes are important because they provide enough space for binding, and allow room for comments or notes without messing up the main text. The 1.5-inch left margin especially makes it easier to read, especially when pages are turned, like in court.
Fonts
When picking fonts for legal documents, you should choose ones that are clear and look professional. Here are some common choices:
Times New Roman is often used in legal writing. It looks formal and is widely recognized. Arial is a more modern choice, but still looks professional. Just remember to use the same font all through your document.
Page Layout Requirements
Besides margins and fonts, the overall look of the document is also important. Here are some key things to include:
Line Spacing: Use double spacing for the main text. This makes it easier to read. You can use single spacing for quotes or footnotes.
Page Numbers: Number each page starting with the first page of the introduction. Place the page numbers centered at the bottom. This helps when you’re navigating through long documents.
Headings and Subheadings: Use clear headings and subheadings to organize your content. Make your headings stand out by using bold and larger fonts.
Indentation: Indent the first line of each paragraph by 0.5 inches. This helps separate the paragraphs visually and makes it easier for readers to skim through.
Footnotes and Citations: Legal documents often need references. Make sure to format footnotes according to your school’s rules or legal style guides, like the Bluebook. Footnotes should be single-spaced and in a smaller font than the main text.
Tables and Figures: If you use tables, charts, or other figures, label them clearly and make sure they can be found easily in the document. They should look neat and have proper titles.
Conclusion
By following these important guidelines for margins, your legal documents will look professional and be easy for others to read. It can be a bit annoying to focus on formatting, but it really matters in legal writing. It can help make your arguments stronger. Whether you’re writing a memo, a legal motion, or a brief, sticking to these rules about margins, fonts, and layout is key to succeeding in university legal writing and beyond.
In legal writing, especially at a university, it’s very important to follow specific formatting rules. These rules help make your work look professional and clear. The main things to keep in mind are margins, fonts, and how you arrange your pages.
Margins
The sizes of the margins in legal documents usually follow a standard. Here’s what you should use:
These sizes are important because they provide enough space for binding, and allow room for comments or notes without messing up the main text. The 1.5-inch left margin especially makes it easier to read, especially when pages are turned, like in court.
Fonts
When picking fonts for legal documents, you should choose ones that are clear and look professional. Here are some common choices:
Times New Roman is often used in legal writing. It looks formal and is widely recognized. Arial is a more modern choice, but still looks professional. Just remember to use the same font all through your document.
Page Layout Requirements
Besides margins and fonts, the overall look of the document is also important. Here are some key things to include:
Line Spacing: Use double spacing for the main text. This makes it easier to read. You can use single spacing for quotes or footnotes.
Page Numbers: Number each page starting with the first page of the introduction. Place the page numbers centered at the bottom. This helps when you’re navigating through long documents.
Headings and Subheadings: Use clear headings and subheadings to organize your content. Make your headings stand out by using bold and larger fonts.
Indentation: Indent the first line of each paragraph by 0.5 inches. This helps separate the paragraphs visually and makes it easier for readers to skim through.
Footnotes and Citations: Legal documents often need references. Make sure to format footnotes according to your school’s rules or legal style guides, like the Bluebook. Footnotes should be single-spaced and in a smaller font than the main text.
Tables and Figures: If you use tables, charts, or other figures, label them clearly and make sure they can be found easily in the document. They should look neat and have proper titles.
Conclusion
By following these important guidelines for margins, your legal documents will look professional and be easy for others to read. It can be a bit annoying to focus on formatting, but it really matters in legal writing. It can help make your arguments stronger. Whether you’re writing a memo, a legal motion, or a brief, sticking to these rules about margins, fonts, and layout is key to succeeding in university legal writing and beyond.