Brief Formatting: Overview

This guide provides step-by-step instructions for formatting your brief for Legal Writing II.

Prof. Karen Wallace will demonstrate the process during class on June 24.

Note that brief formatting processes work nearly identically in both Windows and Mac operating systems. The difference is the appearance of the Table of Authorities Mark Citation dialog boxes. See screenshots. 

TIPS:

• For these formatting steps, always use the Microsoft Word desktop app, not the Word Online version.
• Save frequently as you work and back up your brief somewhere besides your computer. We recommend Drake OneDrive or another stable cloud location. As you reach critical milestones, you could also email a copy to yourself or save to a flash drive.

Abbreviations:

TOA = Table of Authorities

TOC = Table of Contents

All images on this guide were created by the Drake Law Library.