Legal Writing

Typesetting for Attorneys

You’re an attorney, not a typesetter.

You’re concerned with the wording of agreements, briefs, or contracts, not their appearance. But you should be concerned, and that’s because it matters, just as good grammar does.

Let me say it again — the first impression someone has of what you wrote isn’t anything you’ve written; it’s the appearance of it.

If you’re one of those who thinks first impressions are important and good looks are advantageous, then take my advice and apply it to whatever you’re producing — whether an agreement, a brief, or a contract.

Set Heads in Sans-Serif Type, Like This

Type can be classified as Serif or San-Serif.

Sans-Serif type doesn’t have small strokes at the end of characters.

Serif type does.

Don’t Set Body Copy in Sans-Serif Type

For the sake of your readers, set your heads in Sans-Serif type, and set your copy in Serif type, like this.

Set the Heading of the Table of Contents with One Word

The correct way to set heading of a table of contents is with just one word — Contents

Hyphenate Justified Copy

Go to a book store. Grab a new hardcover book, and look at the copy in it.

I’ll bet you the copy’s justified. In other words, each line of type is the same length.

And it’s hyphenated. Look at the ends of lines along the right margin. Every so often, a line ends with a hyphen that breaks a word in two.

If you want your copy to look as good as the copy in a best seller, hyphenate it if it’s justified. Concern yourself with the consistency of the spacing between words. If you hope to persuade, it helps.

Put Just One Space after a Period — Not Two

Look at hardcover books, or magazines, or newspapers, or advertisements. Look at textbooks.

What you’ll find is one space, not two, after any type of stop. Using two instead of one now appears old-fashioned.

Use an Indent or Vertical Space to Indicate a New Paragraph — Not Both

You’re still in the book store looking at those hardcover books — the ones vying to be on the New York Times Best Seller list.

Find one that strikes you as especially attractive.

What you’ll find is that the table of contents is set with one word, heads are set in sans-serif type, copy is set in serif type and it’s hyphenated and justified, there’s just one space after a period, and each paragraph begins with an indent OR a space between it and the paragraph above it.

Imitate the Pros

Just go to a book store and see how the pros (those who sell print) do it. And then imitate the ones that look best.

Postscript

If you prefer to hear this from an attorney rather than an editor, visit Matthew Butterick’s  Typography for Lawyers.

Full post as published by Set in Style on August 03, 2010 (boomark / email).