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Microsoft Word can be a headache for attorneys. A PracticeHQ webinar on Jan. 24 gave attendees a crash course on how to navigate common legal drafting problems in Word. PracticeHQ is a free benefit to help NJSBA members manage their law practices more efficiently and effectively. Find out more about PracticeHQ benefits here (login required). 

Here are five quick tips from the webinar:

Fix the settings
The options tab allows users to switch off some problematic default settings in Word. For instance, the default settings for spellcheck ignore uppercase words, which can be frustrating for attorneys who regularly type phrases like “Motion For Summary Judgement.” The autocorrect setting is also an issue for attorneys who make statutory references.

Default formatting
Every document in Word contains a default font like Calibri or Times New Roman. Sometimes different fonts will randomly appear when changing pages or paragraph settings. Use the Font tab to set a preferred font for all documents. The Paragraph tab will also adjust the preferred line spacing for all documents.

Customize interface
Attorneys who do a lot of drafting often use the Inset tab to add footnotes or a table. To create a shortcut, users can add the Quick Access Toolbar and customize it with functions they use frequently. Click the arrow at the top right of the screen under Ribbon Display Options to activate the toolbar.

Viewing documents
For those who don’t have dual monitors, Word has a split screen function for viewing the same document in two different windows. Go to the View tab and click the Split button to access the feature.

Basic styles
Word Styles apply a set of formatting choices consistently throughout the entire document, from font and spacing to color and text indentation. Use the dropdown arrow in the Styles box on the Home tab to switch between styles or create a custom style.