About the Seminar
When legal instruments require complex formatting, most Word users struggle to get the document to look the way they want. Users often describe it as a "wrestling match" or having to "outsmart the program." Some advanced features like automatic paragraph numbering, tables of contents, and tables of authority seem inaccessible or broken. Because legal users require so much of Word, they often feel frustrated by it.

The good news is that once you understand how Word works, it is completely controllable. If you can think of something you wish Word could do when it comes to generating complicated or lengthy documents, it probably can. Further, all of the "what happened to this document?" issues can be avoided before they occur. If you're sick of the struggle, this class is designed by a lawyer for legal users to master and control Word. If you're an occasional word processor and don't deal with formatting more complicated than bold, italic or underline, then this probably isn't your class. If you've been through the battles and have experience with Word in the trenches, then this class will make a big difference for you.

Seminar Agenda
How to Fix/Improve Word for Use in a Law Office

• How to fix Word's formatting default settings

• How to fix and improve Word's programmatical settings

• Customize Word's interface for a legal user

Advanced Font and Paragraph Formatting

• Proofing - spellcheck, auto correct, grammar check & thesaurus

• Word's formatting methodology explained in plain English

• Tips for working with long legal documents

• How to strip formatting from wayward text

• Inserting symbols, non-breaking spaces & hyphens

• Automatic paragraph spacing

• Holding headings, text and paragraphs together

• Tabs - types, how they are used, best practices for signature lines

• Indents - shifting text left or right while maintaining proper alignment

Page Numbering & Whole Document Formatting

• Controlling headers & footers

• How to set up complex page numbering schemes (start over, start in the middle, switch formats)

Styles-Word’s Most Important Feature Explained

Auto Paragraph Numbering and Advanced Styles

• Attaching paragraph numbers to styles

• Building multi-level numbering schemes

• Paragraph cross references which automatically update

Table of Contents and Table of Authorities

• Tables of contents which automatically generate and update

• Tables of authorities which automatically generate and update

Automation and Clause Libraries

• Macros

• AutoText and Quick Parts

Protecting Work Product

• Redlining, tracking changes & comments

• Protecting documents with encryption

Mandatory MCLE Credit Hours
This seminar qualifies for 6.08 MCLE credit hours.

 This is a Basic Level Program.

Note: When submitting your compliance reports to the SC Commission on CLE and Specialization, if you completed this in 2023, please use this course code: 231730ADO.

Note: When submitting your compliance reports to the SC Commission on CLE and Specialization, if you completed this in 2024, please use this course code: 241139ADO.