Brief Formatting

February 22, 2010

What do I include?

Look at the score sheet. Include every element on the score sheet. Make sure you leave enough time to proof,

proof again, and follow the simple formatting lessons learned here.

Score Sheet elements Cover Summary of the case Table of contents Table of authorities Jurisdictional statement Statement of the issues Statement of the case Statement of the facts Summary of the argument Argument Certificate of service

The Cover The court

The date

Docket number

The parties

On appeal to court

and from court

Your side

Your teply

numbers

Color: Blue for appellant

(They’re sad; they lost below.)

Color: Red for appellee (Like

an apple.)

Summary ofthe Case

Title:All caps,

bold

Include reason for why court should

grant oral argument

Teply numbers, ATTORNEYS FOR

[SIDE] and fake address

i

Page number, use roman numerals for

this introductory section

Table ofContents

Title:All caps, bold

Include all sections and their page

numbers. We’ll cover how to make one

shortly.

Include all point headings and their page

numbers

ii

Page number, use roman numerals for

this introductory section

Table ofAuthorities

Title:All caps, bold

Separate cases by court designation. This will

depend on your problem.

v

Separate cases by court designation. This will

depend on your problem.

Remove pinpoint pages

Use passim if >5 cites

Separate cases by court designation. This will

depend on your problem.

Separate cases by court designation. This will

depend on your problem.

Table ofAuthorities,(cont.)

vi

Separate other authorities by type

Do the Table of Authorities right before you do Table of Contents!The MOST important thing to remember when doing

the Table of Authorities is to save a copy of your brief beforestarting and to save a separate copy of your brief after

running Westlaw or Word. If any problems arise, you will have a clean copy to work from.

JurisdictionalStatement

Title:All caps, bold

vii

Still using roman numerals

You may list up to four of the

MOST relevant cases for each issue and the most relevant statutory or

constitutional provisions

Statement ofthe Issues

All caps, bold

viii

State each issues you are

State each issue you are briefing

List, up to four, the MOST

relevant cases for each issue and

the most relevant statutory or

constitutional provisions

Statementof the Case

All caps, bold

Include Nature of the Case: Underlined

Include Course of Proceedings: Underlined

1

Page number, start numeric numbering here (Remember 25 page limit from here.)

Note: cite to record/appendix

as instructed

Statementof the Facts

All caps, bold

3

Note: citing to the record. (R. at page).

Note: citing to the record. (R. at page).

Note: cite to record/appendix

as instructed.

Summary ofthe Argument

All caps, bold

5

Note: no citations within the summary

Argument

All caps, bold

(A, B, C) Bold, Capitalize First letter of appropriate words

7

(I, II) All caps

(A, B, C) Capitalize first letter of

appropriate words

(i, ii, iii) Regular sentence.(a, b, c) Regular sentence.

Conclusion

All caps, bold

19

Note: no citations within

conclusion

Include: ATTORNEYS FOR SIDE,

Teply numbers, and address

Certificateof Service

All caps, bold

20

Note: mail 2 copies to opposing counsel and 10 copies to the clerk

of court

Include: Teply numbers,

ATTORNEYS FOR SIDE, and address

Note: mail 2 copies to opposing counsel and 10 copies to the clerk

of court

Date

Score Sheet

DON’T FORGET TO INCLUDE YOUR INSTRUCTOR’S

SCORE SHEET AT THE VERY END!!!

Include teply numbers

Include teply numbers

Inserting Page Numbers in Word

Separate all sections with page breaks NOT hard returns.

Insert page numbers right before you do your Table of Authorities and Table of Contents.

Save your brief and save a copy called FinalBriefClean.

Work from the original Final Brief.

Instructions for Word 2007 / PC Only

2) Press the Show Paragraph Marksbutton from the Home tab1) Go to the

Summary of the Case page.

1) Go to the Page Layout Tab

2) Place your cursor here.3) Click Breaks. Choose “Next Page Break.”

5) Put your cursor on Title Page before the Page Break code (----Page Break----). Press the DELETE key.

4) When you insert a section break you will likely create a blank page…you need to remove this page.

What the Title Page should look like with the Section Break (Next Page)

Go to your Statement of the Case page.

Insert section break

Delete extra page (if necessary)

2) Click on Insert Tab 3) Click on Page Numbers

1) Go to Summary of the Case Page 4) Click on

Format Page Numbers

5) Change number format to i,ii,iii

6) Change page numbering to start at i

7) Click OK

Repeat Previous Steps for Statement of the Case Page Go to the Statement of the Case Page and

place your cursor on that page Click Page Numbers Format Page Numbers from drop down Number format will be 1,2,3 Start at 1

1) Click on Page Numbers

2) Click on Bottom of Page option

3) Choose the plain option to center the page numbers

1) Go to Title Page

2) Check the Different First Page box

Removing the Page Number from the Title Page

3) Click Close Header and Footer

Make Table of Authorities in Word

Do this step right before you do your Table of Contents.

Save your Final Brief. Save a copy as Brief With Page Numbers

before starting the Table of Contents. Work from your Final Brief.

Go to the beginning of the brief and work your way through marking citations

2) Highlight the full citation. Press Mark Citation

3) Remove pinpoint page

4) Choose the type

5) Type short citation6) Click “Mark All”

7) Click Close and proceed to next citation

1) Press the References Tab

1) Go to the Table of Authorities page and place your cursor on that page.

2) Go to the Home tab and press the paragraph symbol to hide the field codes to ensure proper pagination.

1) Click on the References Tab

2) Click on Insert Table of Authorities

3) Make sure “Use passim” and “Keep original formatting” are checked.

4) Click OK

Format your Table of Authorities as described earlier.

Make Table of Contents in Word

Do this step LAST. Save your Final brief. Save another copy as Brief With Table of

Authorities Work from your Final Brief

1) Highlight the title of each section.

2) Press the Paragraph Dialog box

3) Choose the appropriate level for the Table of Contents. Click OK

All Section Titles: Level 1Within Argument section: Point Heading I, II, etc.: Level 2 Point Heading A, B, etc.: Level 3 Point Heading i, ii, etc.: Level 4 Point Heading a, b, etc.: Level 5

4) Repeat these steps for all components included in the Table of Contents

2) Click on References Tab

3) Click on Insert Table of Contents

1) Go to the Table of Contents page and place your cursor on that page.

4) Uncheck “Use hyperlinks”

5) Change levels to the appropriate number based on your pointheadings.

6) Make sure “Show page numbers” and “Right align page numbers” are checked.

7) Click OK

Slides will be available on Prof. Edwards TWEN page.

Slides and detailed handout are available on the library web page in the Class Presentations section.

http://www.law.drake.edu/library/

Congratulations, you’re almost done!

You need 3 copies- one to turn in, and two for your oral argument opponents during the first week. See the schedule posted.

Your brief must be bound. Use a plastic comb binding. Plan ahead—some copy shops require some time to

do this. Briefs due at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 26 in

the Library Administrative Office.