What is the table of contents of a legal brief?

Asked by: Nick Ondricka  |  Last update: April 29, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (13 votes)

The Table of Contents includes a list of all the headings and subheadings you use in your brief and the page number on which each appears. The Table of Authorities is a list of all cases and other materials you cite in your brief along with every page on which reference to each authority is made.

How do you write a table of contents for a brief?

Put your cursor where you want to add the table of contents. Go to References > Table of Contents. and choose an automatic style. If you make changes to your document that affect the table of contents, update the table of contents by right-clicking the table of contents and choosing Update Field.

What are the components of a legal brief?

Components of a Case Brief A case brief is made up of 7 main components. The main components include the case name, facts, procedural history, issue, holding, reasoning, and rule.

How to create a table of contents in word for legal documents?

Place your cursor where you would like to insert the TOC and go to Insert > Index and Tables > Table of Contents. Make sure that “Show page numbers” and “Right align page numbers” are both checked (see the diagram below). 3. If you wish to change the font and font size of the TOC, click “Modify…” Otherwise, click “OK.”

How to write a legal brief format?

A legal brief should include:
  1. The name of the case.
  2. The names of the parties involved.
  3. The current stage of litigation.
  4. The legal issue being addressed.
  5. Relevant facts of the case.
  6. The rule of law applied.
  7. Your argument.
  8. A conclusion.

Building Table of Contents in your Brief

21 related questions found

What do legal briefs look like?

Every standard legal brief has a few basic elements: An Introduction that articulates the party's claim and introduces the party's theory of the case and the procedural history of the case. A Table of Authorities (TOA) section that describes all sources of legal authority used in the brief.

What are the sections of a brief?

The following components make up your Appellate Brief: Title Page; Table of Contents; Table of Authorities; Statutes Involved; Standard of Review; Question Presented; Statement of Facts; Summary of Argument, Argument and Citation of Authority; Point headings within the Argument section; Conclusion; Closing; and ...

What is the Table of Contents in a legal brief?

The Table of Contents includes a list of all the headings and subheadings you use in your brief and the page number on which each appears. The Table of Authorities is a list of all cases and other materials you cite in your brief along with every page on which reference to each authority is made.

Should a Table of Contents be labeled?

Below are some best practices to follow when designing a table of contents: Use a clear label for the table of contents. Avoid discrepancies in link labels. Make headings scannable.

How do you structure a Table of Contents in Word?

Format or customize a table of contents
  1. Go to References > Table of Contents.
  2. Select Custom table of contents.
  3. Use the settings to show, hide, and align page numbers, add or change the tab leader, set formats, and specify how many levels of headings to show. For more info, see Custom table of contents .

What is required in a legal brief?

Legal brief structure

While there is no hard and fast rule about the structure of a brief, it should contain the following elements: Introduction to your position. Summary of the facts in the case. Arguments in support of your position with cited case law.

What should a good brief include?

Here are the general steps you should take to write a brief:
  • Explain the goals and motivations. You should start your brief by writing about the project background and brand. ...
  • Highlight specific objectives and challenges. ...
  • Describe your target audience. ...
  • Examine competitors. ...
  • Ask for feedback.

How many pages should a legal brief be?

The Ideal Length: Striking a Balance

Too short, and you risk omitting crucial information; too long, and you might as well be reading the full case again. As a general rule of thumb, a well-crafted case brief should fall somewhere between one and three pages in length.

What is a table of contents example?

By definition, a table of contents provides an organized listing of what is included within fictional or non-fictional works; this can consist of chapter titles, sub-chapters, sections, and sub-sections listed sequentially by page number. They are included in works of literature, magazines, and more.

What is the proper format for a table of contents?

In the table of contents, you should include all level 1 and 2 headings, left-aligned and formatted as plain text. Level 2 headings are indented. Including lower-level headings in the table of contents is optional. Add an additional indent for each level.

What should not be included in a table of contents?

The following things should never be included in a table of contents:
  1. Your acknowledgements page.
  2. Your abstract.
  3. The table of contents itself.

Which comes first, table of contents or introduction?

The table of contents in a thesis or dissertation always goes between your abstract and your introduction.

What is a good table of contents?

A good Table of Contents should be organized, easy to read and simple to use. You can write a Table of Contents manually on your computer or have a word processing tool create it for you. Make sure the Table of Contents is formatted properly in your final document so it is as accurate and accessible as possible.

How to make a table of contents in word for a legal brief?

Click on "References" on the top menu bar, and then click "Table of Contents." Choose the desired format and click "OK." The table of contents will be inserted into your document. Update the table of contents: If you add or remove sections or headings after creating the table of contents, you will need to update it.

How do you format a legal brief?

Structure of a legal brief
  1. Caption: Includes the name of the court, case title, docket or case number, and the names and roles of the parties involved.
  2. Table of contents: ...
  3. Table of authorities: ...
  4. Statement of the case: ...
  5. Issues presented: ...
  6. Summary of agument: ...
  7. Argument: ...
  8. Conclusion:

What two main topics are covered in the table of contents?

A table of contents is a page or section at the front of your book that lists the chapters or sections of the book and their corresponding page numbers.

What is included in a legal brief?

A brief is a written argument submitted to the court. Lawyers often prepare briefs which highlight and clarify certain information or provide legal comparisons in an attempt to persuade the courtroom to rule in favor of that lawyer's client.

What does a good brief look like?

To write a good creative brief you need to make sure it's absolutely clear what needs to be done and by when. It should clarify the objective, make clear any deadlines, and provide as much information about the product or service as possible. Ideally both the agency and the client should have input into the brief.

What does a brief look like in law?

A complete case brief includes all that is relevant to the court's decision: who the parties are, what they want, how the trial and any previous appellate courts responded to the parties' arguments, the relevant facts, the issue, the court's holding, and the court's reasoning.