Advanced Legal Document Preparation Local Rules for Class Assignments
The following rules should be utilized when completing assignments for Advanced Legal Document Preparation:
1. To receive full credit, each assignment should be submitted on Blackboard by the end of the day on the Sunday after the assignment is given.
2. Assignments should be composed in Microsoft Word. Pleadings should be based on the formatting and content included in the O’Connor’s form book referenced in the assignment. Do not use form pleadings pulled from the internet. Legal instruments should be created from a new (blank) Word document and not from a form document obtained online (unless instructed otherwise).
3. When submitting an assignment, students should note for the instructor the time spent on the assignment and any relevant information for the instructor regarding the assignment (for example, information that was not available to complete the assignment or any problems in completing the assignment). This can be done on Blackboard when submitting the assignment and does not need to be a separate document.
4. For all documents, Times New Roman 12 point font should be utilized (except when directed to complete a form document available online).
5. Margins should be justified for all documents.
6. All documents should maintain a 1-inch margin on all sides.
7. Pleadings should always be double spaced. Legal instruments do not need to be double spaced but should include a space between each paragraph. Form documents available online and which you are directed to use can maintain the formatting provided.
8. Document pages should include a page number on the bottom right of each page and a footer on the bottom left of each page (even if the document is only one page long). Footers should give a brief description of the document (for example, “Smith Will” or “Jones Response to Request for Disclosure”). Page numbers and footers should be in Times New Roman 8-point font and italicized.
9. Pleadings should include a clean style that is created with a “table” feature and is in all caps and bold type.
10. Pleading captions and other document titles should be bolded and underlined and centered.
11. Documents should be prepared for Michelle Smith and use the following contact information, when needed: Smith and Smith, LLC, 236 Congress Ave., Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78701, 512-445-5986, michelle.smith@austincc.edu, Texas Bar No. 123456789.
12. Assignments should reflect a student’s individual work, should be carefully proof-read for typos, and reflect the best work-product possible. Treat assignments as if they are actual “real world” work tasks.