Lecture: Microsoft Word for Lawyers - Creating a Table of Contents

Introduction

• Presenter: Danny Lane, Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
• Series: Second video of three on Microsoft Word for Lawyers
• Previous Video: Discussed the importance of proficiency in Word and basics like styles
• Current Focus: Creating a Table of Contents in Microsoft Word

Importance of Styles

• Prerequisite Knowledge: Understanding styles is crucial before creating a Table of Contents (ToC)
• Styles Overview:
  • Proper heading styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.) must be applied
  • Styles will determine how headings are pulled into the ToC

Steps to Create a Table of Contents

Step 1: Verify Heading Styles

• Ensure each document heading has the correct style
• Best Practice: Use the Outline format to check styles and hierarchy
  • Outline format helps visualize heading levels and hierarchy clearly

Step 2: Insert Table of Contents

• Insert Location: Typically, on the second page, following the cover page
• Insertion Process:
  • Go to References tab
  • Click on Table of Contents
  • Choose a style (e.g., Automatic Table)
  • Insert Table of Contents
  • Adjust formatting as needed

Step 3: Update Table of Contents

• When to Update: Before printing or exporting the document
• How to Update:
  • Right-click the ToC and choose Update Field
  • Options: Update page numbers or the entire table
  • Ensure dot leaders are correct

Key Points

• Never Create ToC Manually: Always use Word’s automatic feature
• Formatting: Adjust using paragraph styles and ensure proper layout
• Word provides specific styles for ToC sections (e.g., TOC 1, TOC 2)

Conclusion

• Final Reminder: Update ToC after making changes to ensure accuracy
• Next Topic: Creating a Table of Authorities in the next video