How to Make a Table of Authorities in Word

A table of authorities is a list of the sources that you have used to support your arguments in a legal document. It is typically placed at the end of the document, after the body of the text. The table of authorities includes the name of the source, the author, the title of the work, the date of publication, and the page number or other citation information. If you want to create a table of authorities, Microsoft Word provides several built-in tools to help you.

The table of authorities is an important part of any legal document. It shows the reader that you have done your research and that you are relying on credible sources to support your arguments. A well-formatted table of authorities can also make your document more visually appealing and easier to read.

Now that you know what a table of authorities is and why it is important, you are ready to learn how to create one.

How to Make a Table of Authorities in Word

Follow these steps to create a table of authorities in Microsoft Word.

• Identify Sources: List all sources used.
• Insert Table: Create a new table.
• Add Columns: Include columns for case name, court, citation, and page.
• Fill Table: Enter source information.
• Alphabetize Entries: Sort sources alphabetically.
• Add Title: Insert "Table of Authorities" above the table.

Your table of authorities is now complete.

Identify Sources: List all sources used.

The first step in creating a table of authorities is to identify all of the sources that you have used in your document. This includes any cases, statutes, regulations, law review articles, and other legal materials. Once you have identified all of your sources, you can begin to create your table of authorities.

• Review Document:
  

  Go through your document thoroughly to identify all sources.

• Check Footnotes or Endnotes:
  

  Examine footnotes or endnotes for source references.

• Consider All Sources:
  

  Include sources from all sections, including introduction, arguments, and conclusion.

• Organize Sources:
  

  Group sources by type (cases, statutes, articles, etc.) for easier management.

Once you have a complete list of all of your sources, you can move on to the next step: creating the table of authorities.

Insert Table: Create a new table.

Once you have identified all of your sources, you can begin to create the table of authorities. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open a New Document:
   

   Launch Microsoft Word and create a new blank document.

2. Insert Table:
   

   Click the "Insert" tab in the ribbon and select "Table" in the "Tables" group.
   
   Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut "Ctrl" + "T".

3. Specify Table Size:
   

   A dialog box will appear. Specify the number of columns and rows you want in your table.
   
   For a basic table of authorities, you will need at least four columns: Case Name, Court, Citation, and Page.
   
   Click "OK" to create the table.

4. Format Table:
   

   Once the table is created, you can format it to make it more visually appealing.
   
   You can adjust the column widths, change the font, and add borders.

Now that you have created a table, you can begin to fill it with information about your sources.

Add Columns: Include columns for case name, court, citation, and page.

Once you have created a table, you need to add columns for the following information:

1. Case Name:
   

   This column should contain the full name of the case, including the plaintiff and defendant.

2. Court:
   

   This column should contain the name of the court that decided the case.

3. Citation:
   

   This column should contain the official citation for the case. This may include the volume number, reporter name, page number, and year of decision.

4. Page:
   

   This column should contain the page number(s) where the case is cited in your document.

You can add these columns by following these steps:

1. Click on the Table:
   

   Click anywhere inside the table to select it.

2. Insert Column:
   

   Click the "Insert" tab in the ribbon and select "Insert Columns to the Left" or "Insert Columns to the Right", depending on where you want to add the new column.

3. Rename Column Headers:
   

   Click on the column header and type in the new column name. Repeat this for each column.

4. Adjust Column Width:
   

   You can adjust the width of each column by dragging the column borders.

Once you have added the necessary columns, you can begin to fill in the table with information about your sources.

Fill Table: Enter source information.

Once you have created a table and added the necessary columns, you can begin to fill in the table with information about your sources.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Find Source Information:
   

   Locate the source that you want to add to the table.

2. Enter Case Name:
   

   In the "Case Name" column, enter the full name of the case, including the plaintiff and defendant.

3. Enter Court:
   

   In the "Court" column, enter the name of the court that decided the case.

4. Enter Citation:
   

   In the "Citation" column, enter the official citation for the case. This may include the volume number, reporter name, page number, and year of decision.

5. Enter Page:
   

   In the "Page" column, enter the page number(s) where the case is cited in your document.

6. Repeat for All Sources:
   

   Repeat this process for each source that you want to include in your table of authorities.

Once you have filled in the table with all of the necessary information, you can move on to the next step: alphabetizing the entries.

Alphabetize Entries: Sort sources alphabetically.

Once you have filled in the table of authorities with all of the necessary information, you should alphabetize the entries. This will make it easier for readers to find the sources that they are looking for.

To alphabetize the entries in your table of authorities, follow these steps:

1. Select Table:
   

   Click anywhere inside the table to select it.

2. Click "Sort":
   

   Click the "Sort" button in the "Data" tab in the ribbon.

3. Select "Sort By":
   

   In the "Sort By" drop-down menu, select the column that you want to sort by. In most cases, this will be the "Case Name" column.

4. Choose "Ascending" or "Descending":
   

   Choose whether you want to sort the entries in ascending order (A to Z) or descending order (Z to A).

5. Click "OK":
   

   Click "OK" to sort the entries in the table.

Once you have alphabetized the entries in your table of authorities, you can move on to the final step: adding a title.

Add Title: Insert "Table of Authorities" above the table.

The final step in creating a table of authorities is to add a title. This will make it clear to readers what the table is and what it contains.

To add a title to your table of authorities, follow these steps:

1. Place Cursor Above Table:
   

   Move the cursor to the line above the table.

2. Center Text:
   

   Click the "Center" button in the "Paragraph" group in the "Home" tab in the ribbon.

3. Type Title:
   

   Type "Table of Authorities" or "Authorities Cited" as the title of the table.

4. Adjust Font and Size:
   

   You can adjust the font, size, and color of the title to make it stand out from the rest of the text.

Once you have added a title to your table of authorities, you are finished. You can now save and close the document.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about how to make a table of authorities in Word:

Question 1: What is a table of authorities?
Answer: A table of authorities is a list of the sources that you have used to support your arguments in a legal document.

Question 2: Why do I need a table of authorities?
Answer: A table of authorities shows the reader that you have done your research and that you are relying on credible sources to support your arguments.

Question 3: What information should I include in a table of authorities?
Answer: A table of authorities should include the following information:

• Case name
• Court
• Citation
• Page

Question 4: How do I create a table of authorities in Word?
Answer: To create a table of authorities in Word, follow these steps:

1. Identify all of the sources that you have used in your document.
2. Create a new table.
3. Add columns for case name, court, citation, and page.
4. Fill the table with information about your sources.
5. Alphabetize the entries in the table.
6. Add a title to the table.

Question 5: Can I use a template to create a table of authorities?
Answer: Yes, there are many templates available online that you can use to create a table of authorities. However, you may need to modify the template to fit the specific needs of your document.

Question 6: How do I cite sources in my document?
Answer: There are many different ways to cite sources in a legal document. The most common citation methods are:

• Bluebook
• ALWD
• Chicago

Question 7: Where can I find more information about creating a table of authorities?
Answer: There are many resources available online and in libraries that can help you learn more about creating a table of authorities. Some helpful resources include:

• Cornell Law School's Legal Citation Manual
• The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation
• ALWD Citation Manual

I hope this FAQ has been helpful. If you have any other questions, please feel free to leave a comment below.

Now that you know how to create a table of authorities, here are a few tips to help you make your table look its best:

Tips

Here are a few tips to help you make your table of authorities look its best:

Tip 1: Use a consistent citation format.
Make sure that you use the same citation format throughout your table of authorities. This will make your table look more organized and professional.

Tip 2: Use a clean and simple font.
Avoid using fonts that are too decorative or difficult to read. A simple sans-serif font, such as Arial or Calibri, is a good choice.

Tip 3: Use consistent spacing and margins.
Make sure that the spacing and margins in your table are consistent. This will help to create a uniform look.

Tip 4: Proofread your table carefully.
Before you submit your document, proofread your table of authorities carefully for any errors. This includes checking for typos, incorrect citations, and missing information.

By following these tips, you can create a table of authorities that is both accurate and visually appealing.

Now that you know how to create a table of authorities and you have some tips to make it look its best, you are ready to add this important element to your legal document.

Conclusion

A table of authorities is an important part of any legal document. It shows the reader that you have done your research and that you are relying on credible sources to support your arguments. A well-formatted table of authorities can also make your document more visually appealing and easier to read.

In this article, you have learned how to create a table of authorities in Microsoft Word. You have also learned some tips to help you make your table look its best.

Now that you know how to create a table of authorities, you can use this skill to improve the quality of your legal documents. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can create a table of authorities that is both accurate and visually appealing.

I encourage you to practice creating tables of authorities so that you can become proficient in this skill. The more you practice, the better your tables of authorities will look.

Thank you for reading this article. I hope it has been helpful.