Books

Formatting Legal Documents With Microsoft Word 2016

My new book, Formatting Legal Documents With Microsoft Word 2016, is available on Amazon!  More than a mere update of my Word 2010 book, it contains many brand-new tips and tutorials (including the lessons about creating, generating, and troubleshooting a Table of Contents and a Table of Authorities).   Here is the link to the book’s page on Amazon:  Formatting Legal Documents With Microsoft Word 2016

To view the Table of Contents, click the following link: Word 2016 Book – TOC

To read a press release about the book, click this link: Press Release March 2016

**SPECIAL OFFER:  Through the end of March, 2016, I’m offering a $10.00 discount off the regular price of the book!**  See this post for details.

Formatting Legal Documents With Microsoft Word 2010

At the end of May, 2010, I published Formatting Legal Documents With Microsoft Word 2010, a “sequel” to the Word 2007 book that I published in 2009. The book contains a lengthy section describing new and modified features; a great deal of new material (including an entire section about mailings and forms, instructions for creating pleading paper from scratch, and a tutorial about creating customized templates); lots of additional tips; and plenty of screenshots.

The book is available for purchase on Amazon.com via this link. Amazon often marks down the price and also often waives shipping fees, so it’s possible to get a good deal even if you are planning to order multiple copies.

Alternatively, you can buy one or more copies from my CreateSpace page for the book (CreateSpace is Amazon’s publishing unit, through which I published the latest version of the book). Send me an e-mail message first and I will provide you with a discount code that you can use even for large orders. I believe CreateSpace does charge for shipping, so do the math and choose the option that makes the most sense for you.

Please keep in mind that the book has to be printed prior to shipment, which can mean a short delay.

An older version of the book is available on Lulu.com via this link (or by using the “tiny URL” http://tinyurl.com/W2010Law). Although you probably will want to buy the newer version from Amazon or CreateSpace, you can visit the book’s Lulu page to see a preview that comprises the entire Table of Contents[1] and a few sample tutorials. Note that there are “Zoom In” and “Zoom Out” buttons at the top of the preview screen; you might have to zoom out in order to see a full page. No preview is available on the book’s Amazon page.

What People Are Saying About the Word 2010 Book

Some of the strongest accolades to date about the Word 2010 book come from law practice management guru Beverly Michaelis, who has called it “the definitive guidebook on using Word in the law office.” (Beverly also recently paid me a dazzling — and humbling — compliment, saying, “The best overall reference books for using Word 2007 and 2010 in the law office are those by Jan Berinstein.”)

For more of Beverly’s kind comments (about my books and my blog), see her blog posts:

Avoid Strife, Strip Out Coding in Word

It’s Here! Formatting Legal Documents With Microsoft Word 2010

The book has received numerous 5-star reviews Amazon (from complete strangers).

Among other comments, reviewer Agustin Fuentes wrote:

“Berinstein’s book is one of the best I have seen when it comes to advanced word topics, richness and practicality of tips.”

He added: “I found the book very articulate and clear in explaining difficult points and attribute this feature to the author’s extensive personal practical experience on the subject matter as well as to her dedicated teaching experience on the same subject.”

Another reviewer, Allan Bach, said:

“In my 16 years as a software trainer, I have always been looking for a manual that shows people how to use the many features of Microsoft Word. I thought I found the last book I’d ever need when Jan Berinstein published her Formatting Legal Documents With Microsoft Office Word 2007 . Now she’s done one better in this release.

Every Word user should be required to read this from cover to cover. Jan has done a remarkable job detailing all the rich features of this program. From the many ‘Creating’ ideas to the troubleshooting tips chapter, the reader is guided through processes that may seem difficult but are made easy by the well-written topics. This book is not only for law offices. Every Word user can benefit. Styles, Themes, Table of Contents, and many other features are made easy by following the examples.”

And Pamela Grooms had this to say:

“Jan spells out in easy to follow instructions many of the useful tools in this powerful software. Nowhere in Austin did anyone offer training on word 2010 and we were forced to make the switch. I bought two copies of this book so that we would have one at the office and one at home. I highly recommend it.”

Formatting Legal Documents With Microsoft Office Word 2007

My first book, Formatting Legal Documents With Microsoft Office Word 2007, is available on Amazon.com via this link. An older version is still available on Lulu.com. As with the Word 2010 book, the Lulu page offers a preview that includes, among other things, the entire Table of Contents. Here is the link to the book’s Lulu page.

The book has received numerous 5-star reviews on Amazon. In addition, the book is recommended by Amazon’s WordTips readers and is a “staff pick” on Lulu.

What People Are Saying About the Word 2007 Book

Besides the favorable reviews on Amazon, I’ve recently received complimentary e-mails, out of the blue, from several people who bought copies of the book. Here are a few excerpts:

“Your book is really excellent. Any WORD law office that lacks a copy of your book is probably using only 10% of WORD’s legal capabilities.”

–Litigator, Riverside County, California

* * * * *

“I just received my copy of your Formatting Legal Documents book from LuLu. This is just what I need. I used to use the ‘Word for Law Offices’ series but that is not available for 2007.

I especially like the direct to the point topics of accomplishing a task. I will recommend your book to the law firms in my area as a must have text.

Thanks again for a beautiful job!”

–Software Trainer, Pennsylvania

* * * * *

“I purchased your book last year and it has been a God send.”

–Legal Secretary, Los Angeles

* * * * *

The book has received favorable mention (twice) on software consultant John Heckman’s web site and on the Connected Lawyer web site run by Bryan Sims. You can view their comments by clicking the following links:

Formatting Legal Documents With Word 2007 (from John Heckman’s blog)

Word Tips (from Heckman’s blog)

More Word Tips (from The Connected Lawyer)

Future Plans

So many book ideas, so little time!

A while back, I started working on a Best of CompuSavvy’s Blog book, a compilation of tips from the first 18 months that the blog has been in existence. I also began revising and expanding the “Troubleshooting” section of my Word 2010 book to turn it into a full-length book, Troubleshooting MS Word Documents. However, my work schedule has been so full the past few years that I haven’t had a chance to finish either of these books, or any of the others I’ve been planning.

Maybe someday…

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[1] Contrary to what one Amazon reviewer asserts, the book in fact contains a full Table of Contents (as well as an abbreviated Table of Contents) and an index, which make it easy to locate the sections of the book that involve creating and generating a Table of Contents and a Table of Authorities and other features common to working with pleadings.