Resource guide
Better legal documents in Microsoft Word
Six controls for structure, review, accessibility and finalisation. Use it when lawyers lose time repairing formatting, tracking edits or finding the released version.
Boundary: this covers document working practices, not legal drafting quality or Microsoft licensing advice.
Operational guidance, not legal advice. No confidential information is needed. Download the original PDF guide (original ClickoAI edition, v1, 18 August 2026).
1. Frame the decision
Use Word features consistently so structure, review status and accessibility do not depend on one person's memory.
Specific focus: use styles, tracked review, accessibility checks, fields, version control and a release check consistently.
Questions to answer:
- Are styles used consistently?
- Is Track Changes used for review?
- Are unresolved changes visible?
- Does the file pass the Accessibility Checker?
Avoid:
- manual paragraph formatting
- hiding markup instead of resolving it
- parallel uncontrolled versions
2. Control sheet
Treat a blank evidence field as a reason to pause, not a reason to guess. Record sources and owners before changing the workflow.
| Area | Evidence to collect | Pass condition |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Styles, headings and numbering | Template is followed |
| Review | Changes and comments | Unresolved work is visible |
| Content | Fields and cross-references | Checks have owners |
| Access | Accessibility Checker | Issues are corrected or recorded |
| Finalise | Metadata, filename and PDF | Released copy is identified |
Fail closed: if an input, owner or approval is missing, record the gap and keep the affected step outside the proposed change.
3. Working record
Complete this page with counts, dates and named sources. Do not include client names, matter names, contract text or privileged material.
| Field | Evidence or answer |
|---|---|
| Template | |
| Review mode | |
| Open changes | |
| Accessibility result | |
| Finaliser | |
| Released filename |
Evidence quality check:
- The source is named and dated.
- An estimate is labelled as an estimate.
- The owner can reproduce the measure.
- The same method can be used after a change.
4. Decision record
Select the outcome that the evidence supports. A stop or no-change decision is valid.
- Stop: a required source, owner or approval is missing.
- Fix: repair the underlying route before adding technology or cost.
- Test: run one bounded change with a baseline and review date.
- Proceed: adopt only the option supported by the recorded evidence.
| Decision field | Record |
|---|---|
| Chosen outcome | |
| Reason and evidence | |
| Owner and approvers | |
| Review or expiry date |
Related pages: the document-workflow guide (/resources/modernising-legal-document-workflows/) and the guides hub (/law-firm-guides/). Questions: /fit-call/.
Primary sources
- Microsoft Support - Basic tasks in Word: support.microsoft.com
- Microsoft Support - Track changes in Word: support.microsoft.com
- Microsoft Support - Make your Word documents accessible to people with disabilities: support.microsoft.com
- SRA - Effective supervision: sra.org.uk
Source status: links checked 15 September 2026 (all four verified live 200). Confirm the current version and obtain appropriate professional advice before relying on regulated, contractual, privacy, security, insurance, financial or wellbeing conclusions.
MARGO LEGAL LTD, company number 17322603. Registered in England and Wales. Registered office: 66 Paul Street, London, England, EC2A 4NA. Originally published as a PDF (v1, 18 August 2026); converted to HTML 15 September 2026.