On Legal Typography

21 Jan, 2025

Guidance under A.M. No. 11-9-4-SC (Efficient Use of Paper Rule) with my thoughts:

Change the paper layout to 8.5 by 13 inches. Take note that this is different from U.S. Legal which is 8.5 by 14 inches. This is commonly known as "long bond paper" in the Philippines.
Use font size 14 for everything (even the letterhead, title of the document, and headings), except for the header containing the page numbers, footnotes, and block quotes. Use font size 12 for the latter group.

Example:

Use a readable font style of your choice. I recommend using Arial or Bookman Old Style.
Use a single space within paragraphs.
Use one and a half spaces between paragraphs.
Change page margins to 1.5 inches at the left, 1.2 inches at the top, and 1 inch at the right and bottom.
I recommend using the following format for page numbers, to be placed at the top margin starting on the second page:

Guidance under the Supreme Court Stylebook (First Edition, 2023), with my thoughts:

Use plain English and only mention the ultimate facts without compromising clarity.
When citing case in the footnote, use the following format:

{case title in italics, use v. instead of versus or vs.}, {reference such as 615 Phil. 456 (2016) or G.R. No. 561555, October 3, 2016} [Per J. {name of ponente}, {division or En Banc}]

Example:

Antonio v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 561555, October 3, 2016 [Per J. Token, Third Division]

When citing cases, use only the names of the opposing parties first mentioned. There is no need for "et al."
When citing case titles with "Republic of the Philippines" or "People of the Philippines," only use "Republic" or "People," e.g., People v. De Guzman.
Write "attorney's fees" even if referring to the fees of multiple attorneys.
When a cited text has italics text used for emphasis, use "Emphasis in the original" in the footnote. If you have italicized text yourself, use "Emphasis supplied."
Change "WHEREFORE" to "ACCORDINGLY." Actually, avoid archaic legalese like aforesaid, aforementioned, forthwith, hereafter, hereby, heretofore, herewith, hitherto, thenceforth, therefor, whereas, or whereupon.
When citing a law, state the full name of the law, followed by the year of enactment, the specific section or paragraph referred to, and then optionally, at first instance, its short title, e.g., Republic Act No. 69 (2002), sec. 5, Cool Kids Law. You can then use the short title moving forward, e.g., Cool Kids Law, sec. 7.
Do not include the year of enactment for the Constitution or codes such as the Civil Code, Revised Penal Code, or Administrative Code, unless you are citing a repealed law, e.g., Const. (1935), art. IV, sec. 2, par. 4.
Always go from the general to the specific, e.g., Const., art. III, sec. 1(3).

There are a lot more rules in the SC Stylebook, but they are not mandatory unlike the ones stated under the Efficient Use of Paper Rule. You can use - and break, intentionally or unconsciously - English rules as you see fit, but the goal should always be to get your point across while being clear, concise, and consistent.