The Top Legal Symbol Keyboard Shortcuts You Should Know

Like most legal professionals, you may constantly need to insert symbols like the section sign (§), the paragraph mark (¶), and the copyright symbol (©) countless times when you are drafting legal documents. Instead of hunting through menus or copying and pasting, you can use keyboard shortcuts on both Windows and Mac computers to insert these legal symbols.

As we discuss in this article, with a few simple key combinations, you can save time and meet your firm’s drafting goals much more efficiently.

How Do Keyboard Shortcuts Work?

Keyboard shortcuts are combinations of keys that perform specific tasks on your computer. Most shortcuts involve holding down a modifier key (like Control, Command, or Alt) while pressing another key. Here are some common legal keyboard shortcuts that can make your daily work easier:

To print – Ctrl/Command+P lets you send your document to the printer without clicking through menus, saving time when you need hard copies quickly.
To make text bold – Ctrl/Command+B applies bold formatting to selected text, making it easy to emphasize important terms or headings.
To make text italics – Ctrl/Command+I changes your text to italics, which is helpful for case names and other citations.
To make text underlined – Ctrl/Command+U underlines selected text, helping you draw attention to specific passages.
To cut text – Ctrl/Command+X removes selected text and stores it temporarily so you can move it to a new location.
To find a specific word in text – Ctrl/Command+F opens a search box that helps you locate specific terms quickly in long documents.
To save your document – Ctrl/Command+S saves your work instantly, protecting you from losing progress if your computer crashes.
To select all the text in a document – Ctrl/Command+A highlights everything in your document at once, making it easy to copy or format large sections.

These shortcuts work the same way whether you use Windows (with the Ctrl key) or Mac (with the Command key). Once you get comfortable with these basic shortcuts, learning legal symbol shortcuts will feel natural.

What Are the Benefits of Using Legal Symbol Keyboard Shortcuts?

Keyboard shortcuts offer several real advantages. Specifically, these shortcuts allow you to:

Increase your speed by letting you keep typing without having to use menus
Reduce errors that happen when copying symbols with extra formatting
Ensure consistent formatting throughout your documents.

At first, you may not feel like you’re saving a lot of time. It may take you more time than you think it’s worth to learn the different keyboard combinations. However, once you memorize them, the keyboard shortcuts can become second nature and easily flow into your drafting process.

Here Are Some of the Most Used Legal Symbols and the Shortcuts for Them

Legal writing often requires inserting special symbols that don’t appear on standard keyboards. Here’s how to type the most common legal symbols on both Windows and Mac computers:

Section (§) – The legal section symbol consists of two S shapes stacked on top of each other. You’ll use this keyboard symbol constantly when citing statutes, codes, and regulations. On Windows, hold down the Alt key and type 0167 on your number pad, then release Alt. On Mac, press Option+6.

Paragraph (¶) – The paragraph symbol looks like a backward P with a double stem. It appears frequently when you need to cite specific paragraphs in complaints, contracts, or other legal documents. Windows users should hold Alt and type 0182. Mac users can press Option+7.

Copyright (©) – The copyright symbol is a small letter C enclosed in a circle. This symbol is essential for copyright notices and intellectual property documents. On Windows, hold Alt and type 0169. On Mac, press Option+G.

Trademark (™) – The trademark symbol appears as a superscript TM and indicates unregistered trademarks. To insert it on Windows, hold Alt and type 0153. Mac users can press Option+2.

Registered Trademark (®) – The registered trademark symbol is an R inside a circle. It designates trademarks that have been officially registered with the government. Windows users should hold Alt and type 0174. On Mac, press Option+R.

Plaintiff (π) – Some legal writers use the Greek letter pi to represent plaintiffs in documents. Use of the plaintiff symbol can make pleadings shorter and easier to read. On Windows, hold Alt and type 227. Mac users can press Option+P.

Defendant (∆) – Similarly, the Greek letter delta can represent defendants in legal writing. To insert it on Windows, hold Alt and type 30. On Mac, press Option+J.

Em Dash (—) – The em dash is a long dash used to set off clauses or create emphasis. It’s longer than a regular hyphen and adds polish to your writing. Windows users should hold Alt and type 0151. Mac users can press Option+Shift+Hyphen.

En Dash (–) – The en dash is slightly longer than a hyphen but shorter than an em dash. It’s typically used for ranges, such as page numbers or dates. On Windows, hold Alt and type 0150. On Mac, press Option+Hyphen.

How Can You Add Legal Symbol Keyboard Shortcuts to Microsoft Word?

Microsoft Word offers a built-in feature that lets you create your own legal symbol shortcuts. Here’s how to create custom shortcuts for legal symbols:

Start by opening Word and clicking “Insert,” then select “Symbol” and “More Symbols.” Find the symbol you want, then click it.

At the bottom of the dialog box, click “Shortcut Key.” In the new window, place your cursor in the “Press new shortcut key” box and press the key combination you want to use. Word will tell you if that combination is already assigned.

If the shortcut is available, click “Assign.” Your new shortcut is now active in any Word document.

How Can You Create Your Own Keyboard Shortcuts?

Beyond Microsoft Word, you can set up shortcuts that work in any application. On Mac computers, open System Preferences and click “Keyboard,” then select “Text.” Click the plus sign, type your shortcut in “Replace,” and paste the symbol in “With.” This process for creating your own shortcuts works across all Mac applications.

Windows users can achieve similar results using AutoCorrect in Microsoft Office applications.

Can You Create Legal Symbol Shortcuts for iPhone or Android Phones?

You can set up new keyboard shortcuts on your smartphone and save time when you insert legal symbols just as you do on your computer. The steps you take depend on the device type.

For iPhone users, copy the symbol you need, then open Settings and go to General > Keyboard > Text Replacement. Tap the plus sign, paste the symbol in “Phrase,” and type your shortcut in “Shortcut.” Tap “Save.”

For Samsung Android devices, open Settings > General Management > Samsung Keyboard Settings > Text Shortcuts. Tap the plus sign, paste your symbol in “Shortcut,” type your trigger phrase in “Expanded Phrase,” and tap “Add.”

You can also access some symbols directly by pressing and holding related keys on your mobile keyboard.

Make Legal Document Management More Efficient

Learning keyboard shortcuts for legal symbols is just one way to improve how you work. These small efficiency gains add up over time, giving you more hours to focus on substantive legal work rather than formatting and document preparation.

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