This might sound like a boomer question, but I really want to know. I have seen a few of my friends doing typing tutors and other courses like MS Word in their fifth year. Is it really required? I have a below-average typing speed, to be honest. I know the basics of MS Word just enough to make a project, pretty much a rookie when it comes to Excel (no formulas, no advanced shortcuts). My internships were largely research-heavy and hardly any drafting, so it didn't feel like a limitation. Please Enlighten! Arigato!!!!
Master MS Word (preferred, you can also learn it in the course of your working)and get familiar with Excel. There may be some others but the use will be limited.
No you don’t need any typing lessons. You will be at the desk for so long you everyday will end up typing fast. Rather invest in a good chair with lumbar support when working from home.
Okay, here’s what you need to know:
MS Excel
For law firms, if you’re in capital markets, you need to know MS Excel - just get familiar with adding text, numbers, tables. Excel has lot of automatic copy function where if you drag and drop, it can generate automatic serial numbering, can copy formulas across cells etc. (not advanced formulas) Having some practice of data entry in Excel is important as this can otherwise slow you down while working (it’s slightly different than typing in MS Word)
MS Word
Otherwise, lawyers mostly use MS Word.
Know how to change font size, para spacing, create tables, create numbered lists, alignment with the ruler etc.
You can Google the shortcuts used to copy paste, select entire para/ page etc, page up/ down
Law firm Task specific - for redlines - check Word Compare on MS Word/
Review docs - Split screen
Foreign firms - often use linked cross references for clause references in documents, so you can check Google that
MS PowerPoint
For client/ internal presentations - working knowledge- how to write text, create tables, shapes, add pictures etc.
I disagree with the typing part. Learn to touch type as someone who types at 100 words per minute consistently it has saved me a lot of time while I'm producing True typed copies of those documents wherein I can't use Google lens.
Stop trolling with the coding bit.
No you don’t need any typing lessons. You will be at the desk for so long you everyday will end up typing fast. Rather invest in a good chair with lumbar support when working from home.
Okay, here’s what you need to know:
MS Excel
For law firms, if you’re in capital markets, you need to know MS Excel - just get familiar with adding text, numbers, tables. Excel has lot of automatic copy function where if you drag and drop, it can generate automatic serial numbering, can copy formulas across cells etc. (not advanced formulas) Having some practice of data entry in Excel is important as this can otherwise slow you down while working (it’s slightly different than typing in MS Word)
MS Word
Otherwise, lawyers mostly use MS Word.
Know how to change font size, para spacing, create tables, create numbered lists, alignment with the ruler etc.
You can Google the shortcuts used to copy paste, select entire para/ page etc, page up/ down
Law firm Task specific - for redlines - check Word Compare on MS Word/
Review docs - Split screen
Foreign firms - often use linked cross references for clause references in documents, so you can check Google that
MS PowerPoint
For client/ internal presentations - working knowledge- how to write text, create tables, shapes, add pictures etc.
All the best!