Best Fonts For Legal Documents, Briefs, Agreements

Some fonts feel too casual. Others look outdated or hard to read. And when formatting matters — like in court filings or formal agreements — you need something clear, consistent, and professional.

In this guide, we’ll show you which fonts are trusted in legal settings, why they work, and how to apply them confidently.

What Is the Best Font for Legal Documents?

Unless your jurisdiction specifies court-approved fonts, you usually have flexibility in selecting fonts for your legal materials. However, readability should always be your top priority.

A clear and easy-to-read font does more than improve user experience; it conveys professionalism and builds trust.

Some of the best fonts for legal documents include:

• Arial: Modern, clean, and easy to read.
• Verdana: Wider spacing makes it great for high readability.
• Baskerville: A serif font with a touch of formality.
• Bookman Old Style: Traditional, elegant, and legible.
• Century Family Fonts: Timeless and US Supreme Court-approved.

Recommended Font Sizes

For most legal documents, a 12-point font is the standard. It’s readable and professional without taking up too much space. If 12-point feels too small, especially for digital formats, shifting to 14-point font can enhance accessibility.

Sans Serif vs. Serif Fonts

Fonts for legal documents generally fall into two categories, each with unique strengths.

• Serif Fonts: These fonts feature small decorative strokes at the ends of letters, like in Times New Roman. Serif fonts are commonly used in print, as they exude a sense of trust and tradition. Examples include Baskerville, Georgia, and Century Schoolbook.
• Sans Serif Fonts: These fonts lack decorative strokes and have a clean, modern feel, making them ideal for digital documents. Examples include Arial, Calibri, and Helvetica.

For printed legal documents, serif fonts are a safer choice. Sans serif fonts, on the other hand, are perfect for digital formats, such as websites or law firm marketing materials, thanks to their crisp look and readability on screens.

Top Fonts for Legal Documents, Contracts, and Briefs

Here’s a carefully curated list of fonts often used in legal contexts, along with why they stand out:

I. Times New Roman

• Style: Serif
• Why Use It: Classic, professional, and widely recognized.

II. Century Schoolbook

• Style: Serif
• Why Use It: Preferred by the US Supreme Court. It’s clear and authoritative.

III. Garamond

• Style: Serif
• Why Use It: Timeless elegance for contracts and formal agreements.

IV. Georgia

• Style: Serif
• Why Use It: Designed for readability, even on screens.

V. Arial

• Style: Sans Serif
• Why Use It: Clean and professional, great for correspondence.

VI. Calibri

• Style: Sans Serif
• Why Use It: Ideal for informal legal documents and digital formats.

VII. Helvetica

• Style: Sans Serif
• Why Use It: Neutral and clear, excellent for legal branding.

VIII. Bookman Old Style

• Style: Serif
• Why Use It: Provides a touch of tradition and formality.

IX. Courier New

• Style: Monospace
• Why Use It: Necessary for documents requiring uniform spacing.

X. Verdana

• Style: Sans Serif
• Why Use It: Wide spacing ensures readability for digital formats.

Choosing the Right Font for Your Audience

Your choice of font should reflect your audience. For instance, judges may prefer fonts that convey authority (e.g., Baskerville or Times New Roman), while internal reports might benefit from more modern fonts like Arial or Calibri for easier reading.

Pro Tips for Formatting Legal Documents

Aside from font selection, formatting elements like line spacing and margins also impact the readability and professionalism of your legal documents.

Font Size

Start with 12-point font for printed materials. For accessibility or web display, increasing to a 14-point font may better suit your needs.

Line Spacing

A line height of 1.5x the font size works best for legibility. Double-spacing may also be appropriate for contracts and formal briefs.

Margins

Stick to standard 1-inch margins on all sides to ensure compliance with most legal settings.

Consistency

Keep font styles and sizes uniform across your document. Mixing different fonts can distract your audience and reduce professionalism.

How to Edit Fonts in Legal PDFs with Smallpdf

Once you’ve finalized your legal document, you might still need to tweak fonts or make adjustments in your PDF. That’s where our Edit PDF tool comes in!

Here’s how you can update your font directly in a PDF using Smallpdf:

1. Open your document in the Edit PDF.
2. Highlight the text you want to edit.
3. Select or change the font style, size, or alignment from the toolbar.
4. Save and download your polished, updated file.