Why is legal paper 8 1/2" x 14"?

Answer 1

It is the standard sized 8.5 x 11 with three inches added at the bottom for footnotes and references.

That way they could write or print a standard letter without the references on standard paper, and then if they needed to add the references, they would not have to reformat the entire letter to add the footnotes.

While this seems to be a "computer" related idea, in the "old days" they had to do type setting to print out large numbers of documents. It was easier to make the typeset box three inches longer and use longer paper than it was to respace all the set type to get the footnotes in on a standard page.

This also came in handy when using carbon paper. The lawyer could put an 11 inch sheet of carbon paper on the top of the paper and it would duplicate to the lower paper. But his footnotes and personal notes on the bottom would not get copied. Think about discovery. The lawyer could give all the "discoverable" information in the top 11 inches of the page and keep his "professional notes" on the bottom 3 inches and not tip off the other side what he was thinking.

Also, it made it an easy way to separate documents generated within the law office from documents from outside the office. If it was 8.5 x 14 you could pretty well tell it came from inside the office. If it was the standard 8.5 x 11, it came from outside.

Lastly, lawyers are egotists. It makes them feel important that "their" paper is bigger than "your" paper. They think size matters..... (this was a joke.)

Answer 2

additionally, attempt a wholsale paper shop. I made my own courses with heavy cardstock and vellum, 3 hundred, for approximately $a hundred. look interior the telephone e book, or on Yahoo telephone e book. The wholesale works desirable while you're doing lots- something over a hundred. below a hundred- you're able to desire to be ok at a conventional retail shop. in case you do no longer comprehend a sturdy wholesale paper shop- attempt calling a small printer. do no longer be shy! you're no longer competing with them, and that they might proportion with you their aspects.. they are able to tell the paper company that they sent you their way and that facilitates their dating. i comprehend, that is embarrassing, yet well worth it for the money, acceptable? Congratulations! do no longer neglect to have exciting, you purely try this (nicely, we are hoping so...) as quickly as!

Answer 3

Here's one link ..

http://www.afandpa.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Pulp_and_Paper/Fun_Facts/The_U_S__Standard_Paper_Size.htm