Content Structure & Writing

This manual will help you structure your legal content effectively using proper heading levels and formatting. Good structure makes your content easier to read, more accessible, and better for search engines.

Understanding the Heading Hierarchy

Think of headings like an outline or table of contents. They create a logical structure for your content.

H1 - Main Title

What it is: The main title of your article or page. Used by Wordpress and in general should not be used ever in the wordpress editro as it is reserved for page title.

Rules:

Use only ONE H1 per page
This is typically the article title
It should clearly describe what the entire page is about

Example:

H1: Law and Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina

❌ Don’t do this:

Use H1 on the page as it is already used by Wordpress for page title
Using multiple H1s on one page
Using H1 for subheadings within your article

H2 - Major Sections

What it is: Main sections that divide your content into major topics.

When to use:

For major topics within your article
When introducing a new main idea
To break up long content into digestible sections

Example structure:

H1: Employment Law Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina
  H2: Types of Employment Contracts
  H2: Worker Rights and Protections
  H2: Termination Procedures
  H2: Dispute Resolution

✅ Good practice:

Use H2 for all major sections under your H1
Keep H2 headings clear and descriptive
Use parallel structure (all nouns, all questions, etc.)

H3 - Subsections

What it is: Subsections that break down your H2 topics into smaller parts.

When to use:

To divide H2 sections into specific subtopics
When you need more detailed organization
For related points under a main section

Example structure:

H1: Employment Law Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina
  H2: Types of Employment Contracts
    H3: Fixed-Term Contracts
    H3: Indefinite Contracts
    H3: Part-Time Contracts
  H2: Worker Rights and Protections
    H3: Minimum Wage Requirements
    H3: Working Hours and Overtime
    H3: Annual Leave Entitlements

✅ Good practice:

Only use H3 under an H2
Keep subsections logically related to their parent H2

H4, H5, H6 - Deeper Levels (Use Sparingly)

What they are: Even more detailed subdivisions.

When to use:

Rarely needed in most legal articles
Only when content is extremely detailed and complex
H4 can be useful for breaking down complex H3 sections

⚠️ Warning:

If you’re using H5 or H6, your content might be too complex
Consider breaking into multiple articles instead
Most legal articles work perfectly with just H1, H2, and H3

The Golden Rules of Heading Hierarchy

Rule 1: Never Skip Levels

❌ Wrong:

H1: Main Title
  H3: Subsection (you skipped H2!)

✅ Correct:

H1: Main Title
  H2: Major Section
    H3: Subsection

Rule 2: Hierarchy Should Make Sense

Headings should reflect the logical structure of your content. If you removed all the paragraph text and only looked at headings, the article structure should still be clear.

Rule 3: Use Headings for Structure, Not Styling

❌ Wrong: Using H3 because you want slightly smaller bold text

✅ Correct: Use H3 because it’s actually a subsection of an H2

If you want different text sizes, ask your technical team about styling options.

Rule 4: Keep Headings Concise

❌ Wrong:

H2: Everything You Need to Know About the Various Different Types of Employment Contracts That Exist in Bosnia and Herzegovina and How They Differ From Each Other

✅ Correct:

H2: Types of Employment Contracts

Working with Paragraphs (P)

What Paragraphs Are For

Paragraphs contain your main content - the explanations, details, and information.

Paragraph Best Practices

1. Keep paragraphs focused

One main idea per paragraph
Typically 3-5 sentences
Legal content can have slightly longer paragraphs, but avoid walls of text

2. Use paragraph breaks generously

Break between different ideas
Do not use multiple line breaks to make content more readable
Long paragraphs intimidate readers

Example of good paragraph breaks:

P: The Labour Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina establishes fundamental rights for all employees. These rights are protected regardless of the type of employment contract.

P: Fixed-term contracts are valid for a specific period. The employer must specify the contract duration in writing. These contracts automatically terminate at the end of the specified period.

P: However, if an employee continues working after the contract expires, the relationship automatically converts to an indefinite contract. Employers should be aware of this provision to avoid unintended obligations.

3. Lead with the most important information

Put key facts first
Follow with supporting details
Don’t bury important legal information

❌ Wrong:

After considering various factors and reviewing multiple cases from different jurisdictions, it has been established through extensive legal analysis that employees have the right to annual leave.

✅ Correct:

Employees have the right to annual leave. This right is established in Article 68 of the Labour Law and applies to all employees regardless of contract type.

Other Formatting Elements

Lists (Bulleted and Numbered)

When to use bulleted lists:

For items with no specific order
For collections of related points
To break up dense text

When to use numbered lists:

For steps in a process
For items with a specific order or ranking
For legal procedures or requirements

✅ Good example:

H2: Required Documents for Employment Registration

To register a new employee, you must submit:
- Employment contract
- Copy of employee's ID card
- Tax identification number
- Health insurance documentation

⚠️ Avoid:

Lists that are too long (consider breaking into categories)
Mixing unrelated items in one list
Lists with only one or two items (just use paragraphs)

Bold, Italic and Underline Text

Use bold for:

Important terms when first defined
Key legal points that need emphasis
Law names or article numbers (optional)

Use italic for:

Foreign terms (Latin legal phrases)
Law names (alternative to bold)
Subtle emphasis

⚠️ Don’t overuse:

Too much bold/italic loses its impact
Every other sentence shouldn’t be bold
Use emphasis purposefully

⛔️ Don’t use:

Underline: this is reserved for links and confuses the reader

Alignment

Use left alignment: ALWAYS

⛔️ Don’t use:

Justified text, it is just not good practice, it is an “aesthetic” preference that actively hurts user experience. Left alignment is the web standard for good reason - it’s more readable, more accessible, and looks better across all devices.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Inconsistent Heading Usage

❌ Wrong:

H1: Employment Law
(content)
H3: Types of Contracts (where's H2?)
(content)
H2: Worker Rights (inconsistent level)

✅ Correct:

H1: Employment Law
(content)
H2: Types of Contracts
(content)
H2: Worker Rights

Mistake 2: Using Headings as Bold Text

Don’t use H2 or H3 just because you want bigger or bolder text. Headings have structural meaning. Visual empasis should be achieved through website styles.

Mistake 3: Too Many Top-Level Sections

❌ Wrong: Having 15 different H2 sections

✅ Better: Group related topics and use H3 for subtopics

Mistake 4: No Headings at All

Don’t write long articles with just an H1 and paragraphs. Break content into sections with H2 and H3.

Mistake 5: Duplicate Headings

❌ Wrong:

H2: Overview
H2: Overview (later in the article)

Each heading should be unique and descriptive.

Why this is better:

Clear hierarchy (H1 → H2 → H3)
Descriptive headings
Focused paragraphs
Logical grouping of topics
Good use of white space
Easy to scan and navigate

Quick Reference Checklist

Before publishing your article, check:

Getting Help

If you’re unsure about how to structure a particular article:

Outline first - Write your headings before the content
Ask yourself - “Does this heading structure make sense without reading the content?”
Compare - Look at well-structured articles on the portal for reference
Consult - Reach out to the editorial team for guidance editor.lgsee@gmail.com

Remember: Good structure makes your legal expertise accessible to readers. Take time to organize before you write!

Summary

The basics:

H1 = Article title (used by Wordpress for page title)
H2 = Major sections
H3 = Subsections under H2
P = Your content paragraphs

The golden rules:

Never skip heading levels
Keep paragraphs focused and brief
Use structure for meaning, not just appearance
Make your content scannable

When in doubt:

Start with an outline
Use H2 and H3 generously
Break up long paragraphs
Ask for help if needed

Good structure = Better reader experience = More effective legal content