The Importance and Tradition of Legal Tape: Understanding Its Purpose and Continued Use in the Legal Profession

Legal tape might look simple, but it plays a surprisingly important role in keeping legal documents secure, organised, and professionally presented. While many workplaces have gone fully digital, the legal profession still relies on physical documents in plenty of real-world situations. When paperwork needs to be bundled, referenced, transported, and stored with confidence, legal tape remains one of the most trusted tools in the filing and fastener category.

In this guide, we will explain what legal tape is, how it is used, why it remains relevant today, and how to choose the right option for your needs. If you are stocking up for a law firm, chambers, a conveyancing team, or a busy administration department, you can explore the range here: Legal Tape at Mega Office Supplies.

What is legal tape?

Legal tape (sometimes called lawyers tape) is a natural fibre binding tape used to secure and bind legal briefs, reports, letters, and other stationery. It is designed to be strong, slightly flexible, and easy to tie off neatly, helping to keep multi-page documents together in a way that is practical and recognisable in professional settings.

Unlike ordinary ribbon or general adhesive tape, legal tape is intended specifically for document bundling and fastening. It is typically used in combination with document punching tools (such as a bodkin) and traditional fastener methods, where documents must stay together without being permanently bound.

Why legal tape is still used in 2026

Even with electronic filing systems, physical documentation still matters. Many legal practices continue to work with printed briefs, signed documents, certified copies, and supporting materials that need to be grouped reliably. Legal tape continues to be used because it is:

• Practical for bundling large or irregular document stacks
• Non-permanent, allowing documents to be accessed, added to, or re-ordered
• Secure when tied correctly, reducing pages slipping out during handling
• Recognisable as part of traditional legal presentation and workflow

In other words, it is not simply about tradition. It is also about a reliable method that still works extremely well when a file needs to travel between desks, departments, offices, or court settings.

The tradition behind legal tape and the meaning of “red tape”

Legal tape is part of a long-standing tradition of tying bundles of legal and official documents. This practice is strongly associated with the historical use of red tape to secure paperwork, which is widely linked to the phrase “red tape” meaning excessive bureaucracy or formal procedure. 

Today, legal tape is available in multiple colours, and different workplaces may use colours for categorisation, visibility, or internal organisation. Legal tape is also commonly referenced in legal stationery ranges precisely because it remains a familiar, widely accepted method of preparing and maintaining briefs.

What is legal tape used for day to day?

Legal tape is widely used anywhere documents must be grouped without permanent binding. Common examples include:

• Legal briefs and court documents that require bundling and ongoing access
• Contracts and conveyancing files where supporting documents are added over time
• Reports and submissions that need a tidy, professional finish
• Certificates and formal documents, including traditional sealing and presentation in some settings

Because it is tied rather than glued, legal tape supports working files. Pages can be removed, replaced, or re-ordered with less disruption than stapling or fully binding, which is particularly useful when documents evolve during a matter.

How legal tape works (and how it is typically applied)

While each workplace has its own preferred process, legal tape is commonly used with a punched hole (or two) so the tape can pass through and be tied securely. The end result is a neat bundle that stays together through handling and transport.

Many legal tape products are designed to be easy to stretch, tear, or break free when needed, while still holding firmly once tied.

Widths, lengths, and colours: choosing the right legal tape

One reason legal tape remains popular is that it is available in practical format options. Common widths include 6 mm, 9 mm, and 12 mm, and tapes can be found in shorter lengths for everyday use or long reels for higher volume workplaces. 

How to choose:

• 6 mm Legal Tape: a neat option for lighter bundles and everyday briefs
• 9 mm Legal Tape: a versatile middle ground for general legal filing

Colour can also be a practical choice. Some offices use colour-coding to separate matter types, teams, or urgency. Others simply prefer a traditional appearance. If you are standardising supplies across multiple staff, selecting one or two consistent formats can reduce variation and improve file presentation.

Best practice tips for law firms and administrative teams

• Standardise sizes across the office to make purchasing and training simpler
• Keep tape and punching tools together in a dedicated filing station to save time
• Use colour intentionally for quick identification (for example, litigation vs conveyancing, or active vs archived files)
• Buy in bulk if your team prepares briefs regularly, especially if you use long reels
• Store correctly to keep tape clean and ready to use, particularly in shared stationery areas

Why buy legal tape from Mega Office Supplies?

When legal filing supplies run out, the disruption is immediate. Having a reliable source for legal tape and accessories helps keep administrative workflows smooth and consistent. Mega Office Supplies stocks legal tape options designed for professional use, including well-known legal stationery formats and practical reel sizes for busy teams. 

Shop legal tape online

If you are refreshing your filing fasteners or setting up a dedicated brief-prep station, legal tape is one of those classic supplies that continues to earn its place on the shelf. Browse the range here: Legal Tape at Mega Office Supplies.

Tip: If you would like, you can tell us whether your team mainly binds lighter briefs or heavier bundles, and we can help narrow down the best width and reel length for your workflow.