Select the list and use Table | Sort (the text does not have to be in a
table). This will sort on the whole paragraph by default. If the last name
is the second word, you can sort on Word 2.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)

Gary,

Usually it is. The level of difficulty depends on how your
list is currently formatted and how you want the end
result formatted.  For example, if your list of names
consists of each name on its own line separated by Word
Paragraphs and formatted Last Name, First Name, MI

This it is just a matter of selecting the entire list,
then Tables>Sort>Sort By Paragraphs>OK

If your names are formated like Bill A. Smith, Joe E.
Miller and you want:

Miller, Joe E.
Smith, Bill A.

it gets tougher.

See:
http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/General/UsingWildcards.htm
The Practice, Example 1

Yes -- just highlight the names you want to sort (or do a
Ctrl A if the whole file is "the" list of names).  Next
click on "Table" (don't worry that it's not in a
table...this will work!), scroll down to "Sort" and click
on it.

A popup window will appear with the following default
options:  Paragraph, Text and Ascending...which should be
perfect.  Click on "OK" and voila -- it will automatically
restructure your document to put the list of names into
alphabetical order.

Keep in mind that it will put it in order based on the
first word of each line -- so I suggest you "Save As" and
give it another name to keep your original document
pristine.  Good luck!  Katrina