If a folder is opened with Nautilus using the list-view, and the folder has many items in it (i.e. more items than can will fit inside the window -- such that a scrollbar is needed), then there is no way to access the "Create Folder" or "Create Document" context-menu items.

When in "icon view", then it is simply a matter of right-clicking in a place where there is no icon (i.e. between icons).  But, in the list view, there is nowhere that one can click (provided that there are many files in the folder) to access these menu items.