Students pursuing legal studies are assigned many projects by their professors, such as assignments, theses, dissertations, and case studies. To write these documents, they need to take reference from various published sources, such as books and magazines. When it comes to producing a legal write-up, one should cite the materials in a clear, consistent and familiar way. Referencing the sources properly not just makes it more reader-friendly but also guards from plagiarism issue.
The Oxford University Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities (OSCOLA) is considered the best way for citing legal materials. Originally devised for use within Oxford University, it is now prescribed by many law schools across the world. Here we have given a comprehensive guide for using this referencing style:
As per OSCOLA 4th edition, there are two types of legal sources-primary sources and secondary sources. A statement of law itself from a governmental entity, such as a court, executive agency, or legislature comes under primary legal sources. Materials that discuss, explain, interpret, and analyze what the law is or what it should be, including treatises, law reviews, encyclopedias, ALR annotations, restatements, and legal newspapers are secondary legal sources. Here we have discussed the rules for citing these sources:
To cite a book write the author(s) name, followed by the title of the book in Italics, and write the series title, edition, publisher, date of publication in brackets. Plus, capitalize all of the major words in the title. And, mention the edition number only if there are more than two editions of the book.
Jonathan Herring, Criminal Law (7th edn, Macmillian 2011) 251
Hugh Jones and Christopher Benson, Publishing Law (4th edn, Routledge 2011)
Roy Goode and others, Transnational Commercial Law: International Instruments and Commentary (OUP 2004)
To cite a journal article, mention the author’s name, followed by the title within single quotation marks. And write the date of publication, volume, journal name or abbreviation within brackets. Use round brackets when the volume of the journal series are independently numbered. However, if there is no volume number, use square brackets for writing the date. Plus, capitalize all the major words in the title.
Mary George, ‘Fisheries Protections in the Context of the Geo-Political Tensions in the South China Sea’ (2012) 43 Journal of Maritime Law and Practice 85
Jeremy Waldron, ‘The Core of the Case against Judicial Review’ (2006) 115 Yale LJ 1346, 1372
James Goodwin, ‘The Last Defence of Wednesbury’ [2012] PL 445
As mentioned before, if both the online source and paper copy are available, cite the paper copy version.
While citing an online article, use the same format used in referencing a published journal but follow the citation with the web address and the date when you most recently accessed the article.
James Gobert, ‘The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007: Thirteen Years in the Making but was it Worth the Wait?’ (2008) 71 MRL 413
<http://www.jstor.org/stable/25151209> accessed 15 Jan 2014
When citing a law report, it is crucial to mention the law report’s volume within square brackets. Give the volume number only when there was more than one volume published during that year. And, when the volumes of the law report series are independently numbered, mention the year of judgment in round brackets.
Corr v IBC Vehicles Ltd [2008] UKHL 13, [2008] 1 AC 884
Chapman v Honig [1963] 2 QB 502 (CA)
UCB Bank plc v Chandler (1999) 79 P & CR 270 (CA)
To cite a statute, give the short title followed by year. And, to cite a section of a statute give the short title followed by year. Then write | s |, followed by section number, subsection, and paragraph.
The act of Supremacy 1558
Human Rights Act 1998, s 15(1)(b)
Crown Debts Act 1801 (41 Geo 3 c 90)
To cite a Bill, give the title, followed by HC Bill, session in round brackets, and number in square brackets. If the Bill originates in the House of Commons, then put the running number in square brackets. In case, it is from the House of Lords, do not put any brackets around the number. When referring to parts of Bills, the words ‘clause’ and ‘clauses’ should be abbreviated to ‘cl’ and ‘cls.’
Consolidated Fund HC Bill (2008-09) [5]
Academies HL Bill (2010-11) cl 8(2)
Documents like command papers, government responses to select committee reports, White and green papers, and all such legal journals that were issued by a government organization and then made available to the public comes under official publications.
For publications by individual government departments you should follow this pattern:
The name of department or committee who produced the report, | title of paper in italics |(command paper number, | year) | page or paragraph number.
Select Committee on Delegated Powers and Deregulation, 3rd Report [Session 1998-99] HL Paper (1998-99) no 12 Home Office, Report of the Royal Commission on Capital Punishment (Cmd 8932, 1953) para 53
To cite a newspaper article, write the author’s name followed by ‘title within single quotation marks’, the name of the newspaper in italics, city of publication and date of publication within round brackets. Plus, write the page number on which the article was published, if known.
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