How to do OSCOLA referencingJackie Hanes, Law Librarian

Intended learning outcomes• Find the OSCOLA referencing guides;

• Understand a footnote referencing style;

• Reference primary and secondary legal sources:– Books, chapters, journals, newspapers and the internet– UK and EU legislation and case law– For both footnotes and bibliography

• Reference pages numbers for direct quotations

• Use short forms and ibids for subsequent citations

• Create a bibliography and table of authorities

Which reference is correct?http://hanes.participoll.com

A. Pears, R. and Shields, G. (2013) Cite Them Right: The Essential Referencing Guide. 9th edn. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

B. Richard Pears and Graham Shields, Cite Them Right: The Essential Referencing Guide, 9th edn (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013).

C. Richard Pears and Graham Shields, Cite Them Right: The Essential Referencing Guide (9th edn, Palgrave Macmillan 2013).

D. Pears R and Shields G, Cite Them Right: The Essential Referencing Guide (9th edn, Palgrave Macmillan 2013).

0A B C D

OSCOLA

Oxford UniversityStandard for theCitation OfLegalAuthorities

https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/research-subject-groups/publications/oscola

Golden rules

•OSCOLA does not purport to be comprehensive, but gives rules and examples for the main UK legal primary sources, and for many types of secondary sources;

•When citing materials not mentioned in OSCOLA, use the general principles … as a guide, and try to maintain consistency.

Plagiarism

•Failure to reference may result in plagiarism;

•Plagiarism is passing off work as your own;

•Plagiarism can be considered to be cheating;

•University has rules and penalties for plagiarism;

•Always reference your sources!

Don’t Cheat Yourself (Plagiarism Tutorial)

Footnote referencing style

•References are indicated by a superscript number (1, 2, 3) within the text, normally at the end of the sentence.1

•The references are given in a corresponding footnote at the bottom (foot) of the page.2

1. Superscript numbers are smaller and set above the normal text.

2. Compare to endnotes: references given at the end of a document.

How to insert footnotes in Word

• Insert superscript numbers (1, 2, 3) into your text– Word > References tab > Insert Footnote.

•Add your reference to the footnote.

•Close your footnote with a full stop.

Bibliography

Tables of Authorities•Cases•Statutes•Statutory Instruments

Bibliography•Books•Official publications•Book chapters• Journal articles•Other print sources• Internet sources

All sources arranged alphabetically

Tables for non-UK jurisdictions

Table of Cases• International courts

– (listed by court)– ICJ– ECJ– ECHR

•National courts – (listed by country)

Table of Legislation• International treaties•EU legislation•National legislation

– (listed by country)– Primary legislation– Secondary legislation

Quotations

•Short quotations (up to three lines of text), should be incorporated into the text, within 'single quotation marks‘;

•Longer quotations (over three lines of text), should be presented in an indented paragraph, without quotation marks.

Page numbers

•Page or paragraph numbers should be included at the end of the footnote, for both direct (quotations) or indirect (paraphrasing) quotations;

•Page numbers should not be included in the table of authorities or bibliography.

Part 1: Secondary sourcesBooks, book chapters, journal articles …

Order of author name

Footnote•Firstname | Surname

– Richard Pears

Bibliography•Surname | Initials

– Pears R

More than one author

Up to 3 authors•Cite all authors

– Author 1, Author 2 and Author 3

More than 3 authors•First author and others

– Author 1 and others

Books• Author, | Title of the Book | (Edition, | Publisher | Year)

Footnote:• Lisa Webley, Legal Writing (3rd edn, Routledge 2013).

Footnote with page number:• Lisa Webley, Legal Writing (3rd edn, Routledge 2013) 25.

Bibliography:• Webley L, Legal Writing (3rd edn, Routledge 2013)

Book chapters• Author, | ‘Title of Chapter’ | in | Editor (ed), | Title of the

Book | (Edition, | Publisher | Year)

Footnote:• Philip Handler, ‘Legal History’ in Dawn Watkins and

Mandy Burton (eds), Research Methods in Law (Routledge 2013).

Bibliography:• Handler P, ‘Legal History’ in Dawn Watkins and Mandy

Burton (eds), Research Methods in Law (Routledge 2013)

eBooks• If the ebook provides the same page numbers as in the

printed publication, cite the ebook as if it was the printed book;

• If the ebook has no page numbers, follow the normal book (or edited book) citation form, including the ebook type/edition before the publisher:

Example• Author, | Title of the Book | (Edition | eBook edn |

Publisher | Year);

eBook page numbers• Where there are no page numbers, provide a volume,

chapter or section number (and subsection or paragraph number if provided).

Example:• Author, | Title of the Book | (Edition | eBook edn |

Publisher | Year) Volume, | Part, | Paragraph

Journal articles• Author, | ‘Title of Article’ | [(Year)] | Volume | Abbreviation |

First Page

Footnote:• Graham Virgo, ‘Why Study Law: the Relevance of Legal

Information’ (2011) 11 LIM 221.

Bibliography:• Virgo G, ‘Why Study Law: the Relevance of Legal

Information’ (2011) 11 LIM 221

Abbreviations

•Where possible abbreviate the journal title;

•Find abbreviations with The Cardiff Index:– http://www.legalabbrevs.cardiff.ac.uk/

•Do not use punctuation in abbreviation;

• If no abbreviation, then use the full journal title.

Newspaper articles (print)• Author, | ‘Title of Article’ | Title of Newspaper | (Place of

Publication, | Date) | Page

Footnote:• Nick Britten and Andrew Hough, ‘It’s him: Richard III rises

from the grave’ Daily Telegraph (London, 5 February 2013) 11.

Bibliography:• Britten N and Hough A, ‘It’s him: Richard III rises from the

grave’ Daily Telegraph (London, 5 February 2013) 11

Newspaper articles (online)• Author, | ‘Title of Article’ | Title of Newspaper | (Place of

Publication, | Date) | < URL > | accessed Date

Footnote:• BBC, ‘Richard III was a bottle-a-day drinker, study

suggests’ BBC News (London, 17 August 2014) < http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-28825653 > accessed 18 November 2014

Websites• Author, | ‘Title of Webpage’ | (Title of Website, | Date) | <

URL > | accessed Date

Footnote:

• Liz Fisher, ‘Gov.UK?’ (UK Constitutional Law Association Blog, 9 May 2013) < http://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2013/05/09/liz-fisher-gov-uk/ > accessed 1 May 2015.

Bibliography:

• Fisher L, ‘Gov.UK?’ (UK Constitutional Law Association Blog, 9 May 2013) < http://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2013/05/09/liz-fisher-gov-uk/ > accessed 1 May 2015

You Tube• Author, | ‘Title of Video’ | (Date) | < URL > | accessed

Date

Footnote:• UK Parliament, ‘What is LiberTeas?’ (2 April 2015) <

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8iuI-5ffF4 > accessed 1 May 2015.

Secondary referencing• Citing a book or article that you have read about, but not

read the original work;

• Best academic practice is to obtain the original material and cite it directly, otherwise:

• Secondary reference | (as cited in | primary reference)– Bernard Hibbitts, ‘The Technology of Law’ (2010) 102 Law

Libr J 101 (as cited in Graham Virgo, ‘Why Study Law: the Relevance of Legal Information’ (2011) 11 LIM 221, 225)

Speed referencing exercise 1• There are 5 tables and 5 exercises, one per table.

• Divide yourselves equally among the tables– You may work in pairs or small groups

• You have 90 seconds to reference the item on the table – You can use either footnote or bibliography style– Write your answer on the worksheet provided

• After 90 seconds, rotate clockwise to the next table– Leave the referencing materials on the tables

• At end of exercise, you will receive an answer sheet

Part 2: Primary sourcesLegislation and case law

UK Cases

•Cases after 2001– Neutral citation, Report citation

•Cases before 2001– Report citation (Court)

•Cases before 1865– Nominate report citation, English Report citation

Case citations

Neutral Citations• [Year]•Court•Number

Law Report Citations• [(Year)]•Volume• Law Report•First Page

Guide to neutral citations

Abbreviations

•Courts and law reports should be abbreviated;

•Find abbreviations with The Cardiff Index:– http://www.legalabbrevs.cardiff.ac.uk/

•Do not use punctuation in abbreviation.

Citation of legal authorities

ICLR

• The Law Reports• Appeal Cases, Chancery, Family, Queens Bench

WLR• Weekly Law Reports

All ER• All England Law Reports

Law Reports

• Other law reports

• Transcript of judgments

Cases after 2001 (neutral citation)• Case Name | Neutral Citation, | Report Citation

– Lucasfilm Ltd v Ainsworth [2011] UKSC 39, [2012] 1 AC 208

• Case Name | Neutral Citation, | Report Citation, | Page– Lucasfilm Ltd v Ainsworth [2011] UKSC 39, [2012] 1 AC 208,

210-12

• Case Name | Neutral Citation, | Report Citation, | [Para]– Lucasfilm Ltd v Ainsworth [2011] UKSC 39, [2012] 1 AC 208 [8]

Cases before 2001• Case Name | Report Citation (Court)

– Newspaper Licensing Agency Ltd v Marks & Spencer Plc [2001] Ch 257 (CA)

• Case Name | Report Citation (Court), | Page– Newspaper Licensing Agency Ltd v Marks & Spencer Plc

[2001] Ch 257 (CA), 260

Common court abbreviationsHouse of Lords HLCourt of Appeal CA

High Court (Queen’s Bench) QBHigh Court (King’s Bench) KB

High Court (Chancery) ChHigh Court (Family) F

Cases before 1865• Case Name | Nominate Report, | English Report

– Cumberland v Copeland (1862) 1 Hurl & C 194, 158 ER 856

• Case Name | Nominate Report, | English Report, | Page– Cumberland v Copeland (1862) 1 Hurl & C 194, 158 ER

856, 858

EU cases (ECLI)Footnote• Case Number | Case Name | ECLI Citation, ECR Citation

– Case C-176/03 Commission v Council EU:C:2005:542, [2005] ECR I-7879

Table of Authorities• Case Name | (Case Number) | ECLI Citation, ECR

Citation– Commission v Council (Case C-176/03) EU:C:2005:542,

[2005] ECR I-7879

EU cases (non-ECLI)Footnote• Case Number | Case Name | Citation

– Case T-57/04 Budejovický Budvar v Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market [2007] ECR II-01829

Table of Authorities• Case Name | (Case Number) | Citation

– Budejovický Budvar v Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Case T-57/04) [2007] ECR II-01829

ECHR cases• Case Name | ECHR Citation or EHRR Citation

– Chappell v United Kingdom (1990) 12 EHRR 1

European cases (pinpointing)Single paragraph, use ‘para’ • Case C-117/13 Technische Universitat Darmstadt v

Eugen Ulmer KG [2014] ECDR 23, para 10

Multiple paragraphs, use ‘paras’• Case C-117/13 Technische Universitat Darmstadt v

Eugen Ulmer KG [2014] ECDR 23, paras 10-15

International casesInternational Court of Justice• Case Name | ICJ Citation

– Whaling in the Antarctic (Australia v Japan, New Zealand Intervening) [2014] ICJ Rep 226

International Law Reports• Case Name | ILR Citation

– R v Hans Beckman (Norway, Supreme Court) (1954) 21 ILR 307

Foreign cases• Cite cases for other jurisdictions as they are cited in their

own jurisdiction, but with minimal punctuation;

• If name of court is unclear from the law report title, then state the court in brackets at end of citation.

Foreign legal referencing guides• Australian Guide to Legal Citation (AGLC)

• Canadian Guide to Uniform Legal Citation (McGill Guide)

• The Blue Book: A Uniform System of Citation (USA)

Note on footnotes

• If the full case name (e.g. Lucasfilm Ltd v Ainsworth)1 is provided in the text, then the footnote need only include the citation: 1. [2011] UKSC 39, [2012] 1 AC 208

•Remember to include the full reference in the Table of Authorities at the end of your work.

UK Statutes (Acts)

•Short Title | Year– Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

•Short Title | Year, | Section– Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, s 163

Older Acts

•Before 1963, Acts were numbered using the year of the sovereign’s reign, a system known as Regnal Years.

•Short Title | Year | (Regnal Year | Chapter)– Registered Designs Act 1949 (12, 13 & 14 Geo 6 c

88)

Guide to Regnal Years

UK Statutory Instruments (SIs)

•Title | Year, | SI | Year/Number– Copyright and Rights in Performances (Research,

Education, Libraries and Archives) Regulations 2014, SI 2014/1372

•Title | Year, | SI | Year/Number, | Section– Copyright and Rights in Performances (Research,

Education, Libraries and Archives) Regulations 2014, SI 2014/1372, reg 3

Common legislation abbreviationsSection/s s/ss

Subsection/s sub-s/sub-ssPart/s pt/pts

Schedule/s sch/schsRegulation/s reg/regs

Rule/s r/rrArticle/s art/arts

EU Treaty

•Title | [Year] | OJ | Issue/Page– Treaty of Lisbon [2007] OJ C306/01

EU Regulation, Directive, DecisionNew format• Type | (Domain) | Number | of Date | Title | [Year] | OJ |

Issue/Page– Council Regulation (EU) 2015/159 of 27 January 2015

amending Regulation (EC) No 2532/98 concerning the powers of the European Central Bank to impose sanctions [2015] OJ L27/1

Old format• Type | Number | of Date | Title | [Year] | OJ | Issue/Page

– Directive 2001/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society [2001] OJ L167/10

International treatiesMulti-lateral treaty• Title | (adopted Date, entered into force Date) | Citation

– Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (adopted 28 July 1951, entered into force 22 April 1954) 189 UNTS 137

Bi-lateral treaty• Title | (Parties) | (adopted Date, entered into force Date) |

Citation– Rehabilitation and Development Co-Operation Agreement

(Australia-Nauru) (5 May 1994) ATS 1994 15

Foreign legislation• Cite legislation from other jurisdictions as they are cited in

their own jurisdiction, but with minimal punctuation;

• If jurisdiction is unclear from the legislation title, then state the jurisdiction in brackets at end of citation.

Foreign legal referencing guides– Australian Guide to Legal Citation (AGLC)– Canadian Guide to Uniform Legal Citation (McGill Guide)– The Blue Book: A Uniform System of Citation (USA)

Note on footnotes

• If the full details of the legislation (Title | Year | Section) are provided in the body of your essay; you do not need to repeat the reference in your footnotes;

•Remember to include the full reference in the Table of Authorities at the end of your work.

Speed referencing exercise 2• There are 5 tables and 5 exercises, one per table.

• Divide yourselves equally among the tables– You may work in pairs or small groups

• You have 90 seconds to reference the item on the table – You can use either footnote or bibliography style– Write your answer on the worksheet provided

• After 90 seconds, rotate clockwise to the next table– Leave the referencing materials on the tables

• At end of exercise, you will receive an answer sheet

Part 3: Official publicationsBills, Papers, Reports, Hansard

Bills

•Title | HC Bill | (session) [number]

– Consolidated Fund HC Bill (2008-09) [5]

•Title | HL Bill | (session) number

– Academies HL Bill (2010-11) 1

Command papers

•Department, | Title | (Paper, Command, Year)

– Home Office, The Control of Firearms in Great Britain

(Green Paper, Cmnd 5297, 1973)

Committee reports

•Committee, | Title | (HC Year, Paper)

– Education Committee, Academies and Free Schools

(Fourth Report) (HC 2014-15, HC 258)

•Committee, | Title | (HL Year, Paper)

– Digital Skills Committee, Make or Break: The UK’s

Digital Future (HL 2014-15, HL 111)

Hansard debates

•HL Deb date, | volume, | column

– HL Deb 26 October 2015, vol 765, cols 976-82

•HC Deb date, | volume, | column

– HC Deb 3 February 1977, vol 389, cols 973-76

Law Commission reports

• Law Commission, Title of Report (Law Com No, Year)– Law Commission, Contempt of Court: Scandalising

the Court (Law Com No 335, 2012)

Part 4: Subsequent citationsShort forms and ibids

Subsequent citations

•Always reference material in full in the first citation;

•Subsequent citations can be shortened, and cross-referenced to the first (full) footnote;

•Commonly known as short forms and ibids.

Short forms (secondary sources)For books and articles, shorten to the author’s surname, and a cross-reference (n #) to the full footnote:

First citation• 1 Emily Finch and Stefan Fafinski, Legal Skills (4th edn,

OUP 2013).

Short form• Finch and Fafinski (n 1).

Short form with page number• Finch and Fafinski (n 1) 123.

Short forms (case law)For case law, shorten to the first party name, and cross-reference (n #) to the full footnote:

First citation• 2 Lucasfilm Ltd v Ainsworth [2011] UKSC 39, [2012] 1 AC 208.

Short form• Lucasfilm (n 2).

Short form with page number• Lucasfilm (n 2) 210-12.

Short forms (legislation)For legislation, give a short form or abbreviation of the legislation in brackets at the end of the full footnote:

First citation• 3 Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (CDPA 1988).

Short form• CDPA 1988.

Short form with section• CDPA 1998, s 163.

ibid• An abbreviation for ibidem, meaning ‘in the same place’;

• Repeat citation in immediately preceding footnote.

First citation

• 4 Emily Finch and Stefan Fafinski, Legal Skills (4th edn, OUP 2013).

Short form

• 5 ibid.

Short form with page number

• 5 ibid 123.

Example of short forms and ibid1. Richard Pears and Graham Shields, Cite Them Right:

the Essential Referencing Guide (9th edn, Palgrave Macmillan 2013).

2. Lisa Webley, Legal Writing (3rd edn, Routledge 2013).

3. ibid 25.

4. Pears and Shields (n 1) 98.

Questions and contacts

• Jackie Hanes•Subject Librarian• librarians@le.ac.uk• 0116 252 2055•Book a Librarian