Parts Of A Legal Citation11 min read
Parts of a legal citation are the elements that make up a citation to a legal authority. A legal citation is the information that is used to identify and locate a legal authority, such as a statute, case, or article. The parts of a legal citation vary depending on the type of legal authority being cited.
The main parts of a legal citation are the name of the author, the title of the work, the year of publication, and the location of the work. For a statute, the name of the state and the year of publication are also included. For a case, the name of the court and the year of the decision are included. For an article, the name of the author and the year of publication are included.
In addition to the main parts of a legal citation, there are also some optional parts that can be included. For a statute, the section number can be included. For a case, the page number can be included. For an article, the volume number and issue number can be included.
The order of the parts of a legal citation varies depending on the type of legal authority being cited. For a statute, the name of the state comes first, followed by the year of publication. For a case, the name of the court comes first, followed by the year of the decision. For an article, the name of the author comes first, followed by the year of publication.
The parts of a legal citation are important because they are used to identify and locate a legal authority. The main parts of a legal citation are always included, while the optional parts can be included depending on the type of legal authority being cited.
Table of Contents
What is a legal citation example?
A legal citation is a reference to a legal authority, such as a statute, case, or treatise. The purpose of a legal citation is to allow the reader of a legal document to find the authority that is being cited. In order to be effective, a legal citation must include the following information: the name of the authority being cited, the year the authority was published, and the page number or paragraph number where the authority can be found.
There are many different formats for legal citations, but the most common format is the Bluebook. The Bluebook is a uniform system of citation that is used by most courts and legal publishers. The Bluebook includes a number of rules for citing various types of legal authorities.
One of the most common rules for citing a statute is to include the name of the state, the name of the statute, the year the statute was enacted, and the section number of the statute. For example, the following citation would refer to the statutory provision codified at Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 1985:
California Civil Procedure Code § 1985
If the statute is revised or amended, the Bluebook requires that the year of the revision or amendment be included in the citation. So, if the statute above is revised in 2020, the citation would be:
California Civil Procedure Code § 1985 (2020)
If the statute is repealed, the Bluebook requires that the year of repeal be included in the citation. So, if the statute above is repealed in 2020, the citation would be:
California Civil Procedure Code § 1985 (2020) repealed
Citing a case is a little more complicated than citing a statute, because there are different types of cases and different ways to cite them. The most common type of case citation is a “rule against perpetuities” citation. A rule against perpetuities citation includes the name of the case, the year the case was decided, the volume and page number of the case, and the reporter series of the case. For example, the following citation would refer to the case of Rehnquist v. Dickson:
Rehnquist v. Dickson, 307 F. Supp. 2d 896 (2004)
If the case is later published in a reporter series other than the one listed, the Bluebook requires that the appropriate reporter series be included in the citation. For example, if the case is later published in the Westlaw reporter series, the citation would be:
Rehnquist v. Dickson, 307 F. Supp. 2d 896 (W.L. 2004)
If the case is later published in the Supreme Court Reporter, the citation would be:
Rehnquist v. Dickson, 307 F. Supp. 2d 896 (2004) S.Ct.
Citing a treatise is also a little more complicated than citing a statute or a case. The most common type of treatise citation is an “American Jurisprudence” citation. An American Jurisprudence citation includes the name of the treatise, the year the treatise was published, the volume and page number of the treatise, and the reporter series of the treatise. For example, the following citation would refer to the American Jurisprudence treatise on contracts:
American Jurisprudence 2d Contracts § 108 (2000)
If the treatise is later published in a reporter series other than the one listed, the Bluebook requires that the appropriate reporter series be included in the citation. For example, if the treatise is later published in the Westlaw reporter series, the
What type of citations are used in law?
When it comes to citing sources in law, there are a few specific formats that are typically used. In this article, we’ll take a look at the three most common types of citations used in law: footnotes, endnotes, and parenthetical citations.
Footnotes are used to provide additional information about a particular source. This information can include the full bibliographic information for the source, as well as any other relevant notes. Footnotes are typically placed at the bottom of the page on which the source is referenced.
Endnotes are similar to footnotes, except that they are placed at the end of the document rather than at the bottom of the page. Like footnotes, endnotes can include the full bibliographic information for the source as well as any other relevant notes.
Parenthetical citations are used to provide brief information about a source within the text of the document. This information typically includes the author’s name and the year of publication. Parenthetical citations are placed within parentheses immediately after the information that is being sourced.
How do you write a legal citation?
When you are writing a legal citation, there are a few things you need to remember.
The first is to always use the same format for your citations. This will make it easier for your reader to understand and follow your argument.
Second, be sure to include all the necessary information. This will help ensure that your reader can find the source you are referencing.
Finally, make sure that your citations are accurate. If you get the information wrong, it could damage your argument.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these points.
Formatting
When you are writing a legal citation, you need to use a specific format. This will help your reader follow your argument and find the source you are referencing.
There are many different formats you could use, but the most common is the APA format. This format uses author, date, and page numbers to identify the source.
For example, if you were citing a case, your citation would look like this:
Smith v. Jones, 1234 F. Supp. 2d 1234 (N.D. Cal. 2013)
If you were citing a book, your citation would look like this:
Brown, J. (2015). The legal citation handbook. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
In each case, the author, date, and page number are included.
Information included
When you are writing a legal citation, you need to include all the necessary information. This will help your reader find and understand the source you are referencing.
The most important piece of information is the author’s name. You need to include the full name, including any middle names or initials.
You also need to include the date of publication. For a book, this would be the year it was published. For a case, this would be the year the case was decided.
Finally, you need to include the page number(s) where the information you are referencing can be found. This is especially important for cases, as the court’s opinions can be quite long.
Accuracy
It is important to ensure that your citations are accurate. If you get the information wrong, it could damage your argument.
For example, if you cite a case that has been overturned by a higher court, your argument may be dismissed. Or, if you attribute a statement to the wrong person, it could call your entire argument into question.
To avoid this, be sure to double-check your information before you submit your paper. If you are unsure about something, ask a professor or another expert for help.
As you can see, there are a few things to keep in mind when writing a legal citation. By following these tips, you can create citations that are clear and accurate.
How do you read a legal citation?
When you are reading a legal citation, you need to understand how to interpret it. The most common type of legal citation is the Bluebook, which is a style guide for legal citations. The Bluebook provides a standard format for citations, which helps to ensure that they are accurate and easy to understand.
To read a legal citation, you need to first understand the different parts of the citation. The parts of a legal citation typically include the author, the title of the case, the year, the court, and the page number. In some cases, there may also be a volume number and a reporter abbreviation.
Once you have understood the different parts of the citation, you need to locate the information in the Bluebook. The Bluebook is divided into different sections, which are typically organized by type of citation. The sections include case law, statutes, administrative law, treaties, and more.
Once you have located the section that contains the information you are looking for, you need to find the specific rule that was cited. The Bluebook provides a table of contents that can help you to find the rule quickly and easily.
When you have located the rule, you need to understand how to interpret it. The Bluebook provides a set of rules that explain how to interpret the different parts of a legal citation. These rules are designed to help you to understand the meaning of the citation and to determine its relevance to your case.
By understanding how to read a legal citation, you can ensure that you are using the correct information in your legal proceedings. The Bluebook provides a standard format for citations that is designed to be accurate and easy to understand. By following the rules in the Bluebook, you can be sure that your citations are accurate and will be accepted by the court.
What is the purpose of legal citation?
Legal citation is a system used by legal professionals to reference past court decisions, statutes, and other legal authorities. The purpose of legal citation is to allow other legal professionals to easily locate and review the same authorities that the citing lawyer has consulted.
Legal citation can take several forms, depending on the type of authority being cited. Judicial opinions are typically cited by the name of the case and the year in which it was decided. For example, the United States Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education would be cited as Brown, 1954. Statutes are typically cited by the name of the statute, the chapter number, and the section number. For example, the California Vehicle Code section 22350 would be cited as Cal. Veh. Code § 22350.
There are a number of different citation formats, and each jurisdiction may have its own specific rules. Most citation formats include the name of the authority being cited, the year it was published, and the page number or paragraph number where the authority can be found. Some citation formats also include the name of the author or the name of the legal publishing company.
Legal citation is an important tool for legal professionals. By citing the authorities that they have consulted, lawyers can help other lawyers quickly locate and review the same information. This can be especially helpful in cases where there is a lot of case law or statutory law to review. Citations can also help lawyers to track down more information on a particular topic, and to stay up-to-date on the latest legal developments.
Why is citation important in legal writing?
Citation is important in legal writing because it allows readers to identify and locate the sources of the information and ideas in a legal document. In addition, proper citation helps to ensure that the legal arguments in a document are based on sound legal principles.
When citing sources in a legal document, it is important to use the standard legal citation format. This format includes the author’s name, the title of the work, the year of publication, and the page number (if applicable). For example, if you were to cite a case in your document, you would include the following information:
Reynolds v. United States, 98 U.S. 145 (1878)
If you were to cite a statute, you would include the following information:
United States Code, title 18, section 241
Citation is an important part of legal writing because it allows readers to verify the accuracy and legitimacy of the information and arguments in a document. In addition, proper citation helps to ensure that the legal arguments in a document are based on sound legal principles.
What is a written citation?
A written citation is a formal, written reference to a published or unpublished source. It includes the author’s name, the title of the work, the name of the publisher, and the date of publication. A written citation may also include the page number or other locator information.
