NOTE: Law students should use the OSCOLA system to cite legal references.
The name and date of the legislation should be included within the text of your assignment, with additional information in the reference list.
UK Acts (Statutes)
Within your written work, include the title of legislation and year (in italics).
In-text reference example
This is governed by the Environment Act 1995.
Reference list examples
Each Act has a chapter number which you can also include.
Environment Act 1995
Environment Act 1995, Ch 25
If you are referring to a particular part of an Act, then include the section (s. or ss.), schedule (sch.) or paragraph (para) reference:
Environment Act 1995, Ch 25, ss.5-11
Environment Act 1995, Ch 25, sch. 1, para 2
Statutory Instruments (Orders, Rules and Regulations)
Within your written work, include the title and year of Statutory Instrument plus the SI number (in italics).
In-text reference example
Cite the title, year and number of the SI (Statutory Instrument) in italics – after the first mention you can refer to them by title/year or SI number.
...as stated in the Insolvency Rules 1986 (SI 1986/925).
SIs are divided into articles (art.), rules (r. or rr.) or regulations (reg or regs) which can be included:
...with reference to the Insolvency Rules 1986 (SI 1986/925) r.15(2).
Reference list examples
Insolvency Rules 1986 (SI 1986/925)
Insolvency Rules 1986 (SI 1986/925) r.15(2)
Bills (proposals for legislation)
Include the short title (Parliamentary Session) and serial number.
In-text reference example
...as described in the Harbours Bill HL Bill (2002-03).
Reference list example:
The serial number changes every time the Bill is reprinted. Include [ ] for House of Commons Bill numbers:
Health and Safety at Work (Offences Bill) HC Bill (2002-03) [38]
Harbours Bill HL Bill (2002-03) 24
Party names [Year of publication] Volume number (if available) Abbreviated Reference for the Law Report Series Start page
In-text reference examples
...as documented in Central London Property Trust Ltd v High Trees House Ltd [1947] KB 130
You can use the first party name for any subsequent references if it is clear to which case you are referring:
...This was also evidenced in the outcome of Central London Property Trust Ltd.
If you wish to refer to specific pages within a judgment, then include these after the reference:
Pepper (Inspector of Texes) v Hart [1993] AC 593, 594
Pepper (Inspector of Texes) v Hart [1993] AC 593 at 594
Reference list format
Party Names [Year of publication] Volume number (if available) Law Report Abbreviation Start page
Reference list examples
Pepper (Inspector of Texes) v Hart [1993] AC 593
Macfarlane v EE Caledonia Ltd [1994] 2 All ER 1
Neutral Citations
High Court and Court of Appeal cases from 2001 onwards have neutral citations. A neutral citation includes the year of the judgment, the Court abbreviation (e.g. UKHL=UK House of Lords, EWCA=England and Wales Court of Appeal) and the case number. This can be included before a law report citation, or where a case is otherwise unreported.
Reference list example
R v Rezvi [2002] UKHL 1
If you wish to refer to specific paragraphs within a judgment, then include these after the reference as above.
Unreported cases
Some unreported cases can be found as transcripts or via the legal databases. A neutral citation should be given where possible. Cases prior to 2001 should include:
Names of the Parties. Court. Date of Judgment (Unreported)
Reference list example
Hare v Pollard. Court of Appeal Civil Division. 16 June 1997 (Unreported)
Use of round or square brackets
Round brackets should be used instead of square where the date is not essential for locating the case - e.g. where a volume number is provided and the date referred to is the year of judgment (rather than publication date).
Reference list example
Holdom v Kidd and Others (1986) 61 P&CR 456
Referring to a case you have read about in a textbook
It is generally best to look up legal cases and refer to a law report or official version. Law reports can be found online via the Westlaw and LexisUK+ databases. If, however, you only want to refer to a case that you have found in a legal textbook, you must treat this as a secondary reference.
In-text reference example
Smith v Jones [2001] EWCA 1425 (cited in Murphy 2007, p.4) implies that...
Reference list example
Fully reference the textbook you have actually read (e.g. the textbook by Murphy in this example).
In-text reference example
The Law Commission (2006, p.11) reported...
Reference list format
AUTHOR(S), Year of publication. Title (Command paper number). Place of publication: Publisher
Reference list example
LAW COMMISSION, 2006. Parliamentary costs bill: report on the consolidation of legislation relating to parliamentary costs (Cm 6846). Norwich: TSO
In-text reference example
As mentioned... (HC Deb (2001-02) 391 col. 982)
Reference list format
House abbreviation Deb (Parliamentary Session) Volume number col. column number
Reference list examples
HC Deb (2001-02) 391 col. 982
HL Deb (2005-06) 685 col. 767
Use HL for House of Lords and HC for House of Commons.
Deb stands for Debate and col. stands for column.
All European Union legislation and the appropriate details needed to create a reference can be found on EurLex.
The basic formats for creating a Harvard reference for EU legislation, both in the text and in your reference list are below. After the first mention in your text, you can usually use a shortened title provided it is clear to which legislation you are referring.
Please note that the abbreviation EC/EU/EEC may vary depending on the date of publication.
Regulations
Institutional Origin (Institutional Treaty) Number/year Date it was passed Title
Council Regulation (EC) No. 2078/92 of 30 June 1992 on the agricultural production method
Commission Documents (Com Docs)
Title, COM (Last two digits of year) Serial number, draft or final.
Proposal for a Council Directive on uniform procedures for checks on the transport of dangerous goods, COM (93) 965, final.
Directives and Decisions
Institutional origin Form Year/Legislation Number/ Institutional Treaty Date passed Title
Council Directive 92/83/EEC of 19 October 1992 on the harmonization of the structures of excise duties on alcoholic beverages
For additional European Union legal publications, include as a minimum Title Year.
In your reference list, you can also include any additional information which clarifies the reference for the reader - e.g. legal references or series numbers and additional dates.
Consider including [viewed date]. Available from: URL so your reader can quickly identify the source.
All United Nations Treaties and the appropriate details needed to create a reference can be found via the UN Treaty Collection.
In-text reference example
In your text, include the Treaty title Year signed in italics.
Reference list format
In your reference list, provide full details:
Treaty title Year signed. Volume number UNTS page number, entered into force full date.
Reference list example
Additional Protocol to the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine concerning transplantation of organs and tissues of human origin 2002. 2466 UNTS 132, entered into force 1 May 2006
For other international treaties, include as a minimum Title Year.
In your reference list, include any additional information which clarifies this legislation for the reader - e.g. legal reference or series numbers and additional dates. Consider including [viewed date]. Available from: URL so your reader can quickly identify the source.
I-law contains international maritime conventions which can be cited using the guidance above or referenced to the Ratification of Maritime Conventions publication.
Legislation - other countries
In-text reference example
As a minimum, include the Title Year (country) in your text:
Resource Management Act 1991 (New Zealand)
Reference list format
In your reference list, include any additional information which clarifies this legislation for the reader. Consider including [viewed date] Available from: URL so your reader can quickly identify the source:
Reference list example
Resource Management Act 1991 (New Zealand), reprinted as at 1 March 2017 [viewed 24 March 2017]. Available from: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1991/0069/latest/DLM230265.html
Information about legal materials from different countries can be located via WorldLII
If possible cite from the United Nations Treaty Series.
In-text reference example
The UK supported the Convention relating to the status of refugees (1951) …
Reference list format
Title of treaty (in italics) Year (in round brackets) Treaty number. Publication title (in italics) Volume and page numbers. If accessed online include the viewed date and URL
Reference list example
Convention relating to the status of refugees (1951) Treaty no. 2545. United Nations Treaty Series, 189, pp. 137– 221. [viewed 13 February 2021]. Available from: https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/Volume%20189/v189.pdf
All European Union cases and the appropriate details needed to create a reference can be found on EurLex.
In-text reference example
The first time that you cite a case, refer to it in full in your text as per the example below.
Case C-286/88 Falciola v Comune di Pavia [1990] ECR 1-191
You can then use a shortened version such as the Party Names or Case number (provided it is clear which case you are referring to).
Reference list format
Case number Party Names [Year] Law report abbreviation Volume number – Start page
Reference list example
Case C-286/88 Falciola v Comune di Pavia [1990] ECR 1-191
European Court of Human Rights cases, which are not European Union cases, can be found via Hudoc.