Referencing - UK & EU Law: Law report

This guidance applies whether you found the law report in print or online.

case name | [year] OR (year) | volume | report abbreviation | first page | (court)

Footnote (if you HAVE given the case name in the text of your work):
e.g. [2001] 2 AC 550 (HL)

Footnote (if you HAVE NOT given the case name in the text of your work):
e.g. Barrett v Enfield LBC [2001] 2 AC 550 (HL)

Bibliography:
e.g. Barrett v Enfield LBC [2001] 2 AC 550 (HL)

To pinpoint, follow the citation with the page number. To pinpoint several pages, insert a dash between the page numbers:
e.g. Barrett v Enfield LBC [2001] 2 AC 550 (HL) 553

• Always give party names in italics
• Separate adverse parties with an italic v
• Don't include and another
• If multiple parties, name only the first claimant and the first defendant
• If an individual, don't include forenames or initials
• Use Re, not In re or In the matter of
• Use Ex p, not Ex parte
• Include terms indicating corporate status (Ltd, plc)
• Abbreviate common words and phrases (see Oscola appendix 4.2.4).

The shape of the brackets around the year is important!

• [square brackets] = year of publication
• (round brackets) = year of judgment.

• Use a standard abbreviation for the title of a law report series (check the Cardiff Index to Legal Abbreviations)
• No punctuation is needed - use AC not A.C.

Indicate the court using the following abbreviations:

• (SC) - Supreme Court
• (HL) - House of Lords
• (CA) - Court of Appeal
• (KB) or (QB) or (Ch) or (F) - divisions of the High Court.