Kara Sears
Citing a law review article using the Bluebook is a critical skill for legal scholars and practitioners, as it ensures accuracy and consistency in legal writing. The Bluebook, a comprehensive style guide for legal citations, provides specific rules for citing law review articles, which typically include the author’s name, article title, volume number, journal name, page number, and publication year. Proper citation not only gives credit to the original author but also allows readers to locate the source easily. Understanding these rules is essential for maintaining the integrity of legal research and writing, making it a foundational aspect of legal academia and practice.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | List all authors' names in normal order (first name followed by last name). |
| Title of Article | Title of the law review article, capitalized using title case. |
| Volume Number | Volume number of the law review journal in bold. |
| Journal Abbreviation | Abbreviated name of the law review journal (use Bluebook Table T.1). |
| First Page Number | Page number where the article begins. |
| Pinpoint Citation (if applicable) | Specific page or section within the article, preceded by "at" or similar. |
| Publication Year | Year the article was published, in parentheses. |
| Format | Follow Bluebook Rule 15 for law review articles. |
| Example | Jane Doe, The Evolution of Legal Theory, 123 Harv. L. Rev. 456 (2023). |
| Online Sources (if applicable) | Include the URL or database name and date last visited in footnotes. |
| Multiple Authors | List all authors, separated by commas, or use "et al." if more than three. |
| No Author | Omit the author section and start with the title of the article. |
| Special Characters | Use proper formatting for special characters (e.g., accents, hyphens). |
| Foreign Language Titles | Translate or transliterate titles according to Bluebook guidelines. |
| Unpublished Articles | Cite as "forthcoming" or "unpublished manuscript" with a note. |
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What You'll Learn
- Author Format: Last name, first name, and any suffixes or credentials
- Article Title: Italicize the title and capitalize main words
- Journal Name: Abbreviate using Bluebook Table T.13
- Volume & Page: Include volume number and starting page, no p. prefix
- Publication Year: Place in parentheses after volume and page numbers
Author Format: Last name, first name, and any suffixes or credentials
When citing a law review article using the Bluebook, the author’s name is formatted in a specific and consistent manner. The general rule is to list the author’s last name first, followed by a comma, and then the first name and any middle names or initials. This format ensures clarity and uniformity in legal citations. For example, if the author’s name is John Doe, the citation would begin with "Doe, John." This structure is straightforward and applies to most single-author citations. It is crucial to adhere to this order, as deviations can lead to confusion or inconsistency in legal writing.
In cases where the author has a suffix, such as "Jr." or "III," it should be included after the first name, separated by a comma. For instance, if the author is John Doe Jr., the citation would read "Doe, John, Jr." Similarly, if the author is Jane Smith III, it would be cited as "Smith, Jane, III." This rule ensures that the author’s full identity is accurately represented. Suffixes are not italicized or placed in parentheses; they are simply part of the author’s name in the citation.
Credentials, such as academic degrees (e.g., J.D., Ph.D.) or professional titles, are generally omitted in Bluebook citations unless they are integral to the author’s identity or the context of the article. For example, if the author is specifically identified as "John Doe, J.D.," and this credential is relevant to the article’s authority, it may be included. However, this is rare and typically avoided unless explicitly required. The focus remains on the author’s name and suffix, not their qualifications.
When dealing with multiple authors, the same format applies to each author’s name. The names are separated by the word "and" in standard text, not an ampersand (&). For example, if the article is co-authored by John Doe and Jane Smith, the citation would begin with "Doe, John, and Smith, Jane." If there are more than two authors, the Bluebook allows for the use of "et al." after the first author’s name, but this is generally discouraged in law review citations unless the article has a large number of authors.
Finally, it is important to ensure that the author’s name is spelled correctly and matches the name as it appears in the article. Misspellings or variations can lead to difficulties in locating the source. Additionally, if the author’s name includes special characters or diacritical marks (e.g., é, ü), they should be retained in the citation to maintain accuracy. Following these guidelines for the author format ensures that the citation is both Bluebook-compliant and professionally presented.
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Article Title: Italicize the title and capitalize main words
When citing a law review article using the Bluebook, the Article Title is a crucial element that requires specific formatting. The Bluebook mandates that the title of the article be *italicized* and that *main words* within the title be *capitalized*. This rule applies to all significant words, including nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and some prepositions, while minor words like articles (a, an, the) and coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or) are typically lowercase unless they begin the title. For example, if the article title is "The Role of Precedent in Constitutional Law," it should appear as *The Role of Precedent in Constitutional Law* in the citation.
To ensure consistency and adherence to Bluebook standards, it is essential to carefully identify which words qualify as "main words." A helpful guideline is to capitalize words that carry the core meaning of the title, while leaving function words in lowercase. For instance, in the title *A Comparative Analysis of International Trade Agreements*, "Comparative," "Analysis," "International," and "Agreements" are capitalized, while "A," "of," and "Trade" remain lowercase. This approach ensures clarity and professionalism in your citation.
In addition to italicizing and capitalizing the title, the placement of the Article Title within the citation is equally important. According to Bluebook Rule 16, the title follows the author’s name and is enclosed in italics. For example, a citation might begin with "Author Last Name, *Article Title*..." followed by the volume number, journal name, page number, and publication year. Properly formatting the title not only enhances readability but also demonstrates attention to detail in legal writing.
It is also worth noting that if the article title includes a subtitle, the same rules apply. Both the main title and subtitle should be italicized, with main words capitalized. For example, *The Evolution of Privacy Law: A Study of Digital Rights* would be correctly formatted. Subtitles are typically separated from the main title by a colon, which should not be italicized. This consistency ensures that the entire title is presented uniformly in the citation.
Finally, while the Bluebook provides clear guidelines for formatting the Article Title, it is always advisable to double-check the specific rules for the edition you are using, as minor updates may occur. Additionally, if the article title includes special characters, quotations, or foreign words, consult the Bluebook’s tables for precise instructions. By meticulously following these rules, you can create accurate and professional citations that uphold the standards of legal scholarship.
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Journal Name: Abbreviate using Bluebook Table T.13
When citing a law review article using the Bluebook, one of the critical steps is properly abbreviating the journal name. The Bluebook provides specific guidelines for this in Table T.13, which lists standardized abbreviations for law journals. These abbreviations ensure consistency and professionalism in legal citations. To abbreviate the journal name correctly, you must consult Table T.13 and match the full journal title with its corresponding abbreviation. For example, *"Harvard Law Review"* is abbreviated as *"Harv. L. Rev."* in accordance with the table. This step is essential because using the wrong abbreviation or failing to abbreviate at all can render your citation non-compliant with Bluebook standards.
To locate the correct abbreviation in Table T.13, start by identifying the full name of the law review journal you are citing. The table is organized alphabetically, making it relatively straightforward to find the journal. For instance, if you are citing an article from the *"Yale Law Journal,"* you would look under the "Y" section and find the abbreviation *"Yale L.J."* It is important to note that the abbreviations in Table T.13 are authoritative and should be used verbatim. Avoid attempting to abbreviate the journal name on your own, as this can lead to errors and inconsistencies.
In addition to consulting Table T.13, ensure that the journal you are citing is indeed listed in the table. If the journal is not included, the Bluebook advises using the full journal name in the citation. However, this is rare for well-known law reviews. For lesser-known or non-legal journals, you may need to abbreviate according to the rules in Rule 10.4 of the Bluebook, which provides general guidelines for abbreviating periodical titles. Nonetheless, for law review articles, Table T.13 remains the primary resource.
Properly abbreviating the journal name is just one component of a complete Bluebook citation for a law review article. The full citation typically includes the author's name, article title, volume number, journal abbreviation, page number, and publication year. For example, a citation might appear as: *"John Doe, The Evolution of Property Law, 50 Harv. L. Rev. 123 (2020)."* In this example, *"Harv. L. Rev."* is the abbreviation taken directly from Table T.13. Mastering the use of this table ensures that your citations are accurate, professional, and compliant with legal writing standards.
Finally, it is worth emphasizing the importance of precision when using Table T.13. Small details, such as the inclusion of periods in abbreviations or the correct spacing, matter significantly in Bluebook citations. For instance, *"Harv. L. Rev."* is correct, while *"Harv L Rev"* or *"Harvard L. Rev."* would be incorrect. By adhering strictly to the abbreviations provided in Table T.13, you demonstrate attention to detail and respect for the conventions of legal scholarship. This not only enhances the credibility of your work but also ensures that your citations are easily recognizable and usable by others in the legal field.
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Volume & Page: Include volume number and starting page, no p. prefix
When citing a law review article using the Bluebook, the "Volume & Page" element is a critical component of the citation. This section provides the reader with the specific location of the article within the journal, ensuring easy access to the referenced material. The Bluebook rules dictate that you must include the volume number of the law review and the starting page of the article. Importantly, the "p." prefix should be omitted, as it is not required in Bluebook citations. For example, if the article begins on page 123 of volume 50 of a law review, this portion of the citation would read "50 L. Rev. 123."
The volume number is typically found on the spine or cover of the law review and is usually a consecutive number indicating the journal's publication year or edition. It is essential to accurately identify the correct volume, as law reviews are often published annually or multiple times a year. The starting page number refers to the first page of the article within that volume. This information is crucial for pinpointing the exact location of the cited material. For instance, if an article starts on page 456 of volume 25, the citation would include "25 L. Rev. 456."
In Bluebook citations, the volume and page numbers are separated by a space, with no punctuation between them. This format ensures clarity and consistency across legal citations. For example, "32 J. Legal Stud. 567" is a correctly formatted citation, where "32" is the volume number and "567" is the starting page. This simplicity in presentation aligns with the Bluebook's goal of creating concise and uniform legal references.
It is worth noting that the "Volume & Page" element follows the title of the law review in the citation. The standard format is: *Title of Law Review* Volume Page. For instance, if citing an article from the *Harvard Law Review*, the citation might appear as "Harvard L. Rev. 102 876," where "102" is the volume and "876" is the starting page. This structure ensures that the citation is both informative and easy to follow.
Finally, when dealing with articles that span multiple pages, only the starting page number is included in this section of the citation. The full page range will be addressed in the "Pages" element of the citation, which follows the "Volume & Page" section. For example, if an article runs from page 234 to 256, the citation would first include the volume and starting page, such as "48 Yale L.J. 234," and then specify the full page range in the subsequent part of the citation. This approach adheres to Bluebook rules and maintains the citation's precision and readability.
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Publication Year: Place in parentheses after volume and page numbers
When citing a law review article using the Bluebook, the publication year is a crucial element that must be included in the citation. According to Bluebook Rule 15, which governs the citation of periodicals, the publication year should be placed in parentheses immediately after the volume number and page numbers. This format ensures clarity and consistency in legal citations. For example, if you are citing an article from the Harvard Law Review, the basic structure would be: *Volume Number* *Law Review Abbreviation* *Page Number* (*Publication Year*). The parentheses around the publication year distinguish it from the other components of the citation, making it easily identifiable.
The placement of the publication year in parentheses after the volume and page numbers is a standard convention in Bluebook citations. This rule applies regardless of the specific law review being cited. For instance, if citing an article from the Yale Law Journal, the format remains consistent: *Volume Number* *Law Review Abbreviation* *Page Number* (*Publication Year*). This uniformity helps legal researchers quickly locate the cited material, as the publication year is a key piece of information for identifying the correct issue of the law review. It also aligns with the Bluebook's emphasis on precision and uniformity in legal writing.
It is important to note that the publication year should always be included, even if the law review article is accessed through an online database or platform. For example, if you are citing an article from the Columbia Law Review using an online database like Westlaw or LexisNexis, the publication year still follows the volume and page numbers in parentheses. This ensures that the citation remains accurate and adheres to Bluebook standards, regardless of the medium through which the article was accessed. Omitting the publication year or placing it incorrectly can lead to confusion and undermine the credibility of the citation.
In cases where a law review article spans multiple pages, the publication year remains in its designated position after the final page number. For example, if an article appears on pages 1001 to 1050 of a law review, the citation would be: *Volume Number* *Law Review Abbreviation* 1001–50 (*Publication Year*). The use of parentheses around the publication year maintains the citation's integrity and ensures that it complies with Bluebook Rule 15. This consistency is particularly important in lengthy or complex citations, where clarity is essential for effective legal research.
Finally, while the Bluebook provides specific guidelines for citing law review articles, it is always advisable to consult the most recent edition of the Bluebook for any updates or revisions. The placement of the publication year in parentheses after the volume and page numbers is a well-established rule, but legal citation practices can evolve over time. By adhering to this rule, legal writers and researchers contribute to the standardization and professionalism of legal scholarship. Properly citing law review articles not only demonstrates attention to detail but also facilitates access to the cited materials for readers and future researchers.
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Frequently asked questions
The basic format for citing a law review article in Bluebook style is: Author’s Full Name, Title of Article, Volume Number Abbreviated Journal Title First Page (Year).
Use the official Bluebook abbreviation for the law review title, found in Table T.1 of the Bluebook. For example, "Harvard Law Review" becomes "Harv. L. Rev."
No, the author’s credentials (e.g., J.D., Ph.D.) are generally omitted in Bluebook citations for law review articles.
The volume number is typically found on the spine or cover of the journal, and the page number is the first page of the article. Both are essential for a complete Bluebook citation.
