Anaya Nolan
Citing a law case using the Harvard style involves several key components. Firstly, the names of the parties involved in the case are italicized, followed by the date of the case in brackets. If there is no volume number, the date is placed in square brackets; otherwise, it is in round brackets. The volume number, if applicable, is then provided, followed by the abbreviation for the name of the report and the first page of the report. Additionally, the court's name and case number are included, along with the database or website where the case can be accessed. For cases with neutral citations, the reference list format differs slightly, emphasizing the case name, year, court, and case number. In-text citations for Harvard-style law case references may include the judgment or a direct quote, with slight variations depending on the specific format required.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of parties involved in the case | In italics |
| Date | In square brackets if no volume number, in round brackets if there is a volume number |
| Volume Number | If used, followed by an abbreviation for the name of the report and first page of the report |
| Case number | Include in your reference list |
| Name of court | Include in your reference list |
| Database or website | Include in your reference list |
| URL | Include in your reference list |
| Date accessed | Include in your reference list |
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What You'll Learn
Case name and number
The case name and number are essential components of a Harvard-style citation for a law case. Here is some information on how to format them correctly.
The case name, also known as the case title, should be written in italics. It usually follows the format of 'Name of Party v. Name of Party', with the party bringing the case listed first, followed by the party defending it. For example, in the case name "Smith v. Health Services Executive", Smith is the party bringing the case, and Health Services Executive is the defending party.
The year the case was decided is placed in parentheses after the case name. For example: 'Smith v. Health Services Executive (2013)'.
If the case has a neutral citation, which is common for cases from 2001 onwards, you should include the abbreviation for the relevant court, followed by a case number. For example, 'UKSC 41' indicates that the case is the 41st case heard by the UK Supreme Court. The neutral citation is placed after the year, as shown in this example: 'Cherry and Others v. Advocate General for Scotland (2019) UKSC 41'.
For older cases without a neutral citation, you may need to include additional information such as the title of the law report, volume number, and page numbers. This information may be presented in different ways depending on the specific style guide you are following. Here is an example: 'Bibby Cheshire v. Golden Wonder Ltd (1972) 123 LQR 456'.
In some cases, you may also need to include an ECLI number after the case number. This is a unique identifier for cases within the European Union. For example: 'Paola Faccini Dori v Recreb Srl. (1994) Case no. C-91/92; ECLI:EU:C:1994:292'.
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Court and date
When citing a law case in Harvard style, the format for the court and date will vary depending on whether the case has a neutral citation.
Cases with a Neutral Citation
Cases from around 2001 onwards will have a neutral citation. This enables people to find cases online more easily. Each neutral citation includes an abbreviation for the relevant court and a number. For example, 'UKSC' is the abbreviation for the Supreme Court.
For cases with a neutral citation, the format for the court and date is as follows:
- Name of case (year) court, case number.
- Database or website [Online]. Available at: URL (Accessed: date).
> 'R (on the application of Newby Foods Ltd) v. Food Standards Agency' (2017) Court of Appeal, Civil Division, case 431. Westlaw [Online]. Available at: https://legalresearch.westlaw.co.uk (Accessed: 24 August 2018).
Cases without a Neutral Citation
For cases without a neutral citation, which tend to be older cases that pre-date 2001, the format for the court and date is as follows:
- Name of case (year) title of law report, volume number, page numbers.
- Database or website [Online]. Available at: URL (Accessed: date).
> 'Bibby Cheshire v. Golden Wonder Ltd' (1972) The Law Reports, vol. 1, pp. 123-124. Westlaw [Online]. Available at: https://example.com (Accessed: 1 January 2022).
It is important to note that the specific format may vary depending on the style guide or institution, so it is always best to check the guidelines or examples provided by your university or organisation.
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Volume and page numbers
When citing a law case in Harvard style, the volume and page numbers are essential components of the reference. Here's a detailed guide on how to include them:
The volume number typically comes after the year and title of the law report. For example:
> 'Donoghue v. Stevenson' (1932) Session cases, House of Lords, vol. 31–73.
Note that "vol." or "volume" can be used to indicate the volume number. If the case has a neutral citation, the volume number may not be necessary, as these citations make it easier to find cases online.
The page numbers refer to the specific pages of the law report where the case can be found. For example:
> 'Donoghue v. Stevenson' (1932) Session cases, House of Lords, pp. 64, 31–73.
Here, the specific page number "64" is listed first, followed by the full range of page numbers (31–73) that the case spans. If you are directly quoting or referring to a specific page within the case, include that page number in your in-text citation. For example:
> In the judgment in 'Donoghue v. Stevenson' (1932, p. 64), it is stated that...
This format ensures that readers can easily locate the specific part of the case you are referencing.
In summary, the volume and page numbers are crucial elements in Harvard-style citations for law cases. They provide precise information about where the case can be found within a law report or publication, facilitating easy reference and verification by readers.
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Neutral citations
If a case has a neutral citation, Cite Them Right says that you should include the following in your reference list:
> 'Name of the case' (year) court, case number. Database or website [Online]. Available at: URL (Accessed: date).
For example:
> 'R (on the application of Newby Foods Ltd) v. Food Standards Agency' (2017) Court of Appeal, Civil Division, case 431. Westlaw [Online]. Available at: https://legalresearch.westlaw.co.uk (Accessed: 24 August 2018).
Note that cases without a neutral citation tend to be cases which pre-date the year 2001. In your reference, you need to include the name of the case, the year, the title of the law report, and the page numbers. For example:
> 'Bibby Cheshire v. Golden Wonder Ltd' (1972) ...
It is important to include both the neutral citation and the law report details in your reference if the case is important and the details and commentary are published in a law report.
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In-text citation
When citing a law case using the Harvard referencing style, the in-text citation typically includes the name of the case, the year, and sometimes additional information such as the page number or a direct quote. Here are some detailed examples of in-text citations for law cases in Harvard style:
Citing a Case with a Neutral Citation:
If a case has a neutral citation, the in-text citation includes the names of both parties involved in the case, followed by the year in parentheses. For example:
> A recent case ('R (on the application of Newby Foods Ltd) v. Food Standards Agency', 2017) states that...
In this example, 'R (on the application of Newby Foods Ltd) v. Food Standards Agency' is the name of the case, with 'R (on the application of Newby Foods Ltd)' representing the first party and 'Food Standards Agency' representing the second party. The year of the case is 2017, which is placed in parentheses after the case name.
Citing a Case without a Neutral Citation:
For older cases without a neutral citation, typically those from before 2001, the in-text citation structure varies slightly. Here's an example:
> It was decided in the case of 'Bibby Cheshire v. Golden Wonder Ltd' (1972) that...
In this example, 'Bibby Cheshire v. Golden Wonder Ltd' is the name of the case, and 1972 is the year, placed in parentheses after the case name.
Citing a Case with a Pinpoint Citation:
When citing a specific part of a case, you can include a pinpoint citation to direct readers to the relevant page or paragraph. Here's an example:
> The judgment in 'Donoghue v. Stevenson' (1932, p. 64) provides insight into...
In this example, 'Donoghue v. Stevenson' is the name of the case, 1932 is the year, and 'p. 64' indicates that the cited information can be found on page 64 of the case report.
Citing a Case with a Direct Quote:
When including a direct quote from a case, be sure to include the page number and any relevant paragraph or section information. Here's an example:
> According to the judgment in 'Paola Faccini Dori v Recreb Srl.' (1994, p. 3353), "The court finds that..."
In this example, 'Paola Faccini Dori v Recreb Srl.' is the name of the case, 1994 is the year, and 'p. 3353' indicates the page number where the quote can be found.
It's important to remember that the exact formatting and structure may vary depending on the specific requirements of your institution or publication. Additionally, always refer to the latest guidelines and examples provided by official Harvard referencing sources to ensure your citations are accurate and up-to-date.
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Frequently asked questions
The general format for citing a law case using Harvard style is as follows:
'Name of party v. Name of party' (Year) Name of Court, case number, page number(s).
If your case has a neutral citation, your reference should include the following:
'Name of case' (Year) Court, case number, Database or website. Available at: URL (Accessed: date).
Yes, the name of the case should be italicised.
