Gavin Howe
Vancouver referencing is a citation style used widely in the scientific and medical fields, but it can also be used for legal materials. The Vancouver system was created in 1978 to standardise and clarify formatting, and there are many variations within the style. When referencing case law, the case name is the abbreviated title or style of cause of a decision, including the full names of the parties and their roles in the proceeding. Generally, you will use the case name provided by print law reporters, but if this is not provided, there are guidelines to follow. The reference should include the name of the case, the year or volume number, the abbreviated name of the report series, and the page on which the report of the case begins.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Case name | Abbreviated title or style of cause |
| Case name format | Italics or underlined if unable to italicise |
| Year | In brackets (2012) or square brackets [2012] |
| Pinpoint page number | Commencing page number separated by a comma |
| Name of the court | Only when it is not obvious from the citation |
| Format for reported cases | Case Name (Year) Volume Law Report Abbreviation Page, Pinpoint (Court) |
| Case number | Number of the first page of the case |
| Neutral citation | Court-assigned, based on year, court (abbreviated), and number |
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What You'll Learn
Case name style
The Vancouver referencing style for case law typically involves providing the case name, year of publication, court code, and case number. Here is a detailed breakdown of each component:
The case name is derived from the style of cause, which includes the full names of the parties involved and their roles in the legal proceedings. For example, in the case name "Karen King v. George Low and Barbara Jean Low", Karen King is the appellant, while George Low and Barbara Jean Low are the respondents. The case name should be abbreviated and presented as a concise way to refer to the case.
When citing the case name, use the common geographical name and omit references to the Crown or Her Majesty the Queen. For instance, use "R v Seifi" instead of "Between Her Majesty the Queen and Ex-Private S. Seifi, Accused". The "R" stands for Rex (The King) or Regina (The Queen).
Additionally, if the same case is reported under different names in various law reports or is given different names at different stages, use the case name provided in the reporter you are citing. If you are citing multiple reporters, introduce the case using the phrase "sub nom" (short for sub nomine, meaning 'under the name').
It is important to note that the case name should be italicised or underlined if italics are not possible. For example, *McLean v Pilon* (1978) or _McLean v Pilon_ (1978).
Year of Publication
The year the case was published should be included in brackets, following the case name. For example, McLean v Pilon (1978). If the year is essential for locating the correct volume, square brackets can be used instead, such as McLean v Pilon [1978].
Court Code and Case Number
Include the abbreviation for the court where the case was heard. For example, "SCC" for the Supreme Court of Canada. Additionally, provide the case number, which represents the sequential order of the case within that court for that year. For instance, "CCH Canadian Ltd v Law Society of Upper Canada, 2004 SCC 13".
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Case name format
The Vancouver referencing style for case law typically follows the guidelines outlined in The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation. The case name is the abbreviated title or style of cause of a decision. The case name is derived from the style of cause, which includes the full names of the parties and their roles in the proceeding.
Case names should be written in italics or underlined if unable to italicise. For example, in the case of *Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Company*, the case name is written in italics. The year of publication should be included in brackets, e.g. *(1893)*. If the year is essential for locating the correct volume, square brackets can be used, e.g. [*2012*].
It is important to use the common geographical name and omit references to the Crown, such as "Her Majesty the Queen". For example, use "R v Seifi" instead of "Between Her Majesty the Queen and Ex-Private S. Seifi, Accused". The abbreviation "R" stands for "Rex" (The King) or "Regina" (The Queen).
When citing a case, provide references to two sources if there are two available. If there is only one source or more than two sources, provide references to those sources unless instructed otherwise. For example, a citation for a civil case on QuickLaw would be structured as follows: CCH Canadian Ltd v Law Society of Upper Canada, [*2004*] SCJ No 12 (QL).
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Case name sources
When referencing case law in Vancouver style, the case name is derived from the style of cause, which includes the full names of the parties and their roles in the proceeding. The case name provides a concise way of referring to a case and can be abbreviated.
For example, the case name "R v Seifi" is derived from "Between Her Majesty the Queen and Ex-Private S. Seifi, Accused". Similarly, "R v McLean" is derived from "William McLean Appellant and His Majesty the King Respondent". The "R" stands for Rex (The King) or Regina (The Queen).
When citing a case, use the case name provided by print law reporters. If a case name is not provided, follow the Case Naming Guidelines. These guidelines were adopted by the Canadian Judicial Council on May 7, 2009, and apply to all reported cases and all cases found online since 2009.
If the same case is reported under different names in different law reports or is given a different name at different stages, use the case name given in the reporter being cited. If both reporters are being cited, introduce the case using the phrase "sub nom." For example, "Brantford (City) v Montour, 2013 ONCA 560, 367 DLR (4th) 200, (sub nom Detlor v Brantford (City)) 310 OAC 360".
In Vancouver style, case names are italicised or underlined if unable to be italicised. For example, "McLean v Pilon (1978), 7 BCLR 99 at 102, 1978 CanLII 237 (SC)". The case name should be followed by the year in brackets, e.g. "(2012)", unless the year is essential for locating the correct volume, in which case square brackets are used, e.g. "[2012]".
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Case pinpoint reference
When referencing case law in Vancouver style, the case name should be in italics or underlined if unable to italicise. The year should be in brackets, e.g. (2012), for reports with sequential volume numbers. If the year is essential for locating the correct volume, use square brackets, e.g. [2012].
The pinpoint reference should come after the official reporter, and include the page number, separated from the commencing page number by a comma. This is only necessary when referring to a specific statement in the judgement. For example:
> McLean v Pilon (1978), 7 BCLR 99 at 102, 1978 CanLII 237 (SC)
This case begins on page 99 of volume 7 of the British Columbia Law Reports, and the pinpoint reference directs the reader to page 102.
If you are quoting directly from the case, include the page reference at the end of the endnote. For example:
> Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Company, 1893. 1 Q.B. 256 at 259
Here, the case name is followed by the year, court code, and case number, with the pinpoint reference directing the reader to page 259.
It is important to note that the page reference of the quotation is not included in the bibliography.
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Case law citation guides
The Vancouver referencing style for case law typically follows the guidelines outlined in The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation. Here are some key instructions to follow when citing case law in the Vancouver style:
Case Name
The case name is the abbreviated title or style of cause of a court decision. It includes the full names of the parties involved and their roles in the proceeding. Use the case name provided by print law reporters. If a case name is not provided, consult the Case Naming Guidelines for further instruction.
Year
Provide the year of the case decision in brackets, e.g. (2012), for reports with sequential volume numbers. If the year is essential for locating the correct volume, use square brackets, e.g. [2012].
Court and Jurisdiction
Include the name of the court, especially if it is not obvious from the citation. Abbreviate the court name, such as "SCC" for the Supreme Court of Canada. Additionally, provide the jurisdiction abbreviation, such as "CanLII" for Canadian cases.
Volume and Page Number
Provide the volume number and pinpoint page number of the case within the relevant law report. For example, "7 BCLR 99 at 102" indicates that the case starts on page 99 and the reference is directing the reader to page 102.
Neutral Citation
Use a neutral citation if available and do not create your own. The court assigns the neutral citation based on the year, the court (abbreviated), and a number. The format may vary for cases decided before neutral citations were introduced (pre-2000 for most courts).
Multiple Sources
Generally, provide references to two sources if available. If instructed or necessary, provide references to a single source or more than two sources. Consider your audience and choose sources that your readers will be able to access easily.
Online Database Identifier
Include the online database identifier, such as "CanLII" or "Quicklaw (QL)". This is particularly helpful for readers outside of the database's primary region.
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Frequently asked questions
Vancouver referencing is an author-number citation style widely used in the scientific and medical fields. It was created in 1978 to standardise and clarify formatting. Each reference is assigned a number, which is used each time the reference is cited in the text.
The Vancouver style for case law is: Case Name (Year) Volume Law Report Abbreviation Page, Pinpoint (Court). The case name should be in italics or underlined if unable to italicise. The year is placed in brackets, e.g. (2012). If the year is essential for locating the correct volume, use square brackets, e.g. [2012].
If a case name is not provided, you can create one using the Guidelines adopted by the Canadian Judicial Council on 7 May 2009. The case name is derived from the style of cause, which includes the full names of the parties and their roles in the proceeding.
