Keith Mack
Citing a law review article is a crucial skill for legal scholars, practitioners, and students, as it ensures proper attribution and credibility in legal research and writing. Law reviews, published by law schools, contain in-depth analyses, commentary, and critiques of legal issues, making them valuable resources in legal discourse. To cite a law review correctly, one must follow specific formatting guidelines, typically outlined in citation manuals such as *The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation* or the *ALWD Citation Manual*. These guidelines dictate the structure of the citation, including the author’s name, article title, volume and page numbers, law review title, and publication year. Accurate citation not only avoids plagiarism but also facilitates access to the original source for readers, thereby upholding the integrity of legal scholarship. Understanding how to properly cite a law review is essential for anyone engaged in legal writing, as it reflects professionalism and adherence to academic standards.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Citation Style | Typically follows Bluebook or ALWD (Association of Legal Writing Directors) style. |
| Author Name | Full name of the author(s) in normal order (first name followed by last name). |
| Article Title | Title of the law review article, capitalized using title case. |
| Law Review Name | Full name of the law review, italicized or underlined. |
| Volume Number | Volume number of the law review, in bold or italicized. |
| Page Number | Starting page number of the article, followed by a pinpoint if necessary. |
| Publication Year | Year the law review was published, in parentheses. |
| Pinpoint Citation | Specific page number(s) within the article for direct reference. |
| Electronic Resource Indicator | "Available at" or "Retrieved from" followed by the URL or database name. |
| DOI (Digital Object Identifier) | If available, include the DOI for permanent access to the article. |
| Footnote/Text Citation | Citations are placed in footnotes or in-text, depending on the style guide. |
| Abbreviations | Use standard abbreviations for law review titles as per Bluebook rules. |
| Parallel Citations | Include additional citations (e.g., to a database or secondary source). |
| Access Date | Required for online sources, formatted as "Retrieved Month Day, Year." |
| Example Format | Author Last Name, First Name. "Article Title." *Law Review Name* **Vol. No.** Page No. (Year). |
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What You'll Learn
- Understanding Bluebook Basics: Learn the fundamental rules and structure of Bluebook citation format
- Citing Court Cases: Master proper citation of court decisions in law reviews
- Statutory Citations: Accurately cite statutes, codes, and legislative materials
- Journal Article Citations: Format citations for law review and academic journal articles
- Online Source Citations: Correctly cite electronic resources, databases, and web materials
Understanding Bluebook Basics: Learn the fundamental rules and structure of Bluebook citation format
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation is the go-to style guide for legal citations in the United States. It is essential for law students, lawyers, and legal scholars to understand its fundamentals when citing law reviews and other legal sources. The Bluebook provides a comprehensive set of rules to ensure consistency and accuracy in legal writing. When citing a law review article, the basic structure follows a specific pattern: author, title of the article, volume number, journal title, page number, and year. This format may seem straightforward, but the Bluebook's attention to detail requires careful consideration of each element.
Author Information: Begin the citation with the author's name, following the order of 'last name, first name' format. If there are multiple authors, list them in the order they appear on the article, separated by commas. For example: 'Smith, John, and Jane Doe.' The Bluebook also provides guidelines for handling author suffixes, such as 'Jr.' or 'III,' which should be included after the author's name.
Article Title and Journal Information: After the author, include the title of the law review article, followed by the volume number of the journal in italics. Then, provide the full name of the law review or journal, also in italics. For instance: '*Yale Law Journal*'. The page number(s) of the article should be included next, followed by the publication year in parentheses. Here's an example: '*The Evolution of Legal Theory*, 123 *Yale L.J.* 456 (2023)'.
Volume and Page Numbers: Volume numbers are crucial in legal citations as they help locate the exact source. The Bluebook instructs that volume numbers should be italicized and followed by the journal title. Page numbers indicate the specific pages where the article can be found within the journal. It is important to pinpoint the exact pages to facilitate easy reference.
Additional Rules: The Bluebook offers extensive guidelines for various citation scenarios. For instance, if you are citing an article that is not yet published, you would include the phrase 'forthcoming' instead of the volume and page numbers. It also provides rules for citing articles with special characters in titles, multiple authors, and articles with no author, ensuring that every possible citation scenario is covered. Understanding these basics is the first step toward mastering legal citation, a critical skill for anyone engaged in legal research and writing.
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Citing Court Cases: Master proper citation of court decisions in law reviews
Citing court cases in law reviews requires precision and adherence to established legal citation formats, typically following the *Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation*. Proper citation ensures clarity, accuracy, and professionalism in legal writing. When citing a court decision, the primary elements include the case name, volume number, reporter abbreviation, page number, court name (if necessary), and year. For example, a basic citation for a U.S. Supreme Court case would appear as *Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954)*. This format provides readers with the essential information to locate the case efficiently.
The case name is always italicized and follows the format of *Plaintiff v. Defendant*. If the case name is well-known, you may use a shortened version, such as *Brown v. Board of Education* instead of the full party names. The volume number and reporter abbreviation follow the case name, separated by a space. For instance, "347 U.S." indicates the 347th volume of the United States Reports. The page number, preceded by a comma and a space, directs the reader to the specific page where the case begins. The court name is omitted for the U.S. Supreme Court but is included for other courts, such as *Smith v. Johnson, 456 F.3d 123, 127 (1st Cir. 2006)*.
When citing cases from lower courts or regional reporters, the citation format remains similar but includes additional details. For example, a state supreme court case might be cited as *Doe v. Roe, 123 Cal. Rptr. 3d 456 (Cal. 2010)*. Here, "Cal. Rptr. 3d" denotes the California Reporter, Third Series. If the case is unpublished or available only through an electronic database, the citation should reflect this. For instance, an unpublished federal district court decision might be cited as *Jones v. Williams, No. 1:18-cv-00123 (N.D. Ill. 2019)*, with "No." indicating the case number and "N.D. Ill." specifying the Northern District of Illinois.
Parallel citations, which provide multiple sources for the same case, are often included to assist readers. For example, a citation might appear as *Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335, 83 S. Ct. 792, 9 L. Ed. 2d 799 (1963)*. Here, "83 S. Ct. 792" and "9 L. Ed. 2d 799" are parallel citations to the Supreme Court Reporter and the United States Reports, respectively. However, in law reviews, it is generally sufficient to include only the most authoritative reporter, typically the official reporter for the jurisdiction.
Finally, pinpoint citations are used to direct the reader to a specific page or section within a case. These are placed after the main citation, separated by a comma and "at," followed by the page or paragraph number. For example, *Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483, 495 (1954)*, directs the reader to page 495 of the opinion. If citing to a specific paragraph in an electronic source, use the paragraph symbol (¶) followed by the paragraph number, such as *Smith v. Johnson, 456 F.3d 123, ¶ 15 (1st Cir. 2006)*. Mastering these citation rules ensures that your law review article meets the high standards of legal scholarship and facilitates accurate legal research.
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Statutory Citations: Accurately cite statutes, codes, and legislative materials
Accurately citing statutes, codes, and legislative materials is a critical skill for legal writing, including law review articles. These citations provide the foundation for legal arguments and ensure that readers can locate the referenced authority with ease. When citing statutes, the primary goal is to include sufficient information to identify the specific law, its jurisdiction, and its location within the statutory code. The format for statutory citations generally follows the *Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation*, which is the standard in U.S. legal writing. Begin by identifying the official name of the statute or code, followed by the title, section, and subsection numbers. For example, a citation to the U.S. Code might appear as "42 U.S.C. § 1983 (2018)," where "42 U.S.C." denotes the United States Code, "§ 1983" specifies the section, and "(2018)" indicates the year of the edition used.
When citing state statutes, the process is similar but requires additional attention to the specific state code. For instance, a citation to the California Penal Code would be formatted as "Cal. Penal Code § 187 (West 2020)." Here, "Cal." identifies the state, "Penal Code" specifies the code, "§ 187" denotes the section, and "(West 2020)" indicates the publisher and year of the edition. It is essential to use the official abbreviation for the state and code, as provided in *Table 1* of the *Bluebook*. If the statute has been amended or updated, include the year of the amendment in parentheses after the section number to ensure accuracy. For example, "Cal. Penal Code § 187 (2020)" clarifies that the version of the statute being cited is from 2020.
Legislative materials, such as bills, committee reports, and hearing transcripts, require a slightly different citation format. When citing a federal bill, include the bill number, Congress, and session. For example, "H.R. 1234, 117th Cong. (1st Sess. 2021)" refers to House Resolution 1234 from the 117th Congress, 1st Session, introduced in 2021. Committee reports are cited by including the report number, Congress, and page number, such as "S. Rep. No. 10-123, at 10 (1987)." Hearing transcripts are cited by providing the committee name, subcommittee (if applicable), Congress, and page number, for example, "Senate Comm. on the Judiciary, Hearing on S. 1234, 117th Cong. 5 (2021)."
In addition to the basic elements, statutory citations may require supplementary information depending on the context. For instance, if a statute has been repealed or superseded, note this in the citation. Similarly, if the statute is part of a larger act, include the popular name of the act in parentheses after the citation. For example, "42 U.S.C. § 1983 (2018) (part of the Civil Rights Act of 1871)." When citing statutes in a law review article, consistency and precision are key. Always verify the accuracy of the citation using official sources, such as the U.S. Code or state code annotations, and ensure that the format adheres to the *Bluebook* guidelines.
Finally, when citing legislative history materials, such as floor debates or presidential signing statements, provide enough detail to allow readers to locate the source. For floor debates, include the congressional record volume and page number, such as "163 Cong. Rec. S1234 (daily ed. Feb. 14, 2017)." Presidential signing statements are cited by providing the weekly compilation volume and page number, for example, "2 Pub. Papers 1234 (2017)." By following these guidelines, you ensure that your statutory citations are accurate, complete, and compliant with legal citation standards, enhancing the credibility and usability of your law review article.
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Journal Article Citations: Format citations for law review and academic journal articles
Citing law review and academic journal articles is a critical skill for legal scholars, practitioners, and students. Proper citation ensures clarity, credibility, and adherence to academic standards. When formatting citations for law reviews, the Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation is the authoritative guide in the legal field. For journal articles, the format generally includes the author’s name, article title, journal name, volume number, issue number (if applicable), publication year, and page numbers. Precision in each element is essential to avoid ambiguity and ensure readers can locate the source effortlessly.
The basic structure for citing a law review article begins with the author’s full name, followed by the title of the article in sentence case and enclosed in quotation marks. Next, the name of the law review is italicized, followed by the volume number in bold or italics. The publication year appears in parentheses, followed by the first and last page numbers of the article. For example: *John Doe, "The Evolution of Property Rights," 123 Yale L.J. 1234 (2023)*. If the article is accessed online, the citation may include a pinpoint citation to the specific page referenced and a URL or digital object identifier (DOI) for accessibility.
Academic journal citations follow a similar pattern but may vary slightly depending on the citation style (e.g., APA, Chicago, or MLA). However, for legal writing, the Bluebook style is typically preferred. The author’s name is listed first, followed by the article title in quotation marks. The journal name is italicized, and the volume and issue numbers (if applicable) are included, followed by the publication year and page range. For instance: *Jane Smith, "Climate Change and Legal Liability," 45 Envtl. L. Rev. 234 (2022)*. If the journal uses continuous pagination throughout a volume, the issue number is omitted.
In both law review and academic journal citations, consistency and accuracy are paramount. Footnotes or endnotes are commonly used in legal writing to provide citations, with a corresponding bibliography or reference list at the end of the document. When citing multiple works by the same author, a shortened form of the citation may be used after the first full citation, omitting the author’s name and using the Latin term *id.* for identical citations or *supra* for prior citations with a note indicating the new page number.
Finally, special attention should be paid to variations in citation formats, such as articles with multiple authors, articles without volume or page numbers, or articles published in special issues. For example, if an article has two authors, both names are included in the citation, separated by an ampersand. If an article lacks traditional pagination, paragraph numbers or section identifiers may be used instead. Always consult the Bluebook or relevant style guide for specific rules and exceptions to ensure compliance with citation standards. Mastery of these formats enhances the professionalism and reliability of legal and academic writing.
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Online Source Citations: Correctly cite electronic resources, databases, and web materials
Citing online sources, including electronic resources, databases, and web materials, requires precision and adherence to established legal citation formats, such as The Bluebook or the ALWD Guide to Legal Citation. When citing a law review article accessed online, begin with the author’s name, followed by the article title in italics, and the volume and page numbers of the print version of the journal. For example: *Jane Doe, The Evolution of Digital Privacy Law, 50 Harv. J.L. & Tech. 1 (2016)*. If the law review does not have a print counterpart, omit the page numbers and include the article’s URL or DOI (Digital Object Identifier) to ensure accessibility. Always verify the stability of the link and use permalinks when available.
For electronic resources accessed through legal databases like Westlaw, LexisNexis, or HeinOnline, include the database name and the date of access, as these platforms frequently update their content. For instance: *John Smith, The Impact of AI on Contract Law, 32 Yale J.L. & Tech. 1 (2020), available at Westlaw (last visited June 1, 2023)*. If the article is only available on a database and not in print, note this explicitly. For example: *Electronic Source Only, available at LexisNexis (last visited June 1, 2023)*. This ensures transparency and allows readers to locate the source accurately.
When citing web materials, such as blog posts, online articles, or government reports, include the author’s name, title of the work in quotation marks, website name in italics, publication date (if available), and the URL. For example: *“The Future of Cybersecurity Law” by Emily Johnson, Cyber Law Insights (May 15, 2023), https://www.cyberlawinsights.com/future-cybersecurity-law*. If the author is unknown, begin with the title. Always test the URL to ensure it directs to the correct page. For government documents, include the issuing agency and document title. For example: *U.S. Department of Justice, “Report on Online Privacy Regulations” (2022), https://www.justice.gov/privacy-report*.
Incorporating parallel citations for online sources is crucial when the material is available in both print and electronic formats. For example: *Sarah Lee, The Role of Blockchain in Intellectual Property, 45 Stan. Tech. L. Rev. 1 (2021), https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.journals/stalr45&div=1*. This practice ensures that readers can locate the source in either format. Additionally, if the online source is part of a larger work, such as a symposium or special issue, include this information to provide context.
Finally, be mindful of jurisdiction-specific citation rules, as some courts or institutions may have unique requirements for online sources. For example, certain courts may require parenthetical notes indicating the nature of the online source, such as *(website)* or *(database)*. Always consult the relevant style guide or court rules to ensure compliance. By following these guidelines, you can accurately and professionally cite electronic resources, databases, and web materials in legal writing, maintaining the integrity and accessibility of your citations.
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Frequently asked questions
A law review is a scholarly journal published by law schools, often edited by law students, that contains articles, essays, and comments on legal topics. Citing a law review is important because it provides authoritative analysis, insights, and citations to primary legal sources, enhancing the credibility of legal arguments.
To cite a law review article in Bluebook format, use the following structure: Author’s Name, Title of Article, Volume Number Abbreviated Law Review Name Page Number (Year). Example: John Doe, The Evolution of Contract Law, 50 Harv. L. Rev. 123 (2020).
Yes, you can cite a law review article even if it’s not directly related to your case, as long as it provides relevant analysis, historical context, or persuasive authority on a legal issue. Ensure the citation is justified and adds value to your argument.
Law review articles can be found in legal databases such as Westlaw, LexisNexis, and HeinOnline. Many law school websites also provide access to their law reviews, and Google Scholar can be a useful starting point for locating relevant articles.
Evaluate the credibility of a law review article by considering the author’s expertise, the reputation of the law review journal, the thoroughness of the research, and the presence of citations to primary legal sources. Articles from well-established law reviews are generally more reliable.
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