Website
Website example
R v Brown [1994] 1 AC 212, https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKHL/1993/19.html (accessed 15 March 2024).
Law citation style
Free OSCOLA Citation Generator
OSCOLA (Oxford Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities) is the standard citation format for legal documents in the UK and is used in UK law schools.
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OSCOLALaw journal article
Jane A Smith and Mark B Doe, 'The Effects of Climate Change on Coastal Ecosystems' (2024) 45(3) J Env Sci 234
Book
Jane A Smith, Coastal Ecosystems in a Changing Climate (2nd edn, Cambridge University Press 2023).
Website
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 'Climate Change Indicators: Sea Surface Temperature' (NOAA Climate.gov, 2024) <https://www.climate.gov/news-features/sea-surface-temperature> accessed 15 April 2024.
In-text
Smith and Doe (n 1) 237.
Sample formatted to the official OSCOLA rules. Your real citation fills in from any URL, DOI, or ISBN.
OSCOLA Citation Examples
See how to format different source types in OSCOLA.
Journal article
Journal article example
John Smith and Mary Doe, 'Legal Research Methods' (2024) 45 Law Quarterly Review 123.
Book
Book example
Charles Brown, Introduction to Law (3rd edn, Oxford University Press 2023).
Quick OSCOLA Rules
Author Format
Last name, First name Middle name. Use 'and' between authors in case names.
Title Format
Case names italicized. Article titles in quotation marks. Book titles italicized.
Date Format
Year in square brackets for cases. Include full date for statutes and regulations.
Journal/Source
Journal name, volume number, journal abbreviation, first page (year).
In-text Citations
Use footnotes for citations. Short form citations use 'ibid' for the immediately preceding citation.
OSCOLA Frequently Asked Questions
What is OSCOLA citation style?
OSCOLA (Oxford Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities) is the standard citation format for legal documents in the UK, used in UK law schools and legal practice.
How do I cite a case in OSCOLA?
Include case name italicized, year in square brackets, volume number, law report abbreviation, first page, and court abbreviation.
What are short form citations in OSCOLA?
Short form citations use 'ibid' for the immediately preceding citation, or cross-references with note numbers for earlier citations.
Does OSCOLA require pin cites?
Yes, OSCOLA requires pin cites (specific page numbers) for cases. Use 'at' before the page number in footnotes.