OSCOLA Guidelines

How to Cite in OSCOLA Citation Style

Welcome to our guide on using the Oxford University Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities (OSCOLA) style. This guide is designed to help you accurately and effectively cite various sources in your legal writing. Proper citation is essential for maintaining the credibility of your work and allowing readers to trace the sources you have referenced.

Introduction to OSCOLA

OSCOLA is a widely used citation style in legal writing, particularly in the UK and other common law jurisdictions. It provides a clear and consistent method for citing legal materials, including case law, legislation, books, journal articles, and online sources. The style is characterised by the use of footnotes for citations and a minimal use of punctuation to keep references concise.

General Principles

  1. Footnotes: Place citations in footnotes, ensuring they appear at the end of the sentence, following the punctuation mark.
  2. First Citation: Provide the full citation when a source is first mentioned.
  3. Subsequent Citations: Use a shortened form or "ibid" for subsequent citations of the same source.
  4. Quotation Marks:
    • Short Quotations: Use single quotation marks for quotes up to three lines and place the citation in a footnote.
    • Long Quotations: For quotes longer than three lines, use block formatting without quotation marks, indenting the text.

 

Practical Tips for Using OSCOLA

  • Consistency: Ensure consistent formatting throughout your document. Inconsistent citations can confuse readers and reduce the credibility of your work.
  • Ibid and Cross-Referencing: Use "ibid" for consecutive references to the same source. For non-consecutive references, use a shortened form with cross-referencing to the original citation.
  • Avoid Over-Citation: Only cite what is necessary to support your argument. Excessive citations can overwhelm the reader.

Examples:

Deckha (n 6) 121
^7 ibid 126.

 

Citing Different Types of Sources

1. Books

Include the author’s name, the book's title in italics, the edition if applicable, the publisher, the year of publication, and the specific page cited.

Example:

David Favre, Animal Law: Welfare, Interests, and Rights (2nd edn, Wolters Kluwer 2011) 120.

Subsequent Citation:

Favre (n 3) 123.

2. Journal Articles

Include the author’s name, the title of the article in single quotation marks, the year of publication in brackets, the volume number, issue number (if applicable), and the journal name in italics, followed by the article's first page.

Example:

Saskia Stucki, 'Towards a Theory of Legal Animal Rights: Simple and Fundamental Rights' (2020) 40(3) Oxford Journal of Legal Studies 533

Subsequent Citation:

Stucki (n 1) 540

3. Case Law

For UK cases, include the case name in italics, followed by the year in square or round brackets, the volume number (if applicable), the law report abbreviation, and the first page of the report.

Example:

Paterson v RSPCA [2012] EWCA Civ 278.
 

4. Legislation

Include the name of the legislation, followed by the year and, if necessary, the section number.

Example:

Animal Welfare Act 2006, s 4(1).

Subsequent Citation:

Animal Welfare Act 2006, s 4(1).

5. Edited Books

When citing a chapter from an edited book, include the author of the chapter, the chapter title in single quotation marks, the editor’s name, the title of the book in italics, the edition (if applicable), the publisher, year of publication, and the page number of the chapter.

Example:

Sue Donaldson and Will Kymlicka, 'Social Solidarity with Animals: The Case of Domesticated Animals' in Alasdair Cochrane and Mara-Daria Cojocaru (eds), Solidarity with Animals: Promises, Pitfalls, and Potential (OUP 2024) 17.

Subsequent Citation: 

Donaldson and Kymlicka (n 7) 32.

6. Online Sources

For websites and online documents, include the author’s name (if available), the title of the webpage in single quotation marks, the website name in italics, the date of publication or last update, the URL in angle brackets, and the date you accessed the source.

Example: 

Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, 'Home' (Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, no date) <https://www.oxfordanimalethics.com/home/> accessed 30 August 2024.

Subsequent Citation:

Oxford Centre for Animals Ethics (n 8).

7. International Treaties

Include the name of the treaty in italics, the date it was opened for signature, and the citation to where it can be found (e.g., UNTS or another official source).

Example:

European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes (adopted 10 March 1976, entered into force 10 September 1978) ETS 87.

Subsequent Citation:

European Convention for the Protection of Animals (n 10).

8. Citing International Sources

When citing international legal materials, such as UN documents, international court decisions, or treaties, be sure to include the appropriate details, such as the document number, the court or tribunal name, the date, and where the source can be found.

a. UN Documents

Example:

UN General Assembly, 'The human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment' (28 July 2022) UN Doc A/RES/76/300.

Subsequent Citation:

UNGA Res A/RES/76/300 (n 5).

b. International Court Cases

When citing international court cases, include the case name in italics, the year of the decision in brackets, the report series (if applicable), the court name, and the first page of the report or decision. For unpublished cases, include the court name, case number, and full date of the decision.

Examples:

1. International Court of Justice (ICJ):

Gabcikovo-Nagymaros Project (Hungary/Slovakia) [1997] ICJ Rep 7.

2. Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR):

Advisory Opinion OC-23/17 (IACHR, 15 November 2017) para 48.

3. African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights (AfCHPR):

African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights v Kenya (Ogiek case) App No 006/2012 (AfCHPR, 26 May 2017).

4. Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ):

Myrie v State of Barbados [2013] CCJ 3 (OJ) para 72.

Subsequent Citations:

  1. Gabcikovo-Nagymaros Project (n 14).
  2. Advisory Opinion OC-23/17 (n 15).
  3. Ogiek case (n 16).
  4. Myrie (n 17).

c. International Treaties

When citing international treaties, include the treaty title in italics, the date it was opened for signature, the date it entered into force (if relevant), and the source where it can be found (e.g., UNTS, ETS, etc.).

Examples:

1. Convention on Biological Diversity:

Convention on Biological Diversity (adopted 5 June 1992, entered into force 29 December 1993) 1760 UNTS 79.

2. African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights:

African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (adopted 27 June 1981, entered into force 21 October 1986) 1520 UNTS 217.

3. CITES:

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (adopted 3 March 1973, entered into force 1 July 1975) 993 UNTS 243.

Subsequent Citations:

Convention on Biological Diversity (n 16).

African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (n 19).

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (n 32).

d. Foreign Legislation 

When citing foreign legislation, include the name of the legislation in the original language, the year, and any specific article or section. If the title is not in English, provide a translation in parentheses.

Examples:

1. France:

Code civil [Civil Code] art 515-14 (France).

2. Brazil: 

Lei No 9.605, de 12 de Fevereiro de 1998 [Environmental Crimes Law] art 32 (Brazil).

3. India:

The Wildlife Protection Act 1972, s 2 (India).

4. South Africa:

National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 2004, s 24 (South Africa).

Subsequent Citations:

Code civil, art 515-14.

Environmental Crimes Law, art 32.

The Wildlife Protection Act 1972, s 2.

National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 2004, s 24.

e. Foreign Case Law

When citing foreign case law, include the case name in italics, the court name (if not evident from the report series), the year, the volume number (if applicable), the report series abbreviation, and the first page of the report.

Examples:

1. Ecuador:

"Estrellita Monkey" case (Rights of Nature and animals as subjects of rights) (2022) Case No. 253-20-JH/22 (Constitutional Court of Ecuador).

2. India: 

Animal Welfare Board of India v A Nagaraja (2014) 7 SCC 547.

Subsequent Citations:

"Estrellita Monkey" case (n 14).

Animal Welfare Board of India v A Nagaraja (n 9).

f. Working Papers

When citing working papers, include the author’s name, the title of the paper in single quotation marks followed by ‘working paper’, the name of the institution or series, and the year. If available online, include the URL and the date accessed.

Example:

Marine Lercier, 'Animal Labour: A Social Justice Issue for the 21st Century' Working Paper (Global Research Network 2021) <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370466188_Lercier_Marine_2021_Animal_Labour_A_Social_Justice_Issue_for_the_21st_Century_Working_Paper_Global_Research_Network> accessed 30 August 2024.

Subsequent Citation:

Lercier (n 4).

g. Reports

For reports published by organisations or governmental bodies, include the authoring organisation, the title of the report in italics, the report number (if applicable), the year, and any relevant page numbers.

Examples:

1. FAO:

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Livestock: Transforming the Livestock Sector through the Sustainable Development Goals (2018) 15.

2. UNEP:

United Nations Environment Programme, Global Environment Outlook 6 (UNEP 2019) 112.

Subsequent Citations:

FAO (n 46).

UNEP (n 1).

h. Parliamentary Debates

When citing parliamentary debates, include the title of the debate, the volume number, the abbreviation ‘HC Deb’ (for House of Commons) or ‘HL Deb’ (for House of Lords), the date, and the column number.

Example:

HC Deb 12 January 2023, vol 668, col 123.

Subsequent Citation:

HC Deb (n 26) col 125.

i. Translated Works

When citing a translated work, include the original author’s name, the title in italics, the translator’s name in parentheses, the publisher, the year of translation, and any relevant page numbers.

Example:

Steven M Wise, Sacudiendo la Jaula: Perspectivas sobre los Derechos de los Animales (Carlos Andrés Contreras López tr, Tirant lo Blanch 2018) 55.

Subsequent Citation:

Wise (n 27) 28.

 
j. Archival Materials
 
For archival materials, include the title or description of the document, the date, the name of the archive, the collection name, and the file or item number.
 
Example:
 
Home Office: Cruelty to Animals Committee: Registered Files (1965), The National Archives (UK), HO 347/10.

Subsequent Citation: 

Home Office: Cruelty to Animals Committee (n 7).

 

General Tips for Citing International and Foreign Sources

  • Language: If the source is not in English, provide the title in the original language followed by an English translation in square brackets if necessary.
  • Jurisdiction: Always clarify the jurisdiction when citing foreign case law or legislation to avoid confusion.
  • Access Dates: For online sources, always include the date you accessed the material to ensure that readers know when the source was last confirmed.

    Further Resources

    • OSCOLA Manual: For more detailed guidance, refer to the full OSCOLA manual, which is available here.
    • Citation Tools: Consider using citation management tools like Zotero or EndNote, which support OSCOLA style, to help manage your references.


    Final Checklist

    Before submitting your work:

    • Check all footnotes for accuracy and consistency.
    • Ensure that all cited sources are listed in your bibliography (if required).
    • Verify that all URLs are correct and accessible.

    If you have any questions or need further assistance with OSCOLA citations, don’t hesitate to contact our editorial team. Proper citation is crucial to maintaining the integrity of your work and upholding academic standards in legal scholarship.


    Happy writing!