In the UK, the main legal referencing system is OSCOLA. With this system, you need to list all sources you’ve cited at the end of your document. Hence, in this post, we look at how to format an OSCOLA bibliography.
Short answer: Yes, but check your style guide for specifics.
Technically, the fourth edition of OSCOLA says that “shorter works, such as articles and essays, generally only require footnotes.” However, most law schools want you to demonstrate your ability to cite sources, so it’s usually best to include a full bibliography.
The basic structure of an OSCOLA bibliography includes three things:
As you might expect, the tables of cases and legislation are where you list case reports and legislative documents cited in your work. The bibliography, meanwhile, is where you should list all other sources.
Cases and legislation are listed in separate tables. If you have many sources, you may want to distinguish between jurisdictions, too (e.g., having separate tables for “UK Cases” and “EU Cases”). Rules for listing sources include:
Some versions of this system include all legal sources under a “Table of Authorities.” If you take this approach, it should be subdivided into separate sections for cases, legislation, and statutory instruments.
An OSCOLA bibliography lists all secondary sources, including books, articles and online resources, alphabetically by author surname. Entries in the bibliography are similar to footnotes, but the format differs slightly:
Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.
As such, if the footnote citation for a book looked like the following:
1. Bill O’Rights, Constitutional Protection (2nd edn, Hodder & Fouslon 1998) 245.
The equivalent entry in the bibliography would be:
O’Rights, B, Constitutional Protection (2nd edn, Hodder & Fouslon 1998)
Sources with no named author, meanwhile, go at the start of the bibliography, with a double em dash (i.e., “——”) in place of the author’s name.
It’s good to keep a working bibliography as you write, adding an entry each time you cite something new. This will ensure you don’t miss any sources.
While OSCOLA is used in the UK, it is not the standard referencing system in the USA. Thus, if you’re writing about US law, you may need to use Bluebook or ALWD referencing. And if you need anyone to check the referencing in a document, try our proofreading today.
Δ
4-minute read
Proofreading is important to ensure your writing is clear and concise for your readers. Whether...
2-minute read
Creating presentations can be time-consuming and frustrating. Trying to construct a visually appealing and informative...
No matter your industry, conducting market research helps you keep up to date with shifting...
In a world where you need to stand out, press releases are key to being...
3-minute read
In the United States, the US Patent and Trademarks Office issues patents. In the United...
A visually appealing and user-friendly website is essential for success in today’s competitive ecommerce landscape....