How to Reference in OSCOLA (UK Law)
Quick answer: OSCOLA (the Oxford University Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities) is a footnote-based style for UK law. You cite cases, statutes and secondary sources in numbered footnotes, and list secondary sources in a bibliography. It uses minimal punctuation and no full stops in abbreviations.
What is OSCOLA?
OSCOLA is the standard citation style for law students and academics across UK universities. Unlike author–date styles, it uses footnotes for every citation and a bibliography of secondary sources at the end.
It is designed for legal materials — cases, legislation, EU law, and secondary sources like books and journal articles — and prioritises clarity with minimal punctuation.
Citing cases
Give the case name (italicised), neutral citation, and law report:
Donoghue v Stevenson [1932] UKHL 100, [1932] AC 562.
In footnotes, add a pinpoint to the paragraph or page: Donoghue v Stevenson [1932] AC 562, 580.
Citing legislation
- Act: Human Rights Act 1998.
- Section: Human Rights Act 1998, s 6.
- Statutory instrument: The Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, SI 2013/3134.
Citing secondary sources
| Source | OSCOLA format |
|---|
| Book | Author, Title (edn, Publisher Year). |
| Journal article | Author, ‘Title’ (Year) Volume Journal Abbreviation First Page. |
Example: Andrew Ashworth, Principles of Criminal Law (9th edn, OUP 2019).
Bibliography rules
- List cases, legislation and secondary sources in separate sections.
- Order secondary sources alphabetically by author surname.
- In the bibliography, the author’s surname comes first; in footnotes, the first name comes first.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does OSCOLA use footnotes or in-text citations?
Footnotes. Every citation appears as a numbered footnote; there are no in-text author–date brackets.
What is a neutral citation?
A court-assigned citation independent of any law report, e.g. [2019] UKSC 1. Cite it before the law report where available.
Do I need a bibliography in OSCOLA?
Yes for most university work — list secondary sources (and often a separate table of cases and legislation) at the end.
Does OSCOLA use full stops in abbreviations?
No. OSCOLA minimises punctuation, so abbreviations like ‘OUP’ and ‘AC’ have no full stops.
Which universities use OSCOLA?
Almost all UK law schools require OSCOLA for legal writing, including essays, problem questions and dissertations.