The Oxford University Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities (OSCOLA) is the dominant referencing system in UK law schools. Unlike Harvard or APA, OSCOLA uses footnotes rather than in-text citations.
Cases
Case names are italicised. Include the party names, year, volume, report abbreviation, and first page number. Use neutral citations where available.
- Donoghue v Stevenson [1932] AC 562
- R v Woollin [1999] 1 AC 82
- Manchester Building Society v Grant Thornton UK LLP [2021] UKSC 20
Statutes
Statutes are not italicised. Include the short title and year. When citing a specific section, use "s" (not "section").
- Theft Act 1968, s 1(1)
- Human Rights Act 1998, s 3
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, s 62
Journal Articles
Author name, article title in single quotes, year, volume number, journal abbreviation, first page.
- Andrew Burrows, 'The Relationship between Common Law and Statute in the Law of Obligations' (2012) 128 LQR 232
Books
Author, Title in Italics (edition, publisher year) page number.
- Andrew Burrows, A Restatement of the English Law of Contract (2nd edn, OUP 2020) 45
Common OSCOLA Mistakes
| Mistake | Correct Approach |
|---|---|
| Italicising statutes | Only case names are italicised |
| Using "Section" instead of "s" | Use "s" followed by a space |
| Adding a bibliography by default | OSCOLA does not require a bibliography unless specified |
| Using "p." for page numbers | Just use the number: (OUP 2020) 45 |
| Forgetting pinpoint references | Always cite the specific page or paragraph |
Subsequent Citations
After the first full citation, use a shortened form: Donoghue (n 3) 580. Use "ibid" (not "ibid.") when citing the same source as the immediately preceding footnote.