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Home » Blog » OSCOLA Referencing for Law Students | EasyMarks

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OSCOLA Referencing for Law Students

The footnote-based citation style used by UK law schools.

8 min read · Written by UK academic writers

Quick Answer

OSCOLA (the Oxford Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities) is the footnote-based style used by UK law schools. Instead of in-text citations, you use numbered footnotes, with specific formats for cases, legislation and secondary sources.

Law students in the UK almost always reference in OSCOLA, which works very differently from author-date styles. It uses footnotes rather than brackets and has precise formats for legal sources. This guide covers the essentials.

Footnotes, Not In-Text Citations

OSCOLA places citations in numbered footnotes at the bottom of the page, marked by a superscript number in the text. There is no author-date bracket in the body.

Citing Cases

Case citations give the party names, year, and the law report reference, for example: Donoghue v Stevenson [1932] AC 562. Neutral citations are used where available.

Citing Legislation

Acts are cited by short title and year, such as the Human Rights Act 1998. Specific provisions are pinpointed by section, for example s 3.

Citing Secondary Sources

Books and articles have their own formats.

  • Book: Author, Title (edition, Publisher Year)
  • Journal: Author, 'Title' (Year) Volume Journal First Page
  • Pinpoint specific pages where you rely on them

Common OSCOLA Mistakes

Watch for incorrect use of square versus round brackets in case citations, missing pinpoints, inconsistent footnote punctuation, and forgetting that OSCOLA generally uses minimal punctuation.

Key Takeaways
  • OSCOLA uses numbered footnotes, not in-text citations
  • Cases use party names, year and law report reference
  • Legislation is cited by short title, year and section
  • Secondary sources have their own footnote formats
  • OSCOLA uses minimal punctuation — check the rules

Frequently Asked Questions

What is OSCOLA referencing?

The Oxford Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities — the footnote-based referencing style used by UK law schools.

Does OSCOLA use a reference list?

It uses footnotes throughout and may also require a bibliography, depending on your institution's rules.

How do I cite a case in OSCOLA?

Give the party names, year in square or round brackets as appropriate, and the law report citation, with a neutral citation where available.

Why does law use OSCOLA instead of Harvard?

Legal writing relies heavily on cases and legislation, which footnotes handle more cleanly than author-date brackets.

Related Guides & Services

Harvard ReferencingIn-Text CitationsAvoiding PlagiarismLaw Essay HelpAcademic Writing Service

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