It is important to properly cite the sources used in writing scientific articles. Most legal documents require the use of numbered footnotes or endnotes for citation purposes. Footnotes are listed at the bottom of each page, while endnotes appear at the end of the document. The term “footnote” is used in this manual to refer to both footnotes and endnotes. A footnote/endnote usually contains a citation for a particular source or additional information on a point in the text. In both cases, a superscript number in the text identifies each note that corresponds to the note number displayed at the bottom of the page or at the end of the sheet. As a rule, the note is given at the end of the sentence or immediately after a quotation. A correct citation allows researchers to identify and locate sources by providing the maximum amount of information efficiently and consistently. Below is a brief introduction to the citation style of the McGill Guide. Only the most commonly used rules are highlighted and summarized here. To make sure you are following the correct format of the McGill Guide, always read the full guide.
If this is your first time citing a work in your article, you should include a full citation of the work in a footnote or endnote. This full quote will be listed again in your bibliography – see this section for more detailed rules. Subsequent quotes can be used ibid. or above. See McGill`s guide at addresses E-12 to E-13. The neutral citation contains only the year of the decision, a court identifier, and the decision number (e.g. 2002 SCC 10). If there is a neutral citation, it is usually not necessary to include a parallel citation. If a neutral quote is not available, contact an official journalist.
If none of these options are available, contact an online database or an unofficial journalist. In the absence of a neutral citation, refer to at least two sources – one main citation and at least one parallel citation. 2a) Neutral citation cases2b) Reported cases where a neutral quote is NOT available2c) Unreported cases where a neutral quote is NOT available2d) Cases in an online database The neutral quote is provided by the court and consists of the year, the court ID and the decision number. The McGill Guide contains comprehensive rules for citing case law, statutes, journals, books and parliamentary returns for Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States and other jurisdictions. It also includes a section on citing international documents. University of Toronto law students use the McGill Guide to cite all Canadian, British and U.S. legal resources, unless otherwise noted. The University of British Columbia`s Guide to Legal Citation is also available online, but please note that it does not always meet McGill standards. Avoid repetition: There is no need to repeat the information contained in the text of the quote.
For example, if the name of the cited case is given in the body of your work, do not repeat the name in the quotation. If the name of the series of reports has not indicated which court has ruled on the merits, the name of the court must be added in abbreviated form in parentheses after the summons preceding the point. Combining information from the Chicago Manual of Style with this online guide should meet all your legal citation requirements. If you need more advice, below is a selective list of other sources. If you are writing for publication in an American journal, The Bluebook is the standard citation guide. The McGill Guide uses footnotes or endnotes (no citations in the text) as well as a bibliography of all works cited at the end of the research paper. Parallel citations: A parallel citation is simply a second place where you can find a reported case. It`s less important now, as most cases are easily accessible online.
Only add one if a neutral quote is not available, as in Oakes` example above. See 3.1 of the McGill Guide for more information. This guide provides an introduction to citation: Legal research relies heavily on citation. During the first year of law school, citation focuses primarily on cases, statutes, articles, and book citations. The citation of cases serves two main functions: first, a full citation allows the reader to find the decision; Second, it should provide valuable information about the case, including the year it was announced, the level of the court, jurisdiction, and case history (if any). An accurate quote provides a roadmap that leads the reader to where the law can be found. As with a real roadmap, quote users depend on their accuracy. In 1999, Canadian courts began assigning neutral citations to their judgments (effective date varies from court to court). The neutral citation is only a case identifier and does not indicate where a case can be found. It consists of three parts: From this quotation, a reader might find the full text of R.
v. Barr in Volume 16 of the second series of Manitoba Reports, at page 1. Exact citation: To properly cite other sources, it is often necessary to provide the exact page or paragraph number of the source you are relying on.
