Legal citations are used to identify the source of information supporting a particular point in a legal document. Librarians at the Law Library of Congress typically recommend using The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation for formatting legal citations. The Bluebook is the most widely used style guide for legal citations in the United States. Other style guides, such as Chicago Manual of StyleExternal (CMOS) and American Psychological AssociationExternal (APA), generally defer to Bluebook style for citing legal materials.
The Law Library keeps copies of The Bluebook in the Reading Room for researchers to use while they are on site. If you are off site, use Worldcat External to find a copy of The Bluebook in a library near you. Bluebook OnlineExternal generally requires a subscription to access content; however, there is a free Quick Style Guide External with examples illustrating how to cite commonly used sources (e.g., cases, statutes, bills, and Internet sources) in accordance with The Bluebook.
Established by Congress in 1832, the Law Library has a collection of over 2.65 million volumes spanning the ages and covering virtually every jurisdiction in the world.
We cannot provide legal advice, interpretation, or analysis which could be interpreted as the practice of law; extensive bibliographies or legislative histories; or answers for student homework assignments.
