Example: Intent is a required element of the plaintiff’s claim. Crenshaw v. Baldwin, 115 Cal. App. 4th 553, 557 (1979).
1. When Referring to or Describing the Content of an Authority
Example: In an earlier opinion, the court held that intent was irrelevant. Crenshaw v. Baldwin, 115 Cal. App. 4th 553, 557 (1979).
Example: The court reasoned that “the state of mind of the defendant had no impact on the extent of the damages suffered by the plaintiff.” Crenshaw v. Baldwin, 115 Cal. App. 4th 553, 557 (1979).
1. Avoid Plagiarism with Proper Citations
To avoid plagiarism, it is important to include a citation with any idea, conclusion of law, or statement of fact that comes from a legal authority. The LW&R/Moot …show more content…
a. How to Use the Bluebook
In LW&R, you will use The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (Columbia Law Review Ass'n et al. eds., 20th ed., 2015). The Bluebook might seem daunting, but it has several components that will guide your use. Taking time to familiarize yourself with the Bluebook is an important step in your 1L practical legal education.
a) Bluepages (pp. 3-56) These pages contain an abbreviated version of the rules. This is good place to start for basic citation format questions.
b) Quick Reference: Court Documents and Legal Memoranda (last page of the Bluebook) If you ever forget the proper format for citing to a document (like the Constitution), you can always look at the Quick Reference for a sample citation. The sample will tell you which rule applies to the citation.
Note: Do not confuse this section with the quick reference on the first page of the Bluebook, which is a reference for citations in law review footnotes.
c) Table of Contents (back …show more content…
The most widely used manual is The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (commonly referred to as the Bluebook). The Association of Legal Writing Directors (ALWD) Manual, the Maroon Book, and the Universal Citation Guide are other citation manuals used in practice. Additionally, some states have their own citation systems, including California which uses the California Style Manual or “Gold Book.” Some publishers and law firms use their own, modified citation style. The chart at the end of this chapter compares citations using the ALWD Manual 5th edition, the Bluebook 20th edition, and the California Style Manual 4th