How to reference a legal case in OSCOLA
A case footnote in OSCOLA has 2 parts. See them labelled on an example, then build your own and copy it.
- In your essay: A footnote
- Checked 23 October 2026
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The 2 parts
Case name Neutral citation.
1 · CASE NAMER (Miller) v Prime Minister2 · NEUTRAL CITATION[2019] UKSC 41.
- 1 · Case nameIn italics.The names of the parties, as at the top of the judgment.
- 2 · Neutral citationThe neutral citation, as at the top of the judgment.At the top of the judgment, for cases from 2001 on. Find judgments on BAILII or Find Case Law.
In your bibliography
The bibliography at the end gives the same source like this, with the surname first:
1 · CASE NAMER (Miller) v Prime Minister2 · NEUTRAL CITATION[2019] UKSC 41
Two places, one source
The Supreme Court held that the prorogation of Parliament was unlawful.1
A footnote number, after the full stop.1 R (Miller) v Prime Minister [2019] UKSC 41.
The footnote gives the full details, at the bottom of the page.Build your footnote
Fill in what you have. Anything still missing is highlighted. Nothing you type leaves this page.
What if…
An older case
Cases from before 2001 have no neutral citation, so cite the law report. This one also points to page 580.
Donoghue v Stevenson [1932] AC 562 (HL) 580.
Easy to get wrong
The title not in italics
NOT QUITER (Miller) v Prime Minister [2019] UKSC 41.
RIGHTR (Miller) v Prime Minister [2019] UKSC 41.
Check your university’s version
Law schools sometimes make small changes to OSCOLA, and some have moved to the 5th edition. Your handbook always wins.
This guide follows OSCOLA, 4th edition, from the University of Oxford’s Faculty of Law.
Questions
What goes in the footnote?
The first time you cite it, the footnote gives the full details: R (Miller) v Prime Minister [2019] UKSC 41. To point to one place in it, add that at the end: R (Miller) v Prime Minister [2019] UKSC 41 [50].
Is OSCOLA the same at every university?
Law schools sometimes make small changes to OSCOLA, and some have moved to the 5th edition. Your handbook always wins.
Referencing is easier as you go
KanBananza’s step-by-step guides show how to plan an assignment and keep your sources in order while you research and write, so the reference list is ready when you are.
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