“Citation Of Authorities” is a document that provides a concise overview of the relevant legal authorities cited in a legal brief or memorandum. It includes a list of cases, statutes, regulations, and other legal sources that have been referenced to support the arguments and positions presented in the document. The summary typically includes the names of the authorities, their citations, and a brief description of their relevance to the legal issues at hand. It serves as a helpful reference for the court or other readers to quickly understand the sources of legal authority relied upon in the document.
The “citation of authorities” refers to the practice of referencing legal sources, such as cases, statutes, regulations, and scholarly writings, to support arguments or assertions in legal documents, court filings, or academic writings.
Key aspects of the citation of authorities include:
- Supporting Legal Arguments: Legal practitioners and scholars cite authorities to provide evidence, precedent, or legal reasoning to support their arguments, interpretations, or conclusions.
- Establishing Legal Precedent: Citations to previous court decisions (case law) establish legal precedent and influence judicial interpretations of the law.
- Demonstrating Legal Research: Proper citation of authorities demonstrates thorough legal research and adherence to established legal principles and sources.
- Enhancing Credibility: Citing authoritative legal sources enhances the credibility and persuasiveness of legal arguments and scholarly analyses.
In legal writing, citations are typically formatted according to established citation styles, such as The Bluebook, APA (American Psychological Association), MLA (Modern Language Association), or other specialised legal citation formats. These citation styles provide guidelines for accurately referencing legal sources and facilitating transparency, accountability, and integrity in legal scholarship and practice.
Citing authorities in legal documents serves to support and strengthen the arguments made by referencing relevant laws, regulations, court decisions, and legal opinions.
Commonly used authorities in legal citations include statutes, regulations, case law, treaties, legal treatises, and scholarly articles.
Authorities should be cited using a recognized citation format, such as the Bluebook or the ALWD Citation Manual, to ensure consistency and accuracy. These formats provide guidelines for citing different types of authorities.
Yes, online sources can be used as authorities in legal citations. However, it is important to ensure that the online source is reliable, reputable, and from a credible legal source.
It is generally recommended to include a full citation for every authority mentioned in a legal document. This allows readers to easily locate and verify the authority being referenced.
Unpublished authorities, such as unpublished court decisions or legal memos, can be used in legal citations. However, it is important to clearly indicate that the authority is unpublished and provide sufficient information for others to locate it if necessary.
Yes, foreign authorities can be used in legal citations, especially in cases involving international law or comparative legal analysis. It is important to provide accurate and complete citations for foreign authorities, including the relevant jurisdiction and any translation if necessary.
If you cannot find a specific authority for your legal citation, you should make a good faith effort to locate and cite the most relevant and authoritative sources available. If necessary, you can also consult legal research guides or seek assistance from a legal librarian or research service.
Yes, different legal jurisdictions may have specific rules or guidelines for citing authorities. It is important to familiarise yourself with the citation rules and practices of the relevant jurisdiction to ensure compliance and accuracy in your legal citations.
This site contains general legal information but does not constitute professional legal advice for your particular situation. Persuing this glossary does not create an attorney-client or legal adviser relationship. If you have specific questions, please consult a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.
This glossary post was last updated: 27th April 2024.
To help you cite our definitions in your bibliography, here is the proper citation layout for the three major formatting styles, with all of the relevant information filled in.
- Page URL:https://dlssolicitors.com/define/citation-of-authorities/
- Modern Language Association (MLA):Citation Of Authorities. dlssolicitors.com. DLS Solicitors. May 09 2024 https://dlssolicitors.com/define/citation-of-authorities/.
- Chicago Manual of Style (CMS):Citation Of Authorities. dlssolicitors.com. DLS Solicitors. https://dlssolicitors.com/define/citation-of-authorities/ (accessed: May 09 2024).
- American Psychological Association (APA):Citation Of Authorities. dlssolicitors.com. Retrieved May 09 2024, from dlssolicitors.com website: https://dlssolicitors.com/define/citation-of-authorities/
Our team of professionals are based in Alderley Edge, Cheshire. We offer clear, specialist legal advice in all matters relating to Family Law, Wills, Trusts, Probate, Lasting Power of Attorney and Court of Protection.
All author posts