Bluebooking and Legal Citation


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Warning!

Do not rely solely on this page to Bluebook.

Please keep in mind:

  1. Your professor or court system may have special rules.
  2. Rules or situations may have changed since this page was last updated.
  3. We may be wrong!

Double check with your professor, outside guides, and the Bluebook rules themselves.

If you notice a mistake, please contact library.reference@lls.edu

Moving From the Bluebook to the California Style Manual

Learning the California Style Manual for the first time?

The good news is that it's generally easier and less fussy than the Bluebook. For example:

Don't throw away your Bluebook just yet, however- CSM sometimes refers you to the Bluebook for additional rules.

Additionally, there are a few rules that may take a little getting used to:

Bluebook: Cal. Gov't Code § 1(b)

CSM: Gov. Code, § 1, subd. (b)

Bluebook: , 74 Cal. Rptr. 2d 804, 805 (Ct. App. 1998)

CSM: People v. Foranyic (1998) 64 Cal.App.4th 186, 188