How to Cite a Legal Case in Harvard Referencing

This guide explains how to format a legal case citation in Harvard Referencing. Follow the format template below, refer to the real example, and use the step-by-step instructions to build your citation correctly.

Format Template

The general pattern for citing a legal case in Harvard Referencing:

Template

*Case Name* [Year] Report Abbreviation Page.

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

(*Donoghue v Stevenson*, 1932)

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

*Donoghue v Stevenson* [1932] AC 562.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Identify the case name
Italicise the full case name, including 'v' (for versus) between the party names. Use 'v' (not 'vs' or 'vs.').
2
Add the year
Place the year in square brackets [Year] if it is needed to locate the case in the law report. Use round brackets (Year) if the report has its own volume numbering system.
3
Include the report abbreviation
Use the standard abbreviation for the law report (e.g., AC for Appeal Cases, QB for Queen's Bench, EWHC for England and Wales High Court).
4
Add the page number
Include the first page number of the case in the report.
5
Add the court (if needed)
If the court is not obvious from the report abbreviation, include it in parentheses at the end.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not italicising the case name.
Using round parentheses instead of square brackets for the year when the year is part of the report citation.
Omitting the law report abbreviation.
Including unnecessary details such as the court name when it is already clear from the report abbreviation.
Confusing round brackets (used when the year is not essential to find the report) with square brackets (used when the year is essential).

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I use square brackets vs. round brackets for the year in a legal case?

Use square brackets [Year] when the year is essential to finding the case in the report (i.e., the report is organised by year). Use round brackets (Year) when the report uses volume numbers and the year is supplementary.

Do I need to include a URL for legal cases?

If you accessed the case through an online database, you may include the URL and access date. For well-known reported cases, the standard citation is usually sufficient.

How do I cite a legal case from a jurisdiction outside the UK?

Follow the citation conventions of that jurisdiction. For US cases, include the volume, reporter abbreviation, and page. For EU cases, include the case number and the court (e.g., CJEU, ECHR).

Information You Will Need

Before creating your citation, gather the following information from your legal case:

Case Name
Volume
Reporter
Page
Court
Year

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Step-by-Step Guide

Identify the case name

Italicise the full case name, including 'v' (for versus) between the party names. Use 'v' (not 'vs' or 'vs.').

Add the year

Place the year in square brackets [Year] if it is needed to locate the case in the law report. Use round brackets (Year) if the report has its own volume numbering system.

Include the report abbreviation

Use the standard abbreviation for the law report (e.g., AC for Appeal Cases, QB for Queen's Bench, EWHC for England and Wales High Court).

Add the page number

Include the first page number of the case in the report.

Add the court (if needed)

If the court is not obvious from the report abbreviation, include it in parentheses at the end.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not italicising the case name.

Using round parentheses instead of square brackets for the year when the year is part of the report citation.

Omitting the law report abbreviation.

Including unnecessary details such as the court name when it is already clear from the report abbreviation.

Confusing round brackets (used when the year is not essential to find the report) with square brackets (used when the year is essential).