“In APA Style, most legal materials are cited in the standard legal citation style used for legal references across all disciplines (American Psychological Society, 2020, p. 355).
The Australian guide to legal citation is available from Melbourne University HERE. Note: Legal referencing generally uses footnotes.
In-text citation
A pinpoint reference refers to a specific section, page or paragraph number of the legal source.
Title Year (Jurisdiction), pinpoint
The Criminal Code Act 1899 (Qld), s2 sets out…
Litigant v Defendant (Year) | Volume Journal Page no.
Calverley v Green (1984) 115 CLR 242.
Litigant v Defendant (Year) Volume number Journal start, finish (Judge).
Calverley v Green (1984) 115 CLR 242,250 (Gibbs CJ).
Legislation (Acts of Parliament)
Title Year (Jurisdiction)
Crimes Act 1914 (Cth).
Bills
Bill Name Year (Jurisdiction).
Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Reform (Closing the Hole in the Ozone Layer) Bill 2022 (Cth).
Jurisdictions are always abbreviated.
Jurisdiction |
Abbreviation |
Commonwealth |
Cth |
Australian Capital Territory |
ACT |
New South Wales |
NSW |
Northern Territory |
NT |
Queensland |
Qld |
South Australia |
SA |
Tasmania |
Tas |
Victoria |
Vic |
Western Australia |
WA |
In-text citation
(Coroners Name, Year)
The inquest into the death of Andrew John Thwaites (Clements, 2018) found that the death was ...
Reference List
Coroners Name. (Year of publication). Title of report (Report number). Publisher. htttps//:xxxxx
Clements, C. (2018). Inquest into the death of Andrew John Thwaites (File NO. COR 2016/3336). Queensland Courts. https://www.coronerscourt.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/577093/cif-thwaites-aj-20180724.pdf