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A Sample Paper for Essays in PLST and JURI Courses
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation is the go-to writing guide for all legal
writing professionals and students. The Bluebook provides a systematic writing method that
helps legal professionals clearly communicate with one another. Most importantly, The Bluebook
provides a comprehensive writing framework that is needed for clearly identifying all sources
and legal authority used to inform and support written legal work product. Unlike its distant
cousins (MLA, APA, and AMA), Bluebook is less about “writing style” and more about
providing attribution for sources used. In other words, because legal writing relies predominantly
upon other sources to inform its general content, analysis, and conclusions, legal professionals
and students must master the range of Bluebook source attribution requirements. According to
Judge Posner, “A system of citation form has two valid functions: to provide enough information
about a reference to give the reader a general idea of its significance and whether it’s worth
looking up, and to enable the reader to find the reference if he was to look it up.” Judge Richard
Posner, Reflections on Judging 97 (2013).
This sample paper is only intended for use in writing basic assignments such as
discussion boards, essays, and research papers for PLST and JURI courses where the specific
assignment formatting requirements are otherwise unspecified. If your professor has provided
formatting guidelines for a specific assignment, follow those guidelines rather than this sample.
Also, this sample paper is not intended to be used for any legal document preparation such as
case briefs, memos, persuasive briefs, complaints, etc. Your professor will provide templates
and/or writing guidelines for those writing assignments along with specific legal document
writing requirements.
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It is important to keep in mind that is the courts that dictate writing style requirements.
For example, one author explains the requirements for Supreme Court case briefs using a twenty-
nine page article! Dan Schweitzer, U.S. Supreme Court Brief Writing Style Guide, 19 J. App.
Prac. & Process 129 (2018) (accessed April 26th, 2021, at 8:36 AM),
https://lawrepository.ualr.edu/appellatepracticeprocess/vol19/iss1/8. The writing style guide
produced by the Supreme Court is 266 pages long! District courts, circuit courts, administrative
courts, appellate courts, and the like, will provide their own writing style requirements that
include font size, margins, spacing, page and/or word limits. As a practicing paralegal and legal
professional, you will learn and apply the specific requirements dictated by the court(s) in those
jurisdictions where the legal documents will actually be filed.
Here is the good news for you, the student: For now, as an academic exercise, you will
follow and apply the more simplistic guidelines provided using the following instructions:
General Essay Formatting
Essays should be written in Times New Roman 12 pt. font on white 8½ x 11 paper, with
margins set at one inch on the top, sides, and bottom. Page numbers should appear in the center
of the bottom margin; omit the page number on the first page. The first line of every paragraph
should be indented ½ inch, and the entire essay should be double-spaced. The title of the essay
should be centered on the first line of the body of the essay. Use headings where appropriate;
they should be written in title case, bolded and left-aligned. Make sure to consult your
assignment instructions and incorporate any additional guidelines into your essay that have been
provided by and are required by your professor.
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Essay Tone
Be sure to apply third-party voice. Your writing should not directly reflect the writer or
the reader, and “I” statements should not be used. Lastly, your writing should be clear, direct,
and concise. Avoid flowery language and colloquialisms while consistently maintaining a neutral
third party, academic, and professional tone.
Book Citation: Long and Short Citation
Legal writing requires that you place citations within the body of your text. For example,
a citation to a book would look something like this: John Adams was very influential in the
ratification of the Constitution. Mark A. Beliles and Douglas Anderson, Contending for the
Constitution 2 (2005). Further, it has been said that “John Adams understood the connection
between the Bible and liberty, and so did a great majority of his fellow founders.” Id. at 3. OR
your in-text book citation could look like this: Mark A. Beliles and Douglas Anderson,
Contending for the Constitution 2 (2005). Further, it has been said that “John Adams understood
the connection between the Bible and liberty, and so did a great majority of his fellow founders.”
Id. at 3. The writer may underline OR italicize the title of the source.
Also note that the "Id." tells the reader: same source.1 The number tells the reader:
different page. For example: Id. at 3 tells your reader same source, but found on page 3. "Id."
without a page number following will tell the reader: same source, same page. In this instance,
“Id.” would tell the reader the information immediately preceding the citation can be found on
page 2 of Contending for the Constitution. *Note that a long citation is always applied first.
Short citations may be utilized subsequent to the introduction of an appropriately formatted long
citation.
1 “Id. is short for “ibid” or “Ibidem” which is a Latin term meaning “in the same place.”
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Case Law Citation
Basic case law in-text citations should look like this: Katz v. United States, 369 F.2d 130
(9th Cir. 1966). OR Katz v. United States, 369 F.2d 130 (9th Cir. 1966). A Supreme Court case
would look like this: Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347 (1967). OR Katz v. United States, 389
U.S. 347 (1967). For example: In Katz, the Court reasoned that “The question remaining for
decision, is whether the search and seizure conducted in this case complied with constitutional
standards.” Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347 (1967).
Note that the same formatting rule applies: underline OR italicize the case names but
never both. The writer must choose and apply a formatting style and be consistent with its
application throughout the entire assignment. Short citation formatting rules also apply. For
example: Id. or Id. at 348. (If citing to a different page); or when citing to case law other than an
immediately preceding source: Katz 389 U.S. at 348.
Internet Source Citation
When there is no print format or when the print format is vague or unavailable, the
student should cite to the Internet source that is available. An Internet citation would look
something like this: The Scriptures provide an excellent system of doctrine and principles which
are essential for the practical regulation of the lives of people, churches, and communities. This
should influence how Christians view the purposes and basis of law as instituted by God because
"all of life is to be lived for God's glory, and even the most mundane activities are to be
conducted according to the general principles of God's Word." John Thompson, The Sufficiency
of Scripture: By What Standard?, Family Shepherd Online, (accessed April 25th, 2021, at 8:35
PM), https://familyshepherd.wordpress.com/the-sufficiency-of-scripture-by-what-standard/ OR
John Thompson, The Sufficiency of Scripture: By What Standard?, Family Shepherd Online,
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(accessed April 25th, 2021, at 8:35 PM), https://familyshepherd.wordpress.com/the-sufficiency-
of-scripture-by-what-standard/.
Again, note the formatting options. Students may underline OR italicize titles but never
both. Also note that all Internet sources should be of a scholarly nature. For example, Wikipedia
is not recognized as a scholarly, academic source. Short citation formatting rules apply. For
example: Id. This is your best option because page numbers may not be available. If an Internet
article provides page number then cite to the specific page number.
Bible Citation
For Bible in-text citations, apply the following format: "Remind the people to be subject
to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to
be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men." Titus 3:1-2 (New
International Version). Short citation formatting rules apply here, too.
Legal Resource Citation Sampling
Federal Statute:
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601-9675.
1 U.S.C. § 1.
State Statute:
Wash. Rev. Code § 28B.20.020 (2014).
Cal. Penal Code § 181 (West 2011).
Procedural Rules:
Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6).
Fed. R. Evid. 401.
Legislative Material:
H.R. Rep. No. 99-253, pt. 1, at 54 (1985).
Administrative Materials:
46 C.F.R. § 166.01 (2009).
