how to cite a law in chicago style

"How to Cite a Law in Chicago Style: A Step-by-Step Guide"

By Sarah LeeDecember 30, 2025

Citing legal sources in Chicago style can be a bit complex due to the variety of legal materials and their unique formatting. However, with this comprehensive guide, you'll master how to cite a law in Chicago style like a pro. We'll cover cases, statutes, regulations, and more, using both the Notes and Bluebook systems.

Understanding Chicago Style for Legal Citation

Chicago style, developed by the University of Chicago Press, is widely used in legal academia. It provides two systems for legal citation: Notes and Bluebook. The Notes system is simpler and preferred by many law schools, while the Bluebook system is more comprehensive and preferred by law reviews. We'll provide examples for both.

Citing Cases

Cases are the most common legal sources you'll cite. Here's how to do it in both Notes and Bluebook systems:

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Notes System

In the Notes system, case citations follow this format:

Name of the Case Volume Reporter Abbreviation Page Number (Year)

For example:

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Brown v. Board of Educ. 347 U.S. 483 (1954)

Bluebook System

The Bluebook system requires a bit more information:

Name of the Case, Volume Reporter Abbreviation Page Number (Year)

For example:

Brown v. Board of Educ., 347 U.S. 483 (1954)

Citing Statutes

Statutes are cited differently from cases. Here's how:

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Notes System

In the Notes system, statutes are cited as follows:

United States Code abbreviation (if applicable) § Section Number (Year)

For example:

18 U.S.C. § 1951 (2021)

Bluebook System

The Bluebook system requires the title of the statute:

Title United States Code abbreviation (if applicable) § Section Number (Year)

For example:

18 U.S.C. § 1951 (2021)

Citing Regulations

Regulations are cited using the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) or state-specific codes. Here's how:

Notes System

In the Notes system, regulations are cited as follows:

Code abbreviation Title Volume Part Section Number (Year)

For example:

42 C.F.R. § 411.400 (2021)

Bluebook System

The Bluebook system requires the title of the regulation:

Title Code abbreviation Title Volume Part Section Number (Year)

For example:

Social Security Administration 42 C.F.R. § 411.400 (2021)

Citing Other Legal Materials

Other legal materials, such as law review articles, legal treatises, and restatements, are cited using standard Chicago style. Here's a brief overview:

Law Review Articles: Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title." Journal Name Volume Issue: Page Number (Year).

Legal Treatises: Author's Last Name, First Name. Book Title. Publisher: City (Year).

Restatements: Restatement of the Law Title. American Law Institute. Volume (Year).

Citing Online Legal Materials

When citing online legal materials, include the URL and the date of access:

Title. Website Name (Publisher, if applicable). URL. Accessed Day Month Year.

For example:

United States Constitution. FindLaw (Thomson Reuters). https://constitution.findlaw.com. Accessed April 15, 2022.

Mastering Chicago style for legal citation takes practice, but with this guide, you're well on your way. Happy citing!