EDITION!
User's Guide to the Bluebook
Revised for the 22nd Edition
Alan L. Dworsky
References updated by the Publisher’s editorial staff
$19.95
Your step-by-step guide to stress-free legal citation.
The Simplest Way to Master Legal Citation with Confidence.
The Bluebook®: A Uniform System of Citation remains the dominant authority on legal citation, but it is also complex, detailed, and often overwhelming. This User’s Guide provides the cure for the “Bluebook blues.”
Written for practitioners, including law students, clerks, lawyers, legal secretaries, and paralegals, this concise manual makes mastering citation form as easy and painless as possible.
Organized as a how-to guide, it takes a step-by-step approach to teaching the fundamentals of legal citation. Each chapter clearly explains The Bluebook® rules and includes references to relevant rule numbers for quick cross-checking.
Whether you are learning citation for the first time or refreshing your skills for professional writing, this guide helps you cite accurately, efficiently, and confidently.
Easy-to-Follow Format
This how-to manual breaks complex citation rules into easy, practical steps, making proper formatting simple to learn and apply for practitioners, students, and clerks alike.
Reference with Ease
Each chapter includes the relevant Bluebook® rule numbers under subheadings, so readers can move seamlessly between this guide and the source text for deeper details when needed.
Write with Confidence
Created for real-world legal writing, from memoranda to briefs, this resource focuses on what practitioners actually need, consolidating key rules into one accessible, easy-to-use reference.
Explore User's Guide to the Bluebook
Summary of Contents
- Introduction
- A Quick Tour of the Blubook
- Typeface
- How to Cite a Case
- How to Cite a Statute
- How to Cite Other Commonly Cited Sources
User’s Guide to The Bluebook® (Revised for the Twenty-Second Edition) is designed to make the process of mastering legal citation clear, efficient, and approachable. For nearly a century, The Bluebook®: A Uniform System of Citation has remained the gold standard for legal citation in the United States, yet many practitioners and students continue to find it complex and difficult to navigate.
This concise guide bridges that gap, transforming The Bluebook®’s intricate rules into a practical, step-by-step manual that focuses on real-world application. With clear explanations, organized examples, and references to relevant Bluebook® rules, it helps readers move from confusion to confidence in every aspect of citation.
Ultimately, this book serves as both a learning tool and a quick reference for anyone engaged in legal writing, from students and clerks to seasoned practitioners, offering a straightforward path to mastering the fundamentals of legal citation.
Cases and
Court Decisions
Explains how to cite federal and state cases, including Supreme Court opinions and regional reporters, with examples for print and online databases.
Statutes and Legislative Materials
Covers citation of federal and state statutes, session laws, supplements, and uniform acts, with clear guidance for both print and electronic sources.
Other Commonly Cited Sources
Outlines citation for constitutions, restatements, regulations, books, law reviews, A.L.R., and court records, with references to key Bluebook® rules.
User’s Guide to The Bluebook® is an essential reference for anyone learning or applying the rules of legal citation, offering clear, practical guidance for accurate and efficient legal writing.
- Law Students and Professors: Perfect for courses in legal research and writing, helping students grasp the fundamentals of citation quickly and correctly.
- Legal Practitioners and Paralegals: A convenient reference for clerks, attorneys, and support staff who prepare memoranda, briefs, and other documents requiring precise Bluebook® formatting.
- Librarians and Legal Researchers: An accessible aid for those assisting patrons or colleagues with legal citation questions, ensuring consistent, professional results.
More Books by Alan L. Dworsky
Little Book on Oral Argument, 2nd Edition
Item #: 8957
IBSN: 9780837740775
Pages: xii,75p.
Published: Getzville; William S. Hein & Co., Inc.; 2018.
Little Book on Legal Writing, 2nd Edition
Item #: 8956
ISBN: 9780837705606
Pages: xvii, 142p.
Published: Littleton; Fred B. Rothman & Co. (A Division of William S. Hein & Co., Inc.); 1992
About the Author
Alan L. Dworsky
Alan L. Dworsky graduated magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School, where he received the Sidney J. Kaplan Award for Excellence in Legal Scholarship. He taught legal writing and research at both the University of San Diego School of Law and Hamline University School of Law, later serving as Director of Legal Research and Writing at Hamline.
He is the author of several best-selling titles, including The Little Book on Oral Argument and The Little Book on Legal Writing.
Order your copy today!
User's Guide to the Bluebook
Revised for the 22nd Edition
Author: Alan L. Dworsky
References updated by the Publisher’s Editorial Staff
Item #: 14199
ISBN: 978-0-8377-4342-4
Pages: 56
1 Volume…$19.95
Published: Getzville; William S. Hein & Co., Inc.; 2025
The copyright holders of The Bluebook® did not contribute to, review, approve, or endorse The User’s Guide to The Bluebook®.