How to read legal citations in International law
International cases are cited to the court's own reports. Treaties are cited by title, date of adoption, date of entry into force and the series where they are published.
Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
Style guide: OSCOLA International Law Standard and the Bluebook rules on international materials. International courts publish their own reports, and treaties are cited to the official series in which they are registered.
Real citations, decoded
Click or hover over any underlined piece to see what it means.
A case of the International Court of Justice Case
, ,
- Case name Military and Paramilitary Activities in and against Nicaragua (Nicaragua v United States of America), Merits
The full title, with the parties in brackets and the stage of the case (here, the merits). - Series and year ICJ Reports 1986
The International Court of Justice's own report series. - Page p 14
The page where the judgment begins.
A treaty Treaty
- Title Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties
The full title of the treaty. - Dates (adopted 23 May 1969, entered into force 27 January 1980)
The date it was adopted and the date it entered into force, which are different. - Volume 1155
Volume 1155 of the series. - Series UNTS
United Nations Treaty Series, the official register of treaties. - First page 331
The page where the treaty text begins.
The Statute of the International Court Treaty
,
- Instrument Statute of the International Court of Justice
The treaty that sets up the ICJ. It is annexed to the UN Charter. - Article art 38(1)
Article 38(1) lists the sources of international law the Court applies: treaties, custom, general principles and (as subsidiary means) judicial decisions and scholarship.
The UN Charter Treaty
,
- Instrument Charter of the United Nations
The founding treaty of the UN, signed in 1945. - Article art 2(4)
Article 2(4) is the ban on the threat or use of force against another state's territorial integrity or political independence.
An ICJ judgment in the Reports Case
, ,
- Case name Barcelona Traction, Light and Power Company, Limited (Belgium v Spain)
The case's name, then the two states in brackets. The ICJ only hears cases between states. - Phase Second Phase
The ICJ often decides a case in several phases, and the citation names the phase. - Reports ICJ Reports 1970, p 3
The Court's official reports, by year and first page.
Things to remember
- A treaty is cited by its adoption date and the date it entered into force, because they differ.
- PCIJ is the Permanent Court of International Justice (before 1946), and ICJ is its successor.
- UN documents carry a code, such as A/RES/217(III) for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Where to find the text, free
Other legal systems
United StatesEngland and WalesIrelandCanadaAustraliaNew ZealandIndiaSouth AfricaGermanyFranceItalySpainNetherlandsJapanBrazilEuropean UnionEuropean Court of Human RightsScotlandSingaporeHong KongChinaRussiaMexicoArgentinaTurkeySouth KoreaIsraelEgyptNigeriaMalaysiaPakistanInter-American Court of Human RightsWorld Trade OrganizationInternational Criminal CourtCaribbean
TheLawToKnow Tools’s citation guide is an educational overview of standard conventions. Courts and journals sometimes vary, so check the style guide before submitting or publishing. It is not legal advice. Report a mistake.
