Education · Standing Guidelines
Legal Article Writing Guide
These are the guidelines every Legal Writing and Research tool on this site follows — from Task 1 requirements to the final quality checklist. Use them as your own working brief.
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Pick once — the article editor, worksheet export, and the submission checklist below all enforce this choice.
Rule: Italicise case names, not statutes. Pinpoint paragraphs in [square brackets].
Placement: Every authority in a numbered footnote (never in-text).
Bibliography: Bibliography — Primary sources (cases, legislation) then Secondary (books, journals).
Task 1
Assignment requirements
What to submit and the non-negotiables
What to submit
One legal article on a topic of your choice.
Requirements
- Word limit: 2,000–3,000 words (excluding references, footnotes, bibliography).
- Topic: any legal issue (domestic or international).
- Formatting: Times New Roman, 12pt, 1.5 line spacing, justified.
- Citation: OSCOLA only — applied consistently throughout the submission. Your style: OSCOLA.
- Plagiarism: must be below 15%.
- Deadline: 21 July 2026, 11:59 PM IST.
This task is essential for internship certificate completion and publication eligibility.
Structure
Structure of a legal article
The five parts every article needs
- 1
Introduction — capturing reader attention
Opening hook (compelling fact, recent development, or thought- provoking question); background context for readers unfamiliar with the issue; a clear research question or thesis; scope definition (what you will and will not cover); a short structure preview.
- 2
Body — legal framework & argument
Set out the applicable law (constitution, legislation, common law, international instruments). Then argument 1, argument 2 and a counter-argument — each with a topic sentence, authority, application, and a mini-conclusion that ties back to the thesis.
- 3
Analysis — not description
Move beyond restating what a court said. Compare and contrast approaches, identify inconsistencies and gaps, question underlying assumptions, evaluate effectiveness and implications, propose alternatives with justification.
- 4
Conclusion — ending with impact
Summarise key findings, restate main arguments, suggest reforms or recommendations. Do not introduce new arguments, new citations, or apologies for limitations.
- 5
References
Complete bibliography of all sources cited, alphabetised and formatted in the chosen style.
Craft
Analysis vs description
The critical distinction
Descriptive (avoid)
"The Supreme Court held that privacy is a fundamental right. The Court relied on international conventions."
Analytical (aim for)
"While the Court's recognition of privacy as fundamental represents progress, the absence of a comprehensive legislative framework creates enforcement challenges. The reliance on international conventions, though innovative, raises questions about the hierarchy of legal sources and the extent of judicial lawmaking power."
Using case law effectively
Ineffective
"In Case X, the court held that contracts require consideration."
Effective
"The court's decision in Case X established the consideration requirement, but its application to digital contracts remains contentious. Critics argue traditional contract principles inadequately address click-wrap agreements, where 'acceptance' occurs without meaningful consent — suggesting a need for legislative intervention."
When discussing cases: brief relevant facts only, legal issue and court's reasoning, significance and broader implications, criticisms or limitations, and how it supports your argument. Quality over quantity — analyse fewer cases deeply.
Standard framework
Structure of a legal article
The five-part template every article follows
1. Title
Clear, concise, and descriptive of your content.2. Introduction
Hook the reader with a compelling opening; provide background and context; state your thesis or research question; outline the structure of your article.3. Main body
- Organised sections with clear headings
- Legal framework and current law
- Case-law analysis
- Critical evaluation and your analysis
- Comparative perspectives (if relevant)
4. Conclusion
Summarise key findings, restate main arguments, suggest recommendations or reforms.5. References
Complete bibliography of all sources cited, in OSCOLA format.Research method
Six essential steps
Do these before you draft
- 1
Define your topic
Narrow your focus to a manageable, specific research question.
- 2
Background research
Start with secondary sources (textbooks, journal articles) to understand context.
- 3
Identify keywords
Create a list of relevant legal terms in your jurisdiction.
- 4
Search systematically
Use multiple databases and document sources immediately.
- 5
Evaluate credibility
Assess authority, accuracy, currency and relevance.
- 6
Organise your findings
Create a logical structure before you begin writing.
Finding what you need
Effective search strategies
Boolean operators
- AND:
privacy AND technology— both terms required - OR:
contract OR agreement— either term - NOT:
copyright NOT trademark— exclude
Advanced techniques
- Quotation marks:
"human rights"(exact phrase) - Wildcards:
legislat*matches legislation, legislative, legislator - Filter by date, jurisdiction, court level
- Search by citation or case name
Pro tip: start broad, then narrow your search with specific terms.
Polish
The editing process
Three passes before submission
Stage 1 — Content review
- Are arguments clear and logical?
- Is evidence sufficient and well-analysed?
- Are counter-arguments addressed?
- Does structure flow logically?
Stage 2 — Technical review
- Are all citations complete and correct?
- Is formatting consistent throughout?
- Are headings properly structured?
- Is word count within limit?
Stage 3 — Language review
- Grammar and spelling errors
- Sentence clarity and variety
- Professional tone maintained
- Remove redundancy
Before you submit
Quality submission checklist
Content quality
- Clear thesis statement present
- Strong analytical content (not just descriptive)
- All claims supported with evidence
- Counter-arguments acknowledged
- Logical flow throughout
Technical requirements
- Word count within brief (excluding references)
- Font: Times New Roman, 12pt
- Line spacing: 1.5, justified
- Format: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx)
- Citation style: OSCOLA — used consistently. Every authority in a numbered footnote (never in-text).
- Bibliography — Primary sources (cases, legislation) then Secondary (books, journals).
- Plagiarism: below 15%
Final checks
- All sources properly cited
- No grammatical or spelling errors
- References complete and formatted correctly
Guardrails
Common mistakes to avoid
Learn from others' errors
Research errors
- Relying on unreliable sources (blogs, Wikipedia)
- Using outdated legal information
- Insufficient depth of research
- Not verifying information across sources
Writing errors
- Purely descriptive content without analysis
- Poor organisation and structure
- Inconsistent citation style
- Missing or incomplete references
Critical errors
- Plagiarism (even unintentional)
- Unsupported claims and assertions
- Ignoring counter-arguments
- Exceeding or falling short of the word limit
- Missing the submission deadline
Ready to apply the guide?
Use our AI writing and research tools — they enforce these rules (citation style, analysis over description, verification of authority) and flag any authority you must confirm at source.