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AGLC4 Referencing

Formatting rules

  • Single quotation marks should be used for short quotations incorporated into the text.
  • For quotes longer than three lines, indent from the left margin using a smaller font size and omit quotation marks altogether. 
  • For further information, see AGLC4 Rule1.5.
  • Full stops indicate the end of a sentence. 
  • All footnotes should also end with a full stop. 
  • Full stops should not be used in abbreviations or after initials.
  • For further information, see AGLC4 Rule 1.6.1.

The Australian Guide to Legal Citation (AGLC) is a footnote-based citation style. The footnote should be placed after the punctuation of the relevant portion of the text. You may reference part of a sentence if necessary. For further information, see AGLC4 Rule1.1.2.

Example

'Direct quotations should always be followed by a footnote unless their source is provided in full in the text.' 6

6. Melbourne University Law Review Association and Melbourne Journal of International Law, Australian Guide to Legal Citation (4th ed, 2018) 1.

A bibliography is a list of the research materials you have relied on, appended to the back of your document.

Structure

According to the AGLC4 rule 1.13 materials listed in your bibliography should be ​separated using the sub-headings below.  Note that the headings are centred and partially in italics.  If you don't have all of these types of material, just move the titles up a level.  For example, D might become Other if you haven't used Treaties in your work.

A Articles/Books/Reports

B Cases

C Legislation

D Treaties

E Other

Other tips

  • The first-listed author's name for each entry should be inverted e.g. Brown, John
  • Entries should appear in order of the first author's surname, or the title of the document
  • Entries do not end with a full-stop
  • No pinpoints in the entries, only the start page number.

We have prepared an example assignment (taken from a past student's paper).  Take a look at how the AGLC4 works in practice.

Using Microsoft Word for AGLC Referencing

For those new to footnoting, watch this short videos that may help you understand the quickest way to add AGLC4 references to your work if you are using Microsoft Word.

Using the Cross-Reference feature for non-consecutive, repeated citations

Another useful function of MSWord is the cross-reference feature, which helps keep your non-consecutive citations in order.  That is your (n#) references.

Here are the instructions:

When typing in the (n #) of a non-consecutive footnote, type (n, then a space, but instead of typing the number #, choose References from Word’s tool bar and then choose Cross-reference. 

  • A window opens. Choose Footnote in the Reference type drop down menu. Untick 'insert as hyperlink'

  • A list of all the footnotes in the document comes up. Select the one with the number that you want (ie

    the footnote where your reference was cited for the first time).

  • Click on the Insert button, and then the Close button. You’ll now see the number next to (n in your footnote (the number might be shaded, which is fine). Type a close bracket, and if you have a pinpoint type a space and then the pinpoint. Finally, type a full stop.

  • At any later time, to make sure all the (n #) are properly referring to their original footnotes, pretend to print the document by using Control+P (Windows) or Command+P (Mac). Then return to the document. This cancels the print, and also corrects all the footnote references.

Source: UTS Library Tip Sheet for Repeated Citations in Footnotes