Introduction to Basic Legal Citation:
e-book version
and "Citing ... in brief" videos 
(2026)
peter.martin@cornell.edu

e-book version

Despite the availability of the online version, many users of this reference have been drawn by the convenience of having it as an e-book on their own tablet, laptop e-book reader, or phone.

This site holds a pdf version of the more interactive online edition. It can be downloaded to readers, phones, tablet and other computers that are capable of loading and navigating large and richly linked pdf files.  (Not all e-book readers that claim to handle pdfs allow the reader to follow internal links or can handle a file of this size and complexity.

While downloading the pdf version from this site carries no charge, please consider making a donation to the Legal Information Institute of Cornell Law School in the amount you would pay Amazon for a comparable study guide or reference work. To do so, click here.

Peter W. Martin
 

"Citing ... in brief" videos

A complementary series of "Citing ... in brief" video tutorials offers a quick start introduction to citation of the major categories of legal sources. These videos are also useful for review.

Currently, the following are available:

  1. Citing Judicial Opinions ... in Brief (8.5 minutes)
  2. Citing Constitutional and Statutory Provisions ... in Brief (14 minutes)
  3. Citing Agency Material ... in Brief (12 minutes)