The American uniform citation handbook, the Harvard Bluebook, is now online. You will need an account to access it, either a paid account of your own or an account of your subscribing institution.
We've talked at Slaw about the need for a free online Canadian uniform citation guide — indeed, even offered the services of our members to the McGill Guide folks, who declined our help. How hard would it be for us to produce a basic online guide that could then be improved over time?
[via Jim Milles on law.librarians]
I am loving all the hat tips that law.librarians is getting. I is good stuff, eh?
I meant "it" is good stuff. But I am also, it is true.
Clearly great minds thinks alike Simon. We appeared to have posted at the same time. Regardless, I like the idea of creating a SLAW Guide to Legal Citation. There is more than one style guide in the US (e.g., the Association of Legal Writing Directors guide) with the need there being in part because many find the "official" BlueBook too confusing.
There would be a good legal question whether there is copyright in a citation guide. The "expression" would likely be protected but not the idea of a guide nor a rule (e.g., "Italicize the case name" cannot be copyrighted).
I'm game to try. Anyone else?
Ted, I'm game, of course. I too have thought about copyright issues, but, like you, I can't see that there are any that can get in our way. We need a way of proceeding — this first, then that… etc. — and some style guides of our own for the guide. A wiki perhaps?
Lo-Fi: yes you is.
Wiki sounds like a bold choice. I'm game.
I'm in!