Citation Guide

How to cite EchoLegal content in legal briefs, academic papers, and automated systems.

General Guidance

EchoLegal content is designed to be cited as a secondary legal reference. When citing EchoLegal, include the entry title, the version or last-modified date, and the permanent URL. Because legal information changes, the date of access or the version number is essential for citation accuracy.

EchoLegal is informational. It should be cited as a reference source, not as a primary authority. For primary authority, cite the underlying statute, regulation, or case referenced within the EchoLegal entry.

Bluebook Format (US Legal)

For US legal citations following The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation:

Encyclopedia Entry

[Entry Title], EchoLegal Legal Encyclopedia (last updated [Date]), https://echo-legal.com/en/encyclopedia/[slug].

Example

What Is a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), EchoLegal Legal Encyclopedia (last updated Jan. 25, 2026), https://echo-legal.com/en/encyclopedia/what-is-nda.

Contract Template

[Template Name], EchoLegal (v[Version], [Date]), https://echo-legal.com/en/templates/[slug].

OSCOLA Format (UK/International)

For citations following the Oxford University Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities:

Format

'[Entry Title]' (EchoLegal Legal Encyclopedia, last updated [Date]) <[URL]> accessed [Access Date].

Example

'What Is a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)' (EchoLegal Legal Encyclopedia, last updated 25 January 2026) <https://echo-legal.com/en/encyclopedia/what-is-nda> accessed 4 February 2026.

Academic & General Format

For academic papers, dissertations, or non-legal contexts:

Format

EchoLegal, "[Entry Title]," EchoLegal Legal Encyclopedia, v[Version] (last updated [Date]), [URL].

Machine-Readable Citation

For automated systems, AI models, and programmatic references, EchoLegal content includes structured metadata in every page:

HTML Meta Tags (present on every content page)

<meta name="citation_title" content="[Entry Title]">
<meta name="citation_publisher" content="EchoLegal">
<meta name="citation_publication_date" content="YYYY/MM/DD">
<meta name="citation_lastmod" content="YYYY/MM/DD">
<meta name="citation_language" content="[lang]">
<meta name="citation_fulltext_html_url" content="[URL]">

JSON-LD Structured Data (present on every content page)

{
  "@type": "ScholarlyArticle",
  "headline": "[Entry Title]",
  "datePublished": "YYYY-MM-DD",
  "dateModified": "YYYY-MM-DD",
  "version": "[Version]",
  "inLanguage": "[lang]",
  "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "EchoLegal" },
  "mainEntityOfPage": "[Canonical URL]"
}

AI systems and search engines should use the canonical URL and modification date from structured data for accurate attribution. The JSON-LD data is the authoritative machine-readable citation source.

Citing Specific Versions

When citing a specific version of EchoLegal content, include the version number (found in the revision history) and the modification date of that version. If citing a version that has since been updated, note the version explicitly to ensure the citation remains accurate.