Legal Research Methodology: Technicalities in Legal Writing Based on Oscola and Nalt Guide

Authors: Gogo George Otuturu, PhD

Affiliation: Faculty of Law, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

Corresponding Author: [email protected]

April 6, 2026

SIAR-Global Journal of Social Sciences & Legal Review

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19439391

Legal Research Methodology: Technicalities in Legal Writing Based on Oscola and Nalt Guide
Review Article Social Sciences

Abstract

Legal writing is technical. It is governed by technical rules. Technicalities in legal writing are the specialized techniques, structural conventions and stylistic rules used in the preparation of legal documents. Such technical issues include abstract, keywords, title, capitalization, italicization, punctuation, quotations,  paragraphing, paraphrasing, abbreviations, footnotes, cross-references, pinpoint references and bibliographies. Some of these issues may overlap. For example, capitalization and quotation marks may be treated as part of punctuation. On the other hand, punctuation marks are used in quotations. As trivial as they may appear, they have great impact on legal writing. The aim of this paper is to examine technicalities in legal writing with practical examples from OSCOLA, the NALT Guide and the Australian Guide. It adopts the doctrinal research methodology. It relies on secondary data such as books, articles in journals, citation guides and internet materials. 

Keywords

Abstract; Bibliographies; Cross-References; Keywords; Footnotes: Pinpoint References

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How to Cite

Gogo George Otuturu, PhD (2026). Legal Research Methodology: Technicalities in Legal Writing Based on Oscola and Nalt Guide. SIAR-Global Journal of Social Sciences & Legal Review, Vol. 2, No. 2. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19439391

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Article Information

  • Type: Review Article
  • Journal: SIAR-Global Journal of Social Sciences & Legal Review
  • Subject Area: Social Sciences
  • Published: April 6, 2026
  • Volume: 2
  • Issue: 2
  • Word Count: Not specified
  • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19439391
  • Processing Fee: $50.00 USD

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