Citation Generator
AI Legal Citation Generator:
Accurate Bluebook Citations
in Seconds
The Law Lion's legal citation generator formats case citations, statute citations, regulation citations, and secondary source citations to Bluebook 22nd edition, ALWD Guide, and applicable local court rules — automatically. No manual formatting.
What the Citation Generator Formats
From case citations to secondary sources — every citation type a practitioner needs.
Case Citations (Rule 10)
Full citations, short-form (id.), parallel citations, and unpublished opinions. Example: Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009).
Statute Citations (Rule 12)
US Code, state statutes, and session laws. Each state's preferred statutory citation convention applied.
Regulatory Citations (Rule 14)
Code of Federal Regulations, Federal Register, and state administrative codes.
Secondary Sources (Rules 15-17)
Law review articles, treatises, books, and Restatements. Formatted per applicable Bluebook rule.
Court Brief vs. Law Review Format
Bluebook has 2 distinct citation systems. The Law Lion formats to the correct system based on your document type.
| Element | Court Brief Format | Law Review Format |
|---|---|---|
| Case names | Italicized or underlined | Italicized |
| Institutional authors | Not abbreviated | Heavily abbreviated per Table T6 |
| Citation placement | In-text citations | Footnote citations |
| Id. usage | After citing same source immediately above | Only in immediately preceding footnote |
Bluebook 22nd Edition: What Changed in 2025
The 22nd edition introduced changes attorneys need to know for current filings. 3 changes matter most.
Rule 18.3
AI Content — The 22nd edition adds rules for citing AI tool outputs in legal writing. The Law Lion formats AI citations under Rule 18.3.
Updated Reporter Abbreviations
Several state and regional reporter abbreviations were updated. The Law Lion applies current 22nd edition abbreviations automatically.
Electronic Sources Update
Rule 18 addresses current electronic source citation formats for legal databases, websites, and digital-only publications.
Local Court Citation Rules
Federal circuit and district courts often have local citation rules that deviate from Bluebook. The Law Lion applies them automatically.
Seventh Circuit
Requires citation to the US Reports for Supreme Court cases rather than the Supreme Court Reporter.
N.D. Cal.
Requires pincites for all quoted material. Requires parallel citations to official reporters where available.
S.D.N.Y.
Has specific requirements for how cases from other jurisdictions are cited as persuasive authority.
Texas State Courts
Apply the Texas Rules of Form (the 'Green Book') — a separate citation system from Bluebook used in all Texas court filings.
Time Savings: Manual vs. The Law Lion
Manual formatting time includes looking up abbreviations, short-form rules, and id. usage. Assumes experienced attorney with Bluebook knowledge.
| Document Type | Citation Count | Manual Time | With Law Lion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motion to Dismiss (15 pages) | 12-18 citations | 20-35 min | < 2 min |
| Summary Judgment Brief (30 pages) | 25-40 citations | 45-70 min | < 3 min |
| Legal Memorandum (15 pages) | 15-25 citations | 25-45 min | < 2 min |
| Appellate Brief (50 pages) | 50-80 citations | 90-150 min | < 5 min |
Citation Verification Before Filing
The Law Lion formats citations accurately. Before filing, attorneys complete 3 verification steps the platform supports but cannot replace.
Confirm the Case Exists
Every citation comes from verified case law. This eliminates fabricated citations, the primary AI citation risk.
Confirm the Cited Proposition
Verify that the case supports the proposition for which you are citing it. AI summarizes holdings — attorney judgment governs application.
Confirm Good Law Status
Run a final Shepard's or KeyCite check immediately before filing to confirm no negative subsequent history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. ALWD format is available as an alternative to Bluebook. Select ALWD in document settings and citations format accordingly throughout the document.
Yes. State court citation formats — including Texas Rules of Form, California Style Manual, and other state-specific systems — are applied automatically when the corresponding state court is selected.
The Indigo Book is a free, open-access citation guide compatible with Bluebook rules. The Law Lion's citation formatting is compatible with Indigo Book standards where they overlap with Bluebook.
Yes. The Law Lion tracks citation sequence within the document and applies id. correctly — only when citing the immediately preceding authority. Supra and infra are applied per Bluebook rules.
Yes. Select law review format in document settings and the citation generator applies law review-specific Bluebook formatting — footnote-style citations, abbreviated names, and law review case name format.