California Style Manual, 4th

Not to endorse the blue book, but to correct an error I noticed in one of the other reviews note that the California Rules of Court endorse both the Bluebook and CSM.

The California legal system rejects The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation ("The Bluebook") as a valid citation formatting source. California practitioners (or those appearing pro hac vice) must not use The Bluebook citation format. California judicial opinions, orders, etc., are drafted using the California Style Manual in formatting citations. Any filings submitted to a California court or opposing counsel in Bluebook format will automatically suffer a significant, and potentially fatal, loss of credibility. The California Style Manual is a MUST HAVE and MUST USE in California litigation. PRACTICING LAW IN CALIFORNIA? BUY THIS BOOK; STUDY IT; APPLY IT; AND BENEFIT FROM IT!

I received this product within two days after I had ordered priority shipping and was very impressed with the quick turnaround. Thank you.

Buy this directly from West, it only costs $17, and shipping is free. I've seen used copies for sale on Alibris for $270, and as far as I can tell they're identical to what's for sale at West, which is the publisher.

Every CA firm should have one (or several) of these. The California Supreme Court has adopted this style manual as the official guide for styling citations, making it a critical handbook for California courts and court personnel. It includes citation styles for modern research such as Internet, CD-ROM, and online research services. It also provides clear, comprehensive direction on citing recently filed opinions and legislative history. This is basically the "bluebook" for California state courts. Unfortunately, it's not always clear which citation format is acceptable (CA vs. Bluebook/Federal), so you may also want to get the practitioner's guide ("Using the California Style Manual and The Bluebook: A Practitioner's Guide") to help you determine which publication is most appropriate for each court. Don't forget, each California county has its own requirements.