Is citing too many cases in a law essay bad?

[alexio543]

I’m currently writing a tort law essay and I’ve cited around 12 cases already. A friend told me that might be too much and could actually weaken the paper. What’s the right balance when referencing case law in legal writing?

 

[adnrio]

Twelve does sound like a lot, but it depends on how deeply you're analyzing each case. Sometimes less is more.

 

[Jordqn212]

When I took my torts class, I used to think more cases meant a stronger argument. But after feedback from my professor, I realized overloading an essay with cases can distract from your main point. I read a tip on https://domyessayfast.com/law-essay-writing/ that advised using only the most relevant and illustrative cases. Instead of listing multiple similar cases, focus on one or two and explain their significance in-depth. It’s also important to analyze, not just describe, what happened in the case. Quality over quantity really applies here. Too many citations can look like padding and may dilute your argument.