How do Principles of the Law differ from Restatements of the Law?
Restatements are primarily addressed to courts. They aim at clear formulations of common law and its statutory elements or variations and reflect the law as it presently stands or might appropriately be stated by a court. Principles are primarily addressed to legislatures, administrative agencies, or private actors. They can, however, be addressed to courts when an area is so new that there is little established law. Principles may suggest best practices for these institutions. See ALI's style manual for more information.

Can I cite ALI project drafts?
Once a Tentative Draft or a Proposed Final Draft is approved by the Council and by the ALI membership at an Annual Meeting, it represents the most current statement of ALI's position on the subject and may be cited in opinions or briefs in accordance with Bluebook rule 12.9.4, e.g., Restatement (Second) of Torts § 847A (Am. L. Inst. Tentative Draft No. 17, 1974), until the official text is published. The vote of approval allows for possible further revision of the drafts to reflect the discussion at the Annual Meeting and to make editorial improvements.

Are ALI publications available in electronic format?
Our publications are available on HeinOnline, LexisNexis, and Westlaw. Many publications are available as e-books on the ProView platform from Thomson Reuters.

ALI offers most ALI recent Annual Meeting drafts in PDF format.

What are pocket parts and cumulative annual supplements?
Pocket parts, published annually and designed to be inserted in pockets in the back cover of a Restatement of the Law or Principles of the Law volume, contain summaries of court opinions that have cited the provisions of that volume. They enable users to determine quickly whether and how a particular provision has been applied in a given jurisdiction. Additionally, corrections to a Restatement or Principles volume are noted in its accompanying pocket part. Pocket parts that have grown too large to be accommodated in a volume's pocket are published as softcover cumulative annual supplements, which are shelved beside the volume or volumes they cover.

What are the interim case citations? 
Interim case citations are softcover pamphlets issued twice yearly to update the annual pocket parts and cumulative supplements. They contain additional new case summaries, as well as a table of recent cases that have cited Restatements or Principles of the Law.

What are appendix volumes?
When the citations contained in pocket parts become extensive, the information is compiled into hardbound appendix volumes. Appendix volumes to some Restatement Second subjects also include Reporters' Notes and cross-references. The number of these volumes varies according to the age of the original publication and number of times the publication has been cited by the courts.

How can I figure out if I have a complete set of Restatement and Principles of the Law volumes and pocket parts?
You can use our checklist (PDF) listing the volumes and pocket parts that constitute a complete set. The checklist is a guide to the proper placement of volumes in your library and may be used to check for any missing or superseded items. If you have questions about ALI publications, please contact our Customer Service Department by phone at 1-800-253-6397 or by email to custserv@ali.org.

Can I subscribe to receive ALI publications automatically? 
Yes, we offer several options for subscriptions. For details, please contact our Customer Service Department by phone at 1-800-253-6397 or by email to custserv@ali.org.

How can I obtain permission to reprint material from ALI publications?
Please complete this form to apply for permission to reprint from ALI publications. Your request will be considered as promptly as possible. If you have questions about reprint permission, contact us by phone at (215) 243-1687 or via email.

Does ALI maintain archives?
The Institute's archives are located at the Biddle Law Library of the University of Pennsylvania Law School. The archives include correspondence, drafts, and other historical materials related to projects undertaken by ALI since its formation. For more information, visit the Archives page on the Law School's website or email the archivist at biddlearchives@law.upenn.edu

Drafts and historical materials related to ALI projects also are available in microfiche through William S. Hein & Co. and online via HeinOnline.

Projects

Can I cite drafts of current projects?
Once it is approved by the Council and by the membership at an Annual Meeting, a Tentative Draft or a Proposed Final Draft represents the most current statement of ALI's position on the subject and may be cited in opinions or briefs (e.g., as Restatement Third, Trusts, Tentative Draft No. 6, 2011) until the official text is published. The vote of approval allows for possible further revision of the drafts to reflect the discussion at the Meeting or to make editorial improvements.

How can ALI members join Members Consultative Groups for projects?
Log in and select the project(s) in which you are interested under "Projects," then click on the Join MCG button.

How can ALI project participants access drafts for their projects?
Links to drafts are emailed to project participants in advance of meetings of the Advisers and Members Consultative Group. Members can log in to view or download drafts in PDF format.

How can I find out when the next project meeting is scheduled?
Project participants will be notified by email when a meeting is scheduled. You also can check the Meetings calendar for upcoming meetings.