Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Council Drafts and Preliminary Drafts should not be cited because they do not reflect ALI's position on a subject and are not publicly available.

Are ALI publications available in electronic format?
Our publications are available on LexisNexis, Westlaw, and HeinOnline. ALI offers 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? 
ALI publications will be soon published by LexisNexis. To learn more, please visit https://law.lexisnexis.com/ALI-publishing.

How can I obtain permission to reprint material from ALI publications?
The material in ALI publications is copyrighted and may not be reprinted, posted online, or otherwise distributed without written permission from ALI. In most cases, a fee will be charged. Please complete this form to apply for permission to reprint from ALI publications.

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.

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.

Council Drafts and Preliminary Drafts should not be cited because they do not reflect ALI's position on a subject and are not publicly available.

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.