Practising Law Institute (PLI) has adopted a Code of Conduct which establishes certain minimum standards of proper conduct. These standards apply to all PLI employees, temporary employees, independent contractors, agents, representatives, officers and board members.  PLI employees and temporary employees are also expected to meet all of the standards and requirements as set forth in the PLI Employee Handbook.

This Code of Conduct is intended to provide guidelines and encourage behavior which is aligned with PLI’s mission to provide the highest quality programs to legal and other professionals, and to support the legal community by offering pro bono training content to meet the needs of those individuals who are seeking access to justice.  Additionally, PLI desires to be a model corporate citizen by adhering to policies which advance issues that further the good of the public while holding itself to the highest standards of ethical behavior.  

PLI’s Code of Conduct aligns with standards of leading organizations and begins with the following four broad categories:

1. Human Rights

Businesses must support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.

2. Labor

Businesses must comply with all applicable labor laws and actively follow policies that work toward: the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labor; the effective abolition of child labor; and the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

3. Environment

Businesses ought to support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges; undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.

4. Anti-Corruption

Businesses must comply with all applicable anti-corruption laws and work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.

PLI also aspires to maintain the most comprehensive policies in place to ensure that our and our customers’ information is kept secure and private.

5. Data Privacy

PLI is committed to compliance with laws and regulations setting out the current best practices and standards regarding data privacy including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA).

6. Data Security

PLI is committed to compliance with the current best practices and standards regarding the security of computing and data resources including those enumerated in ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27002.

7. Intellectual Property

PLI respects the rights of developers of Intellectual Property.  We are all responsible for protecting intellectual property rights and maintaining the confidentiality of confidential information and other proprietary information. Copyrighted software, documentation, or other materials must not be reproduced unless there is proper authorization to do so. Observe applicable data privacy requirements.

8. Miscellaneous

As a federal contractor, it is the policy and practice of PLI to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified employees and applicants without regard to race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, military and veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other factor protected by federal, state or local law. This policy applies to all employment practices at PLI.

PLI is committed to providing and maintaining a professional work environment free from discrimination and harassment, where employees treat each other with respect, dignity and courtesy. To this end, PLI prohibits any inappropriate conduct, communication or display regarding a person’s race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, military and veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other factor protected by federal, state or local law, that fails to respect the dignity or feelings of those in the workplace.

PLI expects its employees, temporary employees, independent contractors, agents, representatives, officers and board members to always demonstrate the highest ethical principles and avoid engaging in any activity that involves even the appearance of impropriety.  PLI seeks to conduct its business in compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations. You shall not engage in any unlawful activity in conducting PLI’s business or in performing your day to-day job duties, nor shall any manager instruct you or others to do so.

PLI may revise this Code of Conduct at any time by posting a revised Code of Conduct at the link shown at the bottom of PLI’s internet home page (http://www.pli.edu).