PLI (Practical Law Institute) is a leading online legal education provider offering law students, attorneys, and other professionals comprehensive, up-to-date legal courses taught by expert instructors. With over 100,000 members globally, PLI provides robust online legal training aligned with various U.S. state bar exam requirements and continuing legal education needs. To access PLI’s online courses and resources, users must first create a PLI website account. This article will provide an overview of logging into your PLI account as well as key features available after logging in.
Accessing the PLI Website
To access your PLI account, first navigate to the PLI website at www.pli.edu. The home page displays information on PLI’s various course offerings and membership options. To log into your account, click the “Log In” link at the top right corner of the page.
Logging Into Your PLI Account
After clicking the Log In link, you will be taken to the PLI login page. Here, enter the email address and password associated with your PLI website account. Make sure to enter the correct email and password combination – note that both fields are case-sensitive. If you cannot recall your password, you may click the “Forgot Password” link to initiate a password reset (more on this below). Once you have entered your email and password, click the “Log In” button to access your account.
Resetting Your PLI Password
If you cannot remember your current PLI password, you may reset it by clicking the Forgot Password link on the login page. You will need to enter the email address associated with your PLI account. An email containing a link to reset your password will then be sent to that address.
Click the reset password link in the email and you will be directed to a page to enter and confirm your new PLI account password. Be sure to choose a strong password that you will remember going forward. After entering and confirming your new password, click Submit to reset it. You can then login using your email and new password.
Exploring Key Features After Logging In
Once logged in, the PLI website opens up access to a range of features and resources for accessing course materials, tracking your progress, connecting with instructors and fellow students, and getting technical support. The top navigation bar allows quick access to key pages like Course Dashboard, Grades, Discussion Forums, Inbox Messages, and Account Settings. Take some time to explore each section.
Viewing Your Course Materials
The Course Dashboard page organizes all the courses and content you are currently enrolled in or have access to. You will see course titles and descriptions, instructors, credit details, progress indicators, and links to launch course home pages. From each course home page, you can view lessons, readings, lectures, assignments, exams, discussion boards, grades, and instructor contact information. This is your starting point to actively participate in each course.
Checking Your Progress and Grades
As you work through courses, be sure to frequently check back on your overall progress and grades for assignments, quizzes, exams, and other work. From the Course Dashboard, click the progress circle next to any course to see a detailed percentage breakdown of course components completed versus remaining.
To drill further into your scores for graded elements within a course, visit the Grades page linked at the top navigation bar. This will display scores for all completed assessments across courses. Use this feedback to focus your study time appropriately going forward.
Participating in Discussion Forums
The online discussion forums are a great way to engage with instructors and fellow students taking the same courses as you. Not only can you post questions to clarify concepts from lessons, but engaging in discussions is critical practice in analyzing real-world scenarios and legal issues. Search for forums either from the Discussion Forum link in the top navigation bar or from within specific courses. Be sure to follow forum guidelines and conduct yourself professionally when posting.
Contacting Support
The PLI website also offers quick access to Support. Click on the Contact link in the top right navigation bar to submit a technical support request or to email admin, instructors, or other staff directly. You will also find contact info for billing-related inquiries. When submitting tech support tickets, provide detailed information on the issue you are facing so PLI staff can best assist in troubleshooting and resolving it for you.
Tips for Using PLI Effectively
Here are some key tips to get the most value from the PLI learning platform:
- Set a consistent study schedule for completing lessons, lectures, and assignments within the suggested pacing of each course
- Leverage course discussion forums proactively when you need help
- Use the detailed progress reporting features to focus your time on incomplete course components
- Download PLI mobile apps to view course content on the go
- Check your account inbox and notifications regularly so you do not miss important communications
- Ensure your account profile information stays updated year to year
Following these best practices will help you maintain productivity and pass your courses successfully.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I forgot my password. What should I do?
A: If you forget your password, click the “Forgot Password” link on the login page. You can then enter your account email address and reset your password.
Q: How do I update my account information?
A: After logging in, click on your name in the top right corner and select “Account Settings”. Here you can update details like your name, email address, password, and more.
Q: What browsers work best for accessing the PLI site?
A: PLI recommends using newer versions of Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari. Make sure your browser is updated to the latest version for the best experience.
Q: Can I download course content to view offline?
A: Yes, PLI allows users to download course videos, MP3 files, presentations, readings, and more for offline access when an internet connection is unavailable. Check your course pages for download options.
Q: Is customer support available 24/7?
A: No, PLI’s customer support operates 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on weekdays. You can submit a support request ticket anytime however, and expect a response within 24 hours.
Q: What should I do if I notice an error or issue with my course access?
A: If you experience any technical issues while accessing your courses or course content, submit a support request immediately detailing the specific error you are seeing. The PLI technical staff will then troubleshoot the issue and respond to you directly.
Q: How do I contact my course instructor?
A: Once logged in, select your specific course to view the instructor’s contact information, office hours, email address, or phone number on the course home page. This will provide multiple options to get in touch with questions.
Conclusion
In summary, the PLI website provides legal professionals access to a robust set of online legal education courses and learning tools. Take time to properly set up your account, get oriented to key pages and features, establish consistent study habits, and engage with instructors and fellow students. Maintaining your account login credentials and password will ensure seamless access to progress tracking, course forums, grades, and support channels whenever you need them.
