Legal Research, Enhanced: Learn What’s New In PLI PLUS

Legal research gets an upgrade with the newly enhanced PLI PLUS database from Practising Law Institute.

man-gd02e265d2_1920National Library Week, which takes place every April, is a great time to thank your favorite law librarian — and to get familiar with the research tools available to the legal community. This month, we highlight the resources available from Practising Law Institute (PLI). Alexa Robertson, PLI’s Senior Director of Legal Information Services & Electronic Publishing, provides an update on PLI PLUS, PLI’s online legal research platform, and other ways PLI helps legal researchers stay on course with knowledge and reference materials.

For readers who are more familiar with PLI as a CLE provider, how would you describe PLI Press and the PLI PLUS platform?

PLI is a nonprofit learning organization, and our commitment to the legal community extends beyond our programs. PLI Press publishes approximately 300 titles a year, and these and other publications, course handbooks and transcripts, journals, and forms are available digitally in our PLI PLUS database. Subscribers to PLI PLUS have unlimited online access to all these practical, relevant materials.

What differentiates PLUS from other online research databases?

A database is only as good as the content that goes into it — and we’re very proud of ours. PLI Press’s treatises are known for being thoughtful, thorough resources for everything from art law to broker-dealer regulation, and cyber risk to cannabis law. Our authors are experienced thought leaders who have a real passion for their topics and an interest in sharing their expertise.

For instance, Friedman on Leases is a longstanding resource for real estate practitioners that not only clarifies and analyzes the full range of lease provisions and conceivable landlord-tenant situations, but also includes an array of useful forms and clauses that can be adapted for practical use.

PLI PLUS is unique for the expertise of its content, which is curated and organized to help subscribers access exactly what they need — whether it’s in a book, journal, PLI program, or another format. The new version of PLUS includes enhancements focused on ease of use, as well.

Tell us more about the update in the works.

The new version, PLUS 2.0, is in its beta phase now and available for anyone who wants to test drive the platform. It features a sleek, modern design that mirrors the style on PLI’s main website. The design update, along with improved back-end technology, contributes to an enhanced search and navigation experience while delivering the same authoritative content PLUS subscribers rely on. After 10 years of PLUS, this update is a dramatic improvement.

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What are your customers saying about PLUS 2.0?

Since this is a beta launch, we are still actively collecting feedback that will inform our developers as they finalize this version of the platform. Initial customer feedback has been positive, which is very gratifying since customer input was such an important part of our development process from the beginning. The new Browse by Practice Area feature has garnered the most praise as it offers a new way to find content that you need. It allows you to browse across the 33 main areas that PLI content covers and drill down from there to find more specific content.

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Who can access the beta version of PLI PLUS 2.0?

The beta site is available to all PLI PLUS subscribers, and they can test drive the new site here. Our PLI librarians are also offering 30-minute one-on-one demos to walk users through the features of the platform — you can sign up here.

What if my organization does not yet subscribe to PLI PLUS?

Reflecting our commitment to being a learning resource for the legal community, we make some of our content available at no cost. PLI Press publishes two periodicals and makes them freely available. The PLI Chronicle: Insights and Perspectives for the Legal Community is a monthly publication that gives voice to a diverse array of professionals working in the legal industry. It features a mix of content, from the regular “Coach’s Counsel” column written by experts from Loeb Leadership and covering professional issues such as leadership and collaboration, to articles on pro bono, business development, and more. The March issue includes timely articles related to the war in Ukraine, including practical advice on managing cyber risks stemming from the conflict.

PLI Current: The Journal of PLI Press provides authoritative analysis on topics impacting the law and legal profession. Articles include footnote citations to relevant case laws and statutes, as well as links to related articles for further reading. For example, a recent article focuses on the intersection of technology, crypto currencies, and art.

What else is new in the updated version of PLUS?

By providing greater visual cohesion with the PLI.edu website, PLI PLUS 2.0 furthers our goal of integrating all of PLI’s products and websites. We continue to build on this integration behind the scenes, as well. For example, the course handbooks and program transcripts associated with our programs on PLI.edu are available on PLI PLUS, and these related materials are linked to provide a comprehensive resource. And since we use the same robust Practice Area descriptors on PLI.edu and PLI PLUS, relevant content is easier to find.

Where can people go to learn more?

For PLI Press, visit www.pli.edu/publications/home. Learn about signing up for a free trial of PLI PLUS at learning.pli.edu/pliPLUStrial.


Practising Law Institute is a nonprofit learning organization dedicated to keeping attorneys and other professionals at the forefront of knowledge and expertise. PLI is chartered by the Regents of the University of the State of New York and was founded in 1933 by Harold P. Seligson. The organization provides the highest quality, accredited, continuing legal and professional education programs in a variety of formats which are delivered by more than 4,000 volunteer faculty including prominent lawyers, judges, investment bankers, accountants, corporate counsel, and U.S. and international government regulators. PLI publishes a comprehensive library of Treatises, Course Handbooks, Answer Books and Journals also available through the PLI PLUS online platform. The essence of PLI’s mission is its commitment to the pro bono community. View PLI’s upcoming programs here.