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Terms of Service & Privacy Policy

LA Law Institute – Online Educational Resources & Simulators

Last Updated: April 24, 2025

1. Introduction

Welcome to the LA Law Institute ("LALI") online educational platform, accessible at https://lalawinstitute.org ("Platform"). LALI is an unaccredited, registered law school in California, regulated by the State Bar of California, offering legal education resources, including online lessons, lectures, practice simulations, and instructional tools to prepare students for the First-Year Law Students’ Examination (FYLSX) and other legal studies. By using our Platform, you agree to these Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, you may not access or use the Platform.

2. Use of Services

The Platform is for personal, non-commercial use by individuals seeking to enhance their legal knowledge or pursue law school education. Services include:

• Interactive lessons and recorded lectures
• Legal exam simulators and self-assessment tools
• Reading materials, outlines, and study guides

You agree not to use the Platform for illegal or unauthorized purposes or to violate any laws in your jurisdiction.

3. Eligibility

Access is limited to individuals aged 18 or older, or the age of majority in their jurisdiction. By using the Platform, you confirm you meet this requirement. LALI does not knowingly collect data from individuals under 13, in compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Age is verified through self-certification during registration.

4. Account Registration and Security

Users must create accounts to access certain features. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity under your account. Do not share login credentials with others.

5. Intellectual Property

All Platform materials, including text, logos, software, images, course materials, simulations, study guides, and other content, are the property of LALI or its licensors and are protected by U.S. copyright law. All LALI materials are explicitly copyrighted © 2025 LA Law Institute. Unauthorized copying, distribution, or reproduction is prohibited and may result in legal action.

6. User Conduct

You agree not to:

• Cheat, plagiarize, or misuse content
• Share, distribute, or republish materials without written consent
• Engage in disruptive, abusive, or unlawful behavior

Misuse may result in suspension or permanent removal of access.

7. Payment and Subscription Terms

Access to certain services requires payment through a third-party processor (currently PayPal; Stripe will be added in the future). All payments are final, but refunds may be issued within 7 days for unused services or technical issues, at LALI’s discretion. To cancel a subscription, contact support@lalawinstitute.org. LALI does not collect or store payment information.

8. Data Collection and Retention

8.1 Minimal Data Policy

LALI minimizes data collection, collecting only what is necessary for account creation, service delivery, customer support, or compliance with California State Bar requirements.

8.2 What We Collect

• Account Details: Email address, name, optional phone number
• State Bar Compliance: Social Security number (for FYLSX registration and State Bar reporting, per Guideline 5.5) and academic transcripts (to verify prior education, per Guideline 5.3)
• Usage Data: Course progress, activity logs (for service improvement and academic verification)
• Support Inquiries: Information submitted via help desk or contact forms
• Cookies: Essential cookies for session management and functionality (see Section 8.5)

8.3 What We Don’t Collect

• Health or medical information
• Payment card details (handled by PayPal or Stripe)

8.4 Data Retention

Data is retained for the duration of your active enrollment and for at least 5 years after completion or withdrawal, as required by California State Bar Rule 4.240(E). Upon account termination, non-mandatory data is deleted within 30 days, except where retention is required by law (e.g., student records for State Bar audits). Activity logs may be anonymized for service improvement. SSNs and transcripts are retained securely and disclosed only to the State Bar as required.

8.5 Cookies and Tracking

LALI uses essential cookies to enable core Platform functionality, such as user authentication and session management in Moodle 4.5. We do not use non-essential cookies or tracking technologies for analytics or advertising. You may disable cookies in your browser, but this may affect Platform functionality. No personal data is shared with third parties via cookies.

9. Third-Party Services

LALI uses third-party services for payment processing (PayPal currently; Stripe in the future). These providers handle payment data per their privacy policies (see PayPal’s at https://www.paypal.com/us/legalhub/privacy-full; Stripe’s at https://stripe.com/privacy). We may use Moodle plugins or analytics tools for service improvement; any such tools comply with this policy and State Bar regulations. No personal data is shared with third parties except as described or with your consent.

10. Directory Information & Disclosure

LALI does not maintain public student directories. Personal information, including SSNs and transcripts, is not disclosed without consent, except:

• To the California State Bar for FYLSX registration or regulatory compliance (e.g., Rule 4.240)
• When required by law, subpoena, or administrative order
• To prevent imminent harm (e.g., in response to a credible threat to user safety)

Users may request a copy of their data or deletion (subject to State Bar retention rules) by emailing support@lalawinstitute.org.

11. Privacy Rights and FERPA-Like Protections

As an unaccredited, registered law school, LALI voluntarily aligns with Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) principles. Users have the right to:

• Access their data
• Correct inaccuracies
• Request deletion, subject to State Bar retention requirements

Requests are processed within 45 days. California residents may exercise CCPA rights (e.g., opt-out of data sharing) by contacting support@lalawinstitute.org.

12. International User Rights (GDPR)

For users in the European Union, LALI complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

• Lawful Basis: Data is processed for contract performance (e.g., delivering educational services) or legal obligations (e.g., State Bar reporting).
• Consent: You may consent to data processing during registration; consent can be withdrawn anytime via support@lalawinstitute.org.
• Rights: Access, rectify, delete (subject to State Bar rules), or restrict data processing; request data portability.
• Contact: For GDPR inquiries, email support@lalawinstitute.org. Complaints may be filed with your local data protection authority.

13. ADA and Accessibility Commitment

LALI is committed to accessibility, designing the Platform for compatibility with screen readers and assistive technologies. Request accommodations at support@lalawinstitute.org.

14. Security Practices

We employ industry-standard safeguards, including:

• Secure SSL encryption
• Role-based access control
• Regular system audits and backups
• Prompt incident response

SSNs and transcripts are stored securely with restricted access to comply with State Bar and privacy regulations. LALI does not guarantee freedom from viruses or breaches but takes reasonable measures to prevent them.

15. Changes to These Terms

LALI may update these Terms and Privacy Policy to reflect State Bar requirements or other changes. Continued use after updates constitutes acceptance. Changes will be posted at https://lalawinstitute.org.

16. Disclaimer of Academic Services

LALI is an unaccredited, registered law school providing educational assistance to prepare students for the FYLSX and legal studies. LALI does not guarantee admission to the State Bar or equivalence to accredited law school instruction.

17. Functionality and Limitations

LALI’s simulators and tools are unique and designed for educational purposes, not equivalent to accredited law school instruction, certification, or accreditation.

18. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by California law. Disputes may be resolved through arbitration (per American Arbitration Association rules) or in Los Angeles County courts. Arbitration costs are shared equally, unless otherwise agreed.

19. Severability

If any provision is unenforceable, the remainder remains in effect.

20. Entire Agreement

These Terms and Privacy Policy constitute the entire agreement between you and LALI regarding Platform use.

21. Contact

For questions or concerns, contact:

📧 Email: support@lalawinstitute.org
🌐 Website: https://lalawinstitute.org
📍 Mailing Address: Forthcoming (contact via email for updates)