Code of Conduct

Ratio. is a constitutional training ground for legal advocacy. Every Advocate who participates in this community is expected to uphold the highest standards of professional decorum, intellectual honesty, and mutual respect. This Code of Conduct establishes the principles that govern conduct on the platform and reflects the values of the legal profession we seek to prepare our Advocates for.

By using Ratio., you agree to abide by this Code. Violations may result in enforcement action, up to and including permanent removal from the platform.

1. Our Standards

Ratio. aspires to cultivate an environment that mirrors the professionalism expected of officers of the court. Our community is founded upon the following principles:

• Integrity — Honesty in all submissions, arguments, and interactions. The strength of advocacy lies in truthful representation.
• Respect — Courtesy toward all Advocates, regardless of experience, background, Chamber affiliation, or viewpoint.
• Rigour — Commitment to thorough preparation, careful reasoning, and proper citation of authorities.
• Fairness — Equitable treatment of opposing arguments and good-faith engagement in sessions and debates.
• Collegiality — Recognition that all Advocates share the common purpose of developing their skills and contributing to the community.

2. Expected Behaviour

All Advocates are expected to conduct themselves in a manner befitting the professional standards of the Bar. This includes:

• Engaging constructively in moot sessions, parliamentary debates, and Law Book discussions
• Providing thoughtful and respectful feedback to fellow Advocates
• Properly attributing sources and authorities in all submissions, including Law Book contributions and argument texts
• Respecting the decisions of session chairs, judges, and moderators
• Representing your qualifications, experience, and institutional affiliation truthfully
• Honouring commitments to scheduled sessions and notifying relevant parties promptly if unable to attend
• Contributing to a welcoming environment for new Advocates and junior members of Chambers
• Using the platform's features, including AI tools, honestly and in the spirit of genuine learning

3. Unacceptable Behaviour

The following conduct is strictly prohibited on Ratio. and may result in immediate enforcement action:

• Harassment, bullying, or intimidation of any Advocate, whether in sessions, comments, or private communications through the platform
• Discriminatory language or behaviour on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, age, or any other protected characteristic
• Plagiarism or misrepresentation of another's work as your own, including uncredited use of AI-generated content in contexts requiring original work
• Deliberate disruption of sessions, including persistent interruption, bad-faith argumentation, or refusal to follow procedural directions
• Sharing or publishing another Advocate's personal information without their consent
• Manipulation of rankings, scores, or badges through fraudulent means
• Abuse of the Tribunal system, including filing frivolous or vexatious complaints
• Posting content that is obscene, defamatory, or otherwise unlawful
• Persistent failure to meet commitments to scheduled sessions without reasonable cause
• Any conduct that would bring the legal profession or the Ratio. community into disrepute

4. Enforcement

Enforcement of this Code is administered through the Ratio. Tribunal system. The Tribunal operates as the platform's adjudicatory body and handles complaints of Code violations with due regard for procedural fairness.

Enforcement actions may include, but are not limited to:

• Formal warning — A recorded notice that the Advocate's conduct has fallen below the expected standard
• Temporary suspension — Restriction of access to the platform for a defined period
• Content removal — Deletion of specific submissions that violate the Code
• Ranking penalty — Reduction of standing or removal of badges obtained through prohibited conduct
• Permanent ban — Irrevocable removal from the platform, reserved for the most serious or repeated violations

All enforcement decisions are made with reference to the severity of the violation, the Advocate's history, and any mitigating circumstances. Advocates subject to enforcement action will be informed of the grounds and given an opportunity to respond before a final determination is made, except in cases requiring immediate action to protect the safety of the community.

5. Reporting

If you witness or experience conduct that violates this Code, you are encouraged to report it promptly. Reports may be submitted through:

• The Tribunal filing system, accessible from within the platform
• Direct email to contact@ratiothedigitalcourtsociety.com

All reports will be treated with appropriate confidentiality. We will not disclose the identity of a reporting Advocate to the respondent without the reporter's consent, except where required by law or necessary for the fair resolution of the matter.

Retaliation against any Advocate who reports a violation in good faith is itself a serious violation of this Code and will be treated accordingly.

6. Scope

This Code of Conduct applies to all interactions on the Ratio. platform, including but not limited to:

• Moot sessions, legal simulations, parliamentary debates, and Moot Court sessions
• Law Book contributions, reviews, and editorial discussions
• Chamber activities and inter-Chamber communications
• Tribunal proceedings
• Profile content and public-facing information
• Any communications facilitated through the platform, including notifications and feedback

Where an Advocate's conduct outside the platform has a direct and material impact on the safety or integrity of the Ratio. community, such conduct may also fall within the scope of this Code.

7. Attribution

This Code of Conduct is inspired by the standards of the professional Bar, the principles articulated in the Bar Standards Board Handbook, and the Contributor Covenant. It has been adapted to reflect the specific educational and community purposes of Ratio.

We are grateful to the many open-source communities and professional bodies whose commitment to fair and respectful conduct has informed these standards.