Ethics First

What is Ethics First?

 The National Court Reporters Association has a Code of Professional Ethics for its members to follow.  The Code specifically states that NCRA members shall "Refrain from giving, directly or indirectly, any gift, incentive, reward, or anything of value to attorneys, clients, or their representatives or agents, except for items that do not exeed $100 in the aggregate per recipient each year."  The purpose of this provision is to avoid the possible appearance of partiality or favoritism on the part of a reporter.

Did you know ... that incentives, gifts, and rebate programs are being offered by court reporting firms to influence the hiring decision?

Did you know ... that reporting firms who give valuable gifts are not following the National Court Reporters Code of Professional Ethics?

Did you know ... that the amount of these gifts may be considered y the IRS to be revenue to an attorney, lawyer, legal assistant, or any other employee of a law firm?

Did you know ... that a court reporter or deposition firm who gives gifts to a law firm that exceed $600 would be required to provide IRS information to the recipient law firm?

The world of court reporting is very competitive.  Ethics First members pride themselves on marketing their skills and the products and services they provide!  As an Ethics First proponent, there are no incentives other than excellent service and adherence to NCRA's Code of Professional Ethics.  Ethics First reporters are measured by their certifications and not the gifts they give.

Join Ethics First!  Encourage your clients to protect themselves and their clients by hiring a reporter based on skill and experience ... and one who puts Ethics First!

Articles:

ABA Article on Gifting
ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct
Citation to US Legal - Court Reporters Board of California
Esquire vs. GCRA, DRA Newslettter, April 2010
Formal Complaint Against US Legal - DRA
Guardians of Whose Record? by Robin Nodland - Oregon State Bar Newsletter
Look a Gifthorse in the Mouth, by Lisa Migliore Black
Risk of Rewards, by James DeCrescenzo, JCR, July 2008
US Legal Press Release by DRA and CCRA
Dear Nancy - from the DRA Newsletter, April, 2010