NALSC Code of Ethics
Preamble
The National Association of Legal Search Consultants is committed to the
provision of professional and ethical employment services to the legal
community. To that end, its members have established this Code of Ethics,
subscribed to and endorsed by each as condition of his or her continuing
membership.
ARTICLE I
Relations With Employers
1. Information provided to employers shall be the most accurate
information known to the search firm.
2. No search firm shall withhold candidate information which the employer would
reasonably consider essential to its hiring decision.
3. Candidates shall be referred only (i) with the prior authorization of the
employer, or (ii) where the search firm, based on previous direct
communications with the employer, reasonably believes the employer would accept
the referral.
4. Confidential information relating to the employer shall be treated
accordingly.
5. Fee obligations and replacement and refund provisions, if any, shall be
provided to the employer prior to the referral of candidates.
6. No search firm shall recruit any attorney from the office of an employer in
which it has made a placement for a six-month period following that placement,
unless the search firm reasonably believes such a restriction is not required
by the employer.
7. No search firm shall recruit a candidate it has placed while the candidate
remains with the employer that paid the recruiting fee.
ARTICLE II
Relations With Candidates
1. Information provided to candidates shall be the most accurate
information known to the search firm.
2. No search firm shall withhold employer information which a candidate would
reasonably consider essential to his or her hiring decision.
3. Candidates shall be referred to employers only with the candidate's express
prior consent.
4. Confidential information relating to the candidate shall be treated
accordingly.
5. Search firms shall make all referrals which have been authorized by the
candidate and shall inform the candidate of the results of those referrals in a
timely manner.
6. No search firm shall at tempt to exert undue influence on the candidate.
ARTICLE III
Relations Among Members
1. Members of this Association shall relate to each other in a
professional and ethical manner consistent with the goals of this
Association.
2. While competition among search firms is encouraged, no member shall seek an
unfair advantage against its competitors.
3. Except for fee-sharing agreements between search firms, no member shall
make payments of any kind to gain business referrals or to induce others into a
relationship as a client or candidate.
4. Members shall recognize and not interfere with referrals made by other
search firms.
5. Members are strongly encouraged to bring to the attention of the Association
any violations of this Code.
ARTICLE IX
General
1. No member of this Association shall engage in any action which might
bring the Association, its members or the legal search profession into
disrepute.
2. No search firm shall make false or deceptive claims in any advertising,
promotion or public relations materials.
3. No member shall discriminate in the provision of its services on the basis
of race, creed, color, national origin, religion, sex, marital status,
handicap, age or any other legally proscribed criteria.
4. Complaints under this Code shall be in writing, signed by the initiating
party and filed with the President of the Association.
5. Members shall cooperate with the Association's investigation of alleged
violations of this Code and shall abide by its decisions.
6. Sanctions for violation of this Code, which include censure, suspension and
expulsion from the Association, as well as procedures for hearings and appeals,
are provided for in the Association's Bylaws.
7. This Code neither supersedes nor replaces the requirements of local, state,
or federal laws.
For more information, please see the NALSC Web site.
