NALSC Code of Ethics
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. Esquire
is a member of NALSC.
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.
