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Sign Up for Ethics First

Ethics First is a positive and proactive effort by NCRA to encourage reporters, firms, and the clients they serve to promote the impartiality and the neutrality of the reporting profession and avoid gift giving and gift acceptance.

The Ethics First logo is for use by reporters and reporting firms to promote the impartiality and neutrality of the reporting profession and to avoid inappropriate gift giving and gift acceptance. When used correctly, the Ethics First trademark is designed to instill public confidence in, and support for, our profession.

Ethics First policy and license

The Ethics First trademark is owned by NCRA. NCRA has the exclusive right to use the Ethics First trademark and to stop others from using it improperly or without authorization. To protect the public, our members, and our profession, NCRA allows the use of its trademark Ethics First only by those who agree to be bound by and follow the NCRA Code of Professional Ethics.

NCRA Ethics First policy and license terms and conditions

Terms and conditions

By accepting the terms of this policy and license, the individual must agree to be bound by and follow the NCRA Code of Professional Ethics. Furthermore, the Ethics First trademark may be used only on marketing materials and may not be used for any of the following purposes:

The Ethics First trademark may not be incorporated into or used as part of a third party's own logo, company name, or otherwise without the specific written approval of NCRA.
The Ethics First trademark may not be used in any way that is likely to be confusing, misleading, or deceptive as to the true identity or the source of products, services, materials, courses, or programs.
No mark that is misleadingly similar in design or appearance to the Ethics First trademark or infringes on NCRA’s trademark rights may be used.
The ETHICS FIRST trademark may NOT be used in any manner that is likely to disparage, dilute or negatively affect the reputation of NCRA or other reporters or reporting firms.
The Ethics First trademark may not be used in a way that is likely to imply that the user, its products, or its services are endorsed by, sponsored, or affiliated with NCRA, without prior written permission from NCRA.

NCRA will pursue its legal rights against those who engage in any of these activities or any other activities that infringe upon NCRA’s trademark rights. This applies not only to the public, but also to NCRA members, court reporting firms, and other groups and organizations.

If you agree to the terms and conditions of this Ethics First policy and License, please complete and submit the appropriate form below to acknowledge your consent. You may download the Ethics First trademark and NCRA grants you the nonexclusive right to use the Ethics First trademark as described in this Policy and License. Violation of the terms and conditions of this Policy and License may result in immediate revocation of your right to use the Ethics First trademark.

Access Ethics First logos

To access the logo, please read the following Ethics First policy and license, and then proceed to the appropriate agreement form below.

Ethics First Participant logo

To be eligible to be an Ethics First Participant, the individual must be an NCRA member and involved in making the judicial/impartial record. This includes NCRA-member stenographic captioners and reporters, and NCRA-member legal videographers.

Ethics First Agreement Participant consent

Ethics First Participant Agreement

Please fill in the below form. Please note that by submitting this form that you agree to abide by the terms and conditions as set forth on the Ethics First Members Agreement.

Member information

First name

Last name

Firm name

Address

City

State

Zip code

Business phone

I agree to the terms and conditions of the NCRA Ethics First policy and license and agree to abide by the NCRA Code of Professional Ethics.

I certify that I am an NCRA Member and am a stenographic captioner, court reporter or Certified Legal Videography Specialist.

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Ethics First Firm logo

To be eligible as an Ethics First Firm, the firm in question must have at least one owner or manager who is an NCRA member.

A court reporting firm meeting these requirements may use the Ethics First trademark under the terms of this policy and license. By accepting the terms of this policy and license, the individual completing this form on behalf of the firm must agree that the firm will follow the NCRA Code of Professional Ethics.

NOTE: Once a firm owner/manager registers his/her firm for Ethics First, that individual will automatically be registered as an Ethics First Participant or Supporter, depending on eligibility.

Ethics First Agreement Firm consent

Ethics First Firm Agreement

Please fill in the below form. Please note that by submitting this form that you agree to abide by the terms and conditions as set forth on the Ethics First Firm Agreement.

Contact information

First name

Last name

Firm name

Address

City

State

Zip code

Business phone

I agree to the terms and conditions of the NCRA Ethics First policy and license and agree to abide by the NCRA Code of Professional Ethics.

I certify that I am signing up on behalf of my court reporting firm as a whole and not as an individual. I further certify that I have the authorization to bind my firm to the above agreement.

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Ethics First Supporter logo

The Ethics First Supporter category encompasses all individuals and organizations who, although not themselves directly involved in creating the record in judicial court proceedings or depositions, support the principles espoused by the Ethics First program.

This includes:

attorneys
law firms
state and local bar associations
judges
state and local court reporter associations
captioners*
vendors*
scopists*
transcriptionists*

*The individual must be in the appropriate classification of NCRA membership (e.g., associate, retired, student) to be eligible for the Ethics First Supporter category. The Supporter category is not intended to allow nonmembers the opportunity to skirt the membership requirement for Ethics First Participants. Although captioners are NCRA members, they do not “make the judicial record” and therefore are ineligible to be Ethics First Participants. Captioners are eligible to be Ethics First Supporters.

Ethics First Agreement Supporter consent

Ethics First Supporter Agreement

Please fill in the below form. Please note that by submitting this form that you agree to abide by the terms and conditions as set forth on the Ethics First Firm Agreement.

Contact information

First name

Last name

Firm name

Address

City

State

Zip code

Business phone

I am signing up as a:

State Association - Firm Name

I agree to the terms and conditions of the NCRA Ethics First policy and license and agree to abide by the NCRA Code of Professional Ethics.

I certify that I support the tenets and precepts of the Ethics First program and am not involved in the actual making of the record.

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