Assistants pledge to adhere to the following Code of Ethics:
Pledge to Attorneys
I PLEDGE to solely use my skills as a virtual bankruptcy assistant
to work under the direction of licensed bankruptcy attorneys.
I will never use my skills to work directly for the general public.
I PLEDGE to refer a minimum of two (2) licensed bankruptcy attorneys to potential clients interested in filing bankruptcy to maintain and uphold my adherence to preventing unauthorized practice of law.
I PLEDGE to continually strive to build skills in thinking and reacting with a logical mind, which is required when working in the legal field.
I PLEDGE to make business decisions based on ethical perspectives rather than my personal beliefs and emotions.
I PLEDGE to safeguard the interest of my colleagues and clients and will not knowingly be a party to any illegal or unethical activity.
I PLEDGE to protect any type of confidential information that is obtained in the performance of my duties, and will not use such information for personal gain nor in a manner that would be detrimental to my client or any other party.
I PLEDGE to accurately represent my skills, recognize my limitations and only offer professional services that I feel competent to provide.
I PLEDGE to refer my client business to other virtual bankruptcy assistants that I know to be competent to perform any services that I do not have the skill, training or ability to perform.
I PLEDGE to place each attorney’s best interest first and foremost, making reasonably certain that I have the necessary skills and resources to provide the support needed before entering into a client relationship.
I PLEDGE to accept responsibility for all the work I perform, admit my mistakes and do whatever is necessary to rectify any problems that arise to the satisfaction of the attorneys I serve.
I PLEDGE to maintain accurate and sufficient records of all work that I perform and provide this information to the attorney in the form of a detailed and accurate invoice.
I PLEDGE to safeguard and protect all confidential data as well as backing up all client data. I will provide this data to the attorney at no cost on CD, DVD or other secure method upon request.
I PLEDGE to exercise due diligence in preventing identity theft by shredding all personal information regarding attorneys and their debtors in regard to credit card information, social security and other identifiable data that is not being retained in relation to the bankruptcy case.
I PLEDGE to maintain the highest level of professionalism, and refrain from misrepresenting any authority entrusted to me.
Pledge to Fellow Virtual Bankruptcy AssistantsI PLEDGE to not intentionally partake in any activity, especially libel or slander, that could damage the professional reputation of another virtual assistant. This includes posting negative comments on blogs, bulletin boards or any other electronic or method of publishing that will be seen by one or more persons.
I PLEDGE to not engage in copyright infringement or theft of any other virtual assistant's intellectual property.
I PLEDGE not to engage in any unfair business trade practices at all times.
I PLEDGE not to intentionally steal clients from other virtual assistants, but rather to offer to work together in a financially rewarding way that is just as beneficial for me as the other virtual assistants.
I PLEDGE to be accepting of others' opinions, values, beliefs and acknowledge they are as valid as my own.
I PLEDGE not to use any confidential information gained through my professional association with colleagues for personal benefit of any kind.
I PLEDGE to treat members of the NAVBA as a support family whereby we work together for the goals of the organization, treat each other with respect and conduct our affairs with the utmost professionalism.
The NAVBA Pledge of ExcellenceI am a professional member of The National Association of Virtual Bankruptcy Assistants and therefore understand my ethical responsibilities to attorneys, debtors and myself. I will conduct myself with the highest degree of integrity and take full responsibility for my actions and the outcome of my actions. I only provide services consistent with my current level of competence and will inform attorneys of conditions that may limit my effectiveness. I take full accountability for my work and admit my mistakes and will correct them immediately. Attorneys and debtors are my number one priority and I agree to act as a representative of my attorneys and protect their interests at all times. I am consistently looking for ways to better myself and will continue to educate and update my skills and knowledge. I agree to work as a team player within the virtual assistant community and would never intentionally harm the professional reputation or practice of another virtual assistant or anyone with whom I do business.