Freelance Deposition

[Pete Cofrancesco]

Can anyone tell me what are the guidelines for working for multiple firms doing deposition work. I'm only getting 1 to 2 days a week at this firm and I was thinking of doing work for other court reporting firms in the area. Would this be considered improper? It's not as if I'm trying to steal clients, I see it as offering my services during my down time, but it might be viewed as crossing the line and competing against them. Since I'm new to this type of work I'd like to learn the accepted guidelines before broaching this topic with the company I'm working for.

[Shaun Roemich]

Before one of the heavyweights weighs in, let me begin the conversation by asking:
- the gear is yours, correct?
- did the firm you are currently working for/with provide you with specific training to do depositions? If they did, they MAY have a non-compete clause in something you may have signed.

[Pete Cofrancesco]

Originally Posted by Shaun Roemich

- the gear is yours, correct?

Yes, everything except the mixer which I'm getting ready to buy based on what they say. But yeah I wouldn't consider using their equipment. That's a no brainer.

- did the firm you are currently working for/with provide you with specific training to do depositions? If they did, they MAY have a non-compete clause in something you may have signed.

I'm pretty sure I didn't but I signed the regular application form where they ask if they can call your references.

The only part I do feel like I owe them for the training.

[Steve House]

If you're an independent contractor and haven't signed an agreement which would prohibit you from working for a competitor, I don't see any reason you can't. If they want you to be exclusively theirs, they can make you an employee and put you on the payroll at a full-time salary - otherwise they can't expect you to give up earning a living to sit at home waiting on the chance the phone will ring. Of course, the first outfit would also be within their rights not to hire you for any more gigs from them, that's their call as well. But I can't see that happening - after all, hiring freelancers means they're going to be working for whoever offers a gig that day.

[Pete Cofrancesco]

Originally Posted by Steve House

If you're an independent contractor and haven't signed an agreement which would prohibit you from working for a competitor, I don't see any reason you can't. If they want you to be exclusively theirs, they can make you an employee and put you on the payroll at a full-time salary - otherwise they can't expect you to give up earning a living to sit at home waiting on the chance the phone will ring. Of course, the first outfit would also be within their rights not to hire you for any more gigs from them, that's their call as well. But I can't see that happening - after all, hiring freelancers means they're going to be working for whoever offers a gig that day.

Good that's what I was thinking, but I'm still am going to have a talk with him so it doesn't look like I'm doing things behind his back.