Can I show work covered by an NDA in my portfolio?

Generally, no. You must obtain written consent from the client or redact all confidential information. If the NDA prohibits disclosure, sharing the work is a breach of contract that can lead to litigation, damages, and termination of your professional reputation.

How do I ask a client for permission to use work in my portfolio?

Send a formal request via email specifying exactly what will be shown, how it will be displayed, and who will see it. Request a written waiver or a limited-scope release to ensure you have documented proof of authorization.

What is the safest way to demonstrate experience under an NDA?

Use 'de-identified' case studies. Focus on the methodology, the problem-solving process, and the results achieved without naming the client, revealing proprietary data, or showing sensitive UI/UX designs.

A TermScore is an AI-generated risk rating from 0 to 100 that evaluates the fairness and risk level of any legal document. A score of 86-100 means the contract is highly favorable, while 0-30 indicates dangerous terms you should walk away from.

What types of documents can TermScore analyze?

TermScore analyzes any legal document including freelance contracts, employment agreements, residential leases, NDAs, brand sponsorship deals, SaaS vendor agreements, and rental applications. Upload PDFs, Word documents, or images.

How much does TermScore cost?

TermScore offers a free plan with 3 scores per month. The Team plan is $15/month for 30 scores, and the Professional plan is $50/month for 500 scores with team collaboration features. One-time purchases are also available: a single score for $5 or a 5-pack for $15, with no subscription required.

Is my document data secure?

Yes. Documents are processed in memory and analysis results are stored encrypted. TermScore never shares your document data with third parties and you can delete your data at any time from your dashboard.

How to handle NDA restrictions when asked for a portfolio of past work?

To handle NDA restrictions when asked for a portfolio, you must prioritize contractual compliance over self-promotion. Never share confidential work without explicit written consent. Instead, use de-identified case studies, redact sensitive data, or provide high-level summaries that demonstrate your skills without exposing proprietary information or trade secrets.

The Legal Risks of Portfolio Disclosure

Sharing work protected by a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) is not merely a professional faux pas; it is a breach of contract. Most NDAs contain survival clauses that remain in effect for 2 to 5 years after the contract ends, or in some cases, indefinitely for trade secrets.

Breach of Contract: You may be liable for monetary damages, including lost profits or the cost of remedial security measures.
Injunctive Relief: A former client can seek a court order to force you to take down your portfolio immediately.
Reputational Damage: Future employers view a candidate who violates an NDA as a high-risk liability who cannot be trusted with sensitive data.

Key takeaway: Always assume the NDA is active unless you have a written release. Silence from a former client does not constitute permission.

Strategies for Compliant Portfolio Building

You can demonstrate your expertise without violating your legal obligations by utilizing specific techniques that focus on the 'how' rather than the 'what.'

1. The De-identified Case Study

Focus on the process rather than the specific deliverable. Describe the challenge, the technical stack used, and the outcome, but strip away all identifying markers.

Remove: Client names, logos, and specific internal project codenames.
Redact: Any proprietary data, financial metrics, or unique UI elements.
Generalize: Refer to the client as 'a Fortune 500 fintech firm' or 'a mid-sized healthcare provider' rather than naming them directly.

2. The 'Blind' Portfolio Approach

If you are in a highly specialized field, create a 'blind' portfolio where you recreate the logic or architecture of a project using dummy data. This showcases your ability to solve complex problems without using the actual intellectual property of the client.

3. Obtaining Formal Written Consent

If a specific project is essential to your career growth, ask for permission. Follow this process:

Identify the Stakeholder: Contact the person who signed your original contract or the current legal/communications lead.
Draft a Specific Request: Clearly state what you want to show, where it will be hosted, and who will have access.
Request a Limited Waiver: Ask for a written release that specifically permits the use of the project for portfolio purposes.

Method	Risk Level	Effort Required
De-identified Case Study	Low	Medium
Blind Portfolio	Low	High
Written Consent	Very Low	High
Direct Disclosure	Extreme	None

Evaluating Your NDA Terms

Before you even begin building your portfolio, you must understand the specific constraints of your existing agreements. Not all NDAs are created equal. Some contain 'carve-outs' that allow for the disclosure of work that has entered the public domain or work that is generally known in the industry.

Red Flags in NDA Language

'Perpetual' Duration: If the NDA has no end date, you are bound forever.
'Work Product' Ownership: If the contract states that all work product is the 'sole and exclusive property' of the client, you have zero rights to display it.
Broad Definitions of Confidential Information: If the definition includes 'any information learned during the engagement,' you are severely restricted.

Key takeaway: Audit your contracts before you start your job search. Knowing your constraints early prevents the need to scramble when a recruiter asks for samples.

Actionable Steps for Your Next Portfolio Update

To ensure your portfolio is bulletproof, follow these steps:

Audit: Review every contract you have signed in the last 5 years.
Categorize: Sort projects into 'Public,' 'Restricted,' and 'Confidential.'
Redact: For 'Restricted' projects, create sanitized versions that remove all identifying information.
Verify: If you are unsure, err on the side of caution and exclude the project entirely.

Managing these complex legal obligations manually is prone to human error. TermScore allows you to automatically analyze your contracts to identify specific NDA restrictions, survival clauses, and intellectual property ownership terms, ensuring you know exactly what you can and cannot share before you ever hit 'publish' on your portfolio.