The term 'white collar crime' refers to a non-violent crime that, in most cases, the harmed party didn't even know about when it took place. These crimes include embezzlement, fraud, forgery, money laundering, insider trading, identity theft, and Ponzi schemes. Additionally, they're committed with a cellphone, pen, or computer, rather than involving a knife, gun or other type of threat. If you've been accused of committing a white collar crime, it's critical to hire an experienced white collar attorney.
Seek Out an Experienced White Collar Attorney
The first thing you'll want to do is eliminate inexperienced lawyers from your search. The reason is that being a solid white collar defense attorney takes time and finesse. Most of the people who are accused of a white collar crime are wealthy, which makes it harder for juries to be sympathetic to them. Only an experienced attorney has the skills to overcome this type of prejudice.
Locate an Attorney Who Specializes in Your Type of Case
Once you've located a few experienced white collar attorneys, it's time to hone in further by finding out who among them specializes in your specific type of case. For example, let's say you've been accused of unleashing a ransomware attack. Matters of cybersecurity are much newer than standard money laundering or embezzlement. Therefore, you'll want an attorney who frequently works on cases like yours.
Find Out if They Have a Specific Background That Will Help
Because of the non-violent nature of white collar crimes, it's definitely possible to find an attorney whose background comes into play. Let's say that your case involves a serious accounting issue. Wouldn't it be better to select a lawyer who has a background as a Certified Public Accountant? Whenever possible, choose an attorney who can understand your case from every angle due to their own personal experiences.
Make Sure You Get Along
This point often gets lost in the search for an attorney, but it's absolutely critical. A white collar defense will have to be able to persuade a jury not to hold certain things against you, including your wealth or perceived wealth. If you don't get along with them, it'll be much harder for your attorney to properly represent you and your defense. Of course, they don't need to be your friend, but you do need to have some rapport.
Verify That They Win More Often Than They Lose
No matter how good an attorney is, they will still lose some cases. The trick, however, is to select a lawyer who wins much more often than they lose. Ask them about their win-loss percentage. Additionally, be sure to look at online reviews to get an indication of how their cases have gone. After all, you're trusting them to help win your case, so it's vital to ensure your trust is well placed.
Ultimately, the white collar attorney you hire can make a big difference in your case. Be sure to choose wisely and ask any questions you have about your case to any potential lawyer!
