Has another party accused you of committing a financial crime? There are several important things that you need to do to prepare for your case, including working with a qualified financial crime lawyer. As you prepare for your case, here are several things to keep in mind.
Ask a Financial Crime Lawyer: 4 First Steps to Preparing Your Defense
1. Hire a Lawyer
The most important thing to do when preparing for any type of case is to hire a qualified lawyer. Some people choose to represent themselves in legal battles as a way of saving on lawyer fees, but this is hardly ever a good idea.
Instead, look for a lawyer that specializes in defending financial crimes. Your lawyer will know all the right strategies to use to prove that you are innocent and will ensure that you are supported throughout every step of your legal battle.
2. Build a Narrative of the Case
Once you hire a lawyer, one of the things you will work on together is building a narrative of the case. The accusing party will need to build their own narrative as well since the burden of proof falls upon them as the plaintiff.
But you will have to make sure you have a story of your own. The jury will want to know that there is another side to the plaintiff’s case, and so you and your lawyer will need to make sure that you tell them a compelling story that proves that you’re innocent.
3. Gather the Evidence
The burden of proof always falls upon the plaintiff. That means that it’s their job to show that the party they are accusing is responsible for the damages that their client experienced. They do this by gathering pieces of evidence. You and your lawyer will need to gather evidence as well.
One of your lawyer’s jobs is to effectively gather the right pieces of evidence to show that you are not guilty of the crime you are being accused of. Another thing your lawyer will focus on is getting the evidence gathered by the other party thrown out of court.
4. File the Right Documents
When you are defending yourself against a legal accusation, there are certain documents that you will need to fill out and file. To make sure that your defense stays solid, all of the documents must be filed on time.
It can be stressful to remember what documents need to get filed and when especially when you have been accused of something as serious as a financial crime. Your lawyer will make sure that all these important documents get filled out correctly and that they get to where they need to go.
Reasons to Hire a Lawyer
They Have the Expertise
You don’t have the same kind of training that a lawyer does. Financial crime lawyers in Houston spend many years in school training to understand all the complexities and nuances of the law. The lawyer you choose may also have years of experience specializing in their field.
Because you don’t have this kind of training, you’re more likely to make major mistakes when it comes to your case. That could end up seriously damaging your defense. Your lawyer can help you navigate the law, understand the legal jargon, and offer you a solid defense.
Lawyers Know How to Challenge Evidence
When you are trying to defend a case, it’s not just about finding the evidence to prove that you are innocent, although this is important. You will also need to know how to challenge the evidence that the other party presents.
When you work with a qualified lawyer, they will have a much better idea than you would about what types of evidence can be challenged as well as how to challenge them. For instance, your lawyer can find out if certain pieces of evidence were not gathered legally, meaning that evidence will be thrown out.
The Other Party Probably Has a Lawyer
The accusing party is most likely going to have a lawyer on their side. For this reason alone, you’ll want to make sure that you have one representing you as well. This will ensure that you are on equal footing with the opposing party.
If you choose to represent yourself, you will be at a huge disadvantage, and the other party’s lawyer will likely try to take advantage of things like your lack of legal knowledge. When you work with a qualified lawyer, they’ll ensure that your rights are respected and that you get accurate representation.
If you have been accused of committing a financial crime, you’ll want to make sure that you have a good lawyer on your side. Once you find your lawyer, they will help you build a solid defense case to ensure that you get the best result possible.