Reviewing Strategy for Best Outcome
Over the years, I have represented many professionals in criminal matters. Obviously, as a criminal defense attorney representing a doctor, lawyer, or athlete—someone who has a lot to lose—there's a certain strategy that goes into representing them.
A lot of these people hold professional licenses, and if they get a criminal conviction, they will lose that license, which will affect their ability to make money and do whatever job they do. So, it's crucial that you have the right strategy, and it's crucial that we make the right moves to avoid some of the collateral damages that can occur related to a criminal conviction or arrest in Los Angeles County. One of our primary goals is to save your professional license.
That's why when I sit down with my professional clients, we talk about the game plan, what we need to guard against, and some of the important factors that make a difference to them. Sometimes, certain things make a difference to certain people. Sometimes, people don't want to go to jail.
Other times, people don't care as much about going to jail as they do as not to get a felony conviction on their record. Other times, doctors or lawyers are looking not to commit a crime of moral turpitude on their criminal record.
So, it really just depends on the scenario, the particular crime the person is charged with, and the strength of the evidence. Sometimes, people simply do not want to have a criminal conviction on their record.
They don't feel guilty, and they think that if they get any criminal record, then that professional is going to be looking at losing their job, losing their livelihood, and not being able to do what is necessary to provide for their family, advance their career, and make money.
These are crucial things that any reasonable criminal defense attorney must key on in the representation of professionals in Los Angeles County – doctors, lawyers, athletes, real estate agents – anybody with a professional license – criminal defense attorneys must consider all of the different angles.
Negotiation with Prosecutor
If you do it the right way as a criminal defense attorney, prosecutors will often look at the particular case and the particular person, give them a break, and say, you know what, I'm not going to take this doctor out.
I don't think what they did was serious enough, so I'm going to lose their medical license. But you, as a criminal defense attorney, have got to show the prosecutors what the problem is—what the administrative agency is saying. We have an administrative attorney involved, and the attorney is saying that it's key that we do not get a crime of moral turpitude. It's key that the person does not get any jail time.
Whatever your situation – whatever your profession – you must get an attorney who is sensitive to this in Los Angeles County, knows how to fight these cases, knows how the local prosecutors and judges handle cases involving professionals, and knows what can be done and what types of steps can be taken to get you a result that keeps you out of jail and puts you in a position to save your professional license in Los Angeles County.
