Finding the right fraud lawyer can be a complex process. If you have never had to deal with a securities fraud case before, you may not know what to look out for in hiring the right professional.
The qualities to look out for in a securities fraud lawyer are specific. They need to showcase resiliency and the ability to push forward despite changing laws and regulations.
Attorneys who lack the knowledge to apply financial investment laws to case specifics are unlikely to provide you with the support you need to win your case.
If you’re in the middle of a securities fraud case and haven’t a clue about who to hire, here are six things to consider before deciding on your legal representation.
1. Look For The Right Rapport
Understand that securities fraud law is ‘rough around the edges,’ which means that you need an attorney who can aggressively fight for your case.
While some cases do best with legal representation that maintains a calm and collected demeanor, securities fraud law does best with someone who can add a bit of edge to your dispute.
When you meet with different options for a securities fraud attorney, keep a lookout for the rapport you develop with them.
The impression you get from each securities fraud attorney you meet with will tell you a lot about their ability to assist you with your case.
Make sure that you and your potential securities fraud attorney mesh well, but most importantly, decide that they have that inner fire you need to fight your case with you.
2. Trust Your Securities Fraud Attorney
Beyond the personality of the securities fraud attorney, you want to make sure that you feel a sense of trust between the two of you.
Attorneys work under a code of ethics that guarantees that the client’s needs will always be put first.
What this means is that you can reveal everything you know about your case, no matter how poorly it makes you look, without these facts working against you and interfering with your case.
Your securities fraud attorney will be able to frame your case so that it works in your favor. Trusting your securities fraud attorney to follow through with these legal guidelines is a huge part of the working relationship.
Without establishing trust, you are not likely to feel comfortable enough revealing this information for your case.
3. Don’t Hire New Attorneys
Avoid hiring a securities fraud attorney who lacks experience. For attorneys who are ‘fresh out of the gate,’ working with clients who want to strike an affordable deal is a go-to approach.
The reason being is that, if you’ve done your research, most prospective clients with a securities fraud case need attorneys with Wall Street experience.
Having Wall Street experience as a lawyer while representing one of the large firms, these attorneys understand just how brutal the strategies and cases can be.
They are more likely to have the expertise you need to fight your case than an attorney who is new to the game.
It may be tempting to go with a more affordable attorney, but this is not the best choice for your specific kind of case if your goal is to recover from losses and not to save money.
4. Be Smart About Contingency
Many attorneys use contingency to make the financial process more accessible to the client and potentially more beneficial for themselves. With contingency, you do not need to pay for attorney services upfront.
If you end up winning your case, a percentage of the compensation you gain goes to the attorney. If you do not win your case, the attorney is not paid a dime.
While this kind of arrangement seems pretty fair, the contingency arrangements pertaining to your attorney may not strictly follow these terms.
Attorneys integrate contingency in their own ways, so always go over the financial requirements upfront before working with anyone on your case.
5. Understand The Boundaries
In the courtroom, your attorney is prepared to work on your behalf. Outside of the courtroom, the business dynamics of your working relationship are moved to the forefront.
Remember that just because you hire someone to defend you in court does not mean that they will be equally accommodating or understanding when it comes time to receive payment for their help.
Be sure to go over the financial agreement you make in detail so you can avoid any unexpected fees or surprises after your case is settled.
6. Look For The Right Experience
As aforementioned, the best attorneys for securities fraud cases are those with Wall Street experience.
The combination of grit and expertise on laws and regulations are more likely to give you a fighting chance in court than if you were to go about the process alone or with a different kind of attorney.
In addition to these areas of experience, you also want to hire a securities fraud attorney who knows all about the typical schemes taken by brokers and brokerage firms to carry out misconduct.
With technology taking the world by storm, more and more fraud cases occur online and through social media.
A Note On Modern Cases
Your attorney must understand how fraud and misconduct in the digital world occur, especially if it applies to your case.
Even if your case is not based on online fraud, you need to know that your securities fraud attorney is well-versed in handling these cases.
By showing an extensive amount of knowledge about modern approaches to securities fraud, you can feel more confident that your securities fraud attorney stays up-to-date on the laws and regulations that pertain to these cases.
Hire An Attorney With The Flexibility You Need
Beyond the above six factors to look out for, remember that hiring a qualified attorney is about finding someone who can offer affordability and defend your case effectively.
Look for flexibility and take your time interviewing possible attorneys before you settle for an attorney to represent your case.