FAQ

A: One question people often ask when deciding whether to hire a lawyer for an investigation is whether it will make them look guilty. This is an incredibly understandable and natural concern. There is a real risk of that perception. If you’re under investigation and have nothing to hide, people might wonder why you need a lawyer. To be honest, it might raise an eyebrow with an investigator.  

However, there are many instances that we’ve seen in this firm and elsewhere where people believe they have nothing to hide, but the government views the situation differently. Even innocent people can come under scrutiny. The government may interpret events in a skewed way, and, without a lawyer, a person’s statement might not be what it should have been. This can lead to a worsening situation. So, while the question of whether hiring a lawyer makes you look guilty is natural and fair, for most people under suspicion, hiring a lawyer is a smart move to mitigate the risk of appearing guilty later, even if they aren’t.