Legal Professionals in White-Collar Crime: Knowing, Thinking and Acting

This work is dedicated to mapping the modes of thinking and acting of legal professionals who work in white-collar crime. It reconstructs the worldviews of legal professionals about corruption and its main participants, and examines decision-making using an innovative dataset. The study's qualitative findings show a professional cognitive pattern that is apolitical and technical, and criticizes unskilled people working in the state administration more than businesspeople. The dominant mindset understands corporate-state relations as a self-feeding system that requires qualification and awareness of international trends to counter crime.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 260 pages
Publication date: 26 February 2023
Publisher: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden

This groundbreaking work aims to comprehensively map the modes of thinking and acting of legal professionals who specialize in white-collar crime. Lawyers, whose decisions have far-reaching economic and political implications, occupy a strategic position between the state and critical societal sectors. Drawing upon the foundations of the sociology of knowledge, this monograph emphasizes the primacy of culture in shaping social action. It begins by reconstructing the worldviews held by legal professionals regarding corruption and its primary actors, and then proceeds to examine decision-making processes.

To investigate this topic, the author has developed an innovative dataset, which includes a combination of interviews, court records, and biographical data, spanning from 1985 to 2021. The study's qualitative findings reveal a professional cognitive pattern characterized by a strong apolitical and technical orientation. This pattern criticizes unskilled individuals working in the state administration more than businesspeople. The dominant mindset understands corporate-state relations as a self-feeding system that necessitates qualification and awareness of international trends to effectively combat crime.

The decision-making patterns further substantiate several key findings. Prosecutors and judges prioritize the pursuit of justice and utilize existing legislation and organizational resources to secure verdicts. Notably, there exist significant asymmetries in the treatment of bribe-payers and bribe-payees, reflecting the complex dynamics of corruption cases.

In conclusion, this groundbreaking work sheds light on the thought processes and behaviors of legal professionals engaged in white-collar crime. By examining the interplay between culture, knowledge, and decision-making, it provides valuable insights into the complex dynamics of this field. The study's innovative dataset and qualitative findings contribute to our understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by legal professionals in combating corruption and promoting justice.

Weight: 366g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783658407469
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023