With punishing mandatory minimums and sentencing guidelines in the stratosphere staring them in the face, many federal defendants want to know what they can do to get home — even if that home is in a top secret location — even more quickly than a traditional guilty plea and sentencing may offer them. The answer, if they understand what they are getting into and if the Government is interested in what they have to offer, is often for them to cooperate with the Government in the investigation and prosecution of others. If completed successfully, cooperation usually does offer a greatly reduced sentence but even though you can get below the statutory minimum, that can mean different things before different judges. Before you bring your client in for his first meeting with the Government, there is much for him and you to think about and discuss, as things do not always turn out the way you mapped it. And your client may not truly be prepared to talk honestly about his entire criminal past — and that of his family and friends. This course will walk you through the timing, the considerations, the process, the formalities and the pitfalls of seeking a federal cooperation agreement. What does an agreement and a plea with a cooperator look like, what are the expectations, what are the limits and what are the consequences if it fails to work out. There is much you can still do. What is your role and how can you impact the end result?
NY: 2.0 Professional Practice
NJ: 2.0 General
CA: 1.5 General
PA: 1.5 General (To obtain PA credit, you must send your PA bar registration number to info@marinolegal.com upon completion of the course)