Whether you are an accountant, a lawyer, a teacher, a nurse or a doctor, you probably have a professional license that took you years to obtain. You put so much time and effort, as well as money into your education and career growth, and your professional license is proof of that. How fair is it that it can be taken away from you so easily for a single mistake? Medical malpractice, unethical behavior towards clients and white collar crimes can result in losing your license and reputation, which is why you should immediately hire a professional license defense lawyer in case of being accused.
What Activities Put my Professional License at Risk?
There are quite a few activities that can be counted as a misdemeanor in the workplace and result in losing your license. Disobeying your workplace’s code of conduct can be one risky activity, as well as any kind of fraud or embezzlement. Unethical or illegal behavior towards your clients is also one of the biggest risks. Other illegal actions that put your license at risk are:
- Alcohol impairment at the workplace
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances
- Practicing under the influence of drugs or having any drugs in possession at the workplace
- Fraud
- Medical malpractice
- Fraud of medical insurance
- Domestic abuse or violence
- Theft
- Embezzlement
- Sexual abuse
In case of being accused of any of the above-mentioned activities, you should immediately contact a local professional license defense lawyer familiar with the state laws. Even if you are innocent, or if the accusation was untrue, a lawyer will support you throughout the process and will help you with the decision-making.
What Happens After an Accusation?
Even after a slight accusation or a claim from your colleagues or clients, your employer will have to do an investigation. A company representative will have to talk to any possible witnesses of your actions, check all the available evidence, as well as have a small interrogation with you. If the employer finds your actions acceptable, you will probably get away with a warning. Nevertheless, in case of significantly illegal actions, the employer, or your clients, might file a claim against you, and that is when your case will be taken to court.
What are Some Possible Consequences?
One of the possible consequences, of course, is losing your professional license.
Nevertheless, there are a few other results your illegal actions can bring to:
- Imprisonment – in instances of more severe violations of the code of conduct or of the appropriate laws, you might lose your liberty completely. Those are the cases of drug or alcohol abuse, fraud, and medical malpractice when someone’s health or property has been damaged.
- Paying fines and compensation – in the case of any violation, fines are a common punishment. Restitution, on the other hand, will be paid mainly in cases of property damage.
- Probation – depending on the court’s decision, you might have to be on probation instead of being in jail. This means you will be carefully supervised for a certain period of time, which, once again, limits your freedom to a certain extent.
Other than the consequences mentioned above, you will most likely lose your reputation as a professional. This means that even the smallest accusation might lead to you losing your job and license, and not being able to find another job. Especially in the case of criminal actions, you will find it extremely hard to find another job, as employers react negatively to any previous criminal records. In a state like Louisiana, it will also be quite hard to find a place to live, as many landlords refuse to lease their property to a former criminal.
What Can a Professional License Defense Lawyer Do?
In case of any accusation, you have the right to protect yourself: it is unfair that even the slightest rumors can result in you losing your reputation and license. That is why you should hire a professional license defense attorney, who will help you build a strong case and stand up for yourself. If you live in New Orleans, Louisiana, and have been accused of an illegal action at the workplace, hire a local license defense lawyer for optimal protection. A local attorney is well-aware of the state laws and their changes and has the experience required to help you. Your lawyer will be able to mitigate or eliminate your punishment and save your professional license and reputation, for which you have struggled so hard.