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# Hartmann Law Firm: Criminal Defense Attorney

## Sitemaps
[XML Sitemap](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/sitemap_index.xml): Includes all crawlable and indexable pages.

## Posts
- [What Law School Never Taught You About Success](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/podcast/what-law-school-never-taught-you-about-success/): In this episode, Bob shares why bringing in business is one of the most important skills lawyers can develop, how entrepreneurship created the lifestyle he wanted, and why lawyers should stop being afraid to build careers on their own terms.
- [Making It Rain: How to Increase Client Flow in Your Law Firm](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/podcast/making-it-rain-how-to-increase-client-flow-in-your-law-firm/): Many lawyers are highly trained in practicing law but receive little to no guidance on how to consistently bring in business. Without a clear business development strategy, building reliable client flow can feel uncertain, intimidating, or overly dependent on luck.
- [Making It Rain – Unf**ck Your Legal Marketing](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/podcast/making-it-rain-unfck-your-legal-marketing/): In a conversation with Gary Johnson on the Unf**ck Your Legal Marketing podcast, Bob Hartmann explains he made it rain, and how you can do it in your firm, too.
- [The $4,000 Law Firm – Building a Criminal Defense Practice from Scratch](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/podcast/the-4000-law-firm-building-a-criminal-defense-practice-from-scratch/): In a conversation with Arthur Rothrock on The Litigator's Path, Hartmann explains how he built a referral-driven criminal defense practice starting with $4,000 in the bank, why he gives every client his personal cell phone number, what separates federal sentencing strategy from state court plea deals, and how he screens referral partners in a single meeting. The thread running through it all: the attorneys who grow the fastest are the ones who treat communication and relationship-building as core competencies – not afterthoughts bolted onto legal skill.
- [Sharp Strategies, Sweet Success Podcast: Building a referral-Driven Law Practice with Robert Hartmann](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/podcast/sharp-strategies-sweet-success-podcast-building-a-referral-driven-law-practice-with-robert-hartmann/): In this episode of Sharp Strategies Sweet Success, I’m joined by Robert Hartmann, a California criminal defense attorney and soon-to-be author of Making It Rain: The Art of Building a Successful Law Firm. We unpack what most law schools and firms never teach: how to actually get clients.
- [Be That Lawyer Podcast: Building Rainmaking Skills with Robert Hartmann](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/podcast/be-that-lawyer-podcast-building-rainmaking-skills-with-robert-hartmann/): In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Robert Hartmann discuss:
- [The Joe Naz Podcast featuring Bob Hartmann](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/podcast/the-joe-naz-podcast-featuring-bob-hartmann/): What should you do if you commit a crime, how do you respond to the police, and how can a criminal defense attorney help you?
- [The Business Skills Lawyers Aren’t Taught with Robret Hartmann on The Legal Keys Podcast](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/podcast/the-business-skills-lawyers-arent-taught/): In this episode of Legal Keys, Robert joins host Tim Sawyer for a grounded, experience-driven conversation on what it really means to build a sustainable legal career today. From referral-driven growth and emotional intelligence to the role AI should (and shouldn’t) play inside a law practice, Robert shares why the lawyers who win long-term are the ones who combine technical excellence with relationship mastery. The conversation also explores how younger attorneys can accelerate their careers by developing business skills early—rather than waiting for opportunities to come to them.
- [Why Criminal Law](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/why-criminal-law/)
- [The Importance of Mitigation Briefs](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/the-importance-of-mitigation-briefs/)
- [The Hartmann Law Firm Difference](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/the-hartmann-law-firm-difference/)
- [Respect the Judge and Opposing Counsel](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/respect-the-judge-and-opposing-counsel/)
- [Protecting Your Professional License and Career](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/protecting-your-professional-license-and-career/)
- [Humanize Through Mitigation](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/humanize-through-mitigation/)
- [Helping Clients Navigate Federal Court](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/helping-clients-navigate-federal-court/)
- [Big Misconception About White-Collar Crime](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/big-misconception-about-white-collar-crime/)
- [Bedside Manner](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/bedside-manner/)
- [Case Study: Health Care Fraud](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/a-case-study-health-care-fraud/)
- [Case Study: Charity Embezzlement](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/case-study-charity-embezzlement/)
- [Humanize Our Clients](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/humanize-our-clients/)
- [Your Confidence is your Currency](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/your-confidence-is-your-currency/)
- [The Advantage of Experts](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/the-advantage-of-experts/)
- [Smart Referrals: Why Big Firms Win When They Partner Small](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/smart-referrals-why-big-firms-win-when-they-partner-small/)
- [Honoring Referrals](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/honoring-referrals/)
- [A Full-Service Law Firm](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/full-service-law-firm/)
- [A Collaboration Network](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/collaboration-network/)
- [Building Trust](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/building-trust/)
- [Boutique Size Law Firm with Big Firm Power](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/boutique-size-law-firm-with-big-firm-power/)
- [Case Study: The Power of Listening](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/case-study-the-power-of-listening/)
- [Case Study: Rainmakers Lead the Future](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/case-study-rainmakers-lead-the-future/)
- [AI’s Role in the Legal Profession](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/ais-role-in-the-legal-profession/)
- [The Legal Rainmaker’s Power Play: Designing Your Own Future](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/the-legal-rainmakers-power-play-designing-your-own-future/): A law student named Tyler skipped a coveted holiday ski trip to cram for Civ Pro, a foundational first-year course on civil litigation. Still stressed about his grades and getting a prestigious big-firm summer internship, he also passed up a once-in-a-lifetime family reunion in the spring to learn all he could about Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
- [Facing New Criminal Charges with a Record? What You Need to Know](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/facing-new-criminal-charges-with-a-record-what-you-need-to-know/): Jaime S. is no saint, but most reasonable people would agree the sentence he faced in a Los Angeles courtroom didn’t fit the crime. Short of money, and trying to interview to get a job, he stole a $179 Norelco electric shaver from a local appliance store. For this crime, Jaime faced a stunning sentence of 25 years to life.
- [Can You Say No? What to Know About Field Sobriety Tests in California](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/can-you-say-no-what-to-know-about-field-sobriety-tests-in-california/): Imagine a police car dashcam capturing a DUI stop. A female sheriff’s deputy pulls over a large man in a cowboy hat on a country road, believing him to be a drunk driver. The man slurs his speech but denies being drunk.
- [Top Warning Signs of a Bad Lawyer](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/top-warning-signs-of-a-bad-lawyer/): https://youtu.be/NzsCKWHnV4A?si=N50n8jA2Ma5UggCR
- [Our Most Common Criminal Law Cases & Clients](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/our-most-common-criminal-law-cases-clients/): https://youtu.be/ZrRc4MVCBYk?si=_97IMNaBs0PoJf4T
- [How Should I Dress for Trial](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/how-should-i-dress-for-trial/): https://youtu.be/UpenObwL7l0?si=ZG01qdmBcAVg5R97
- [Dealing with Jury Bias – Jury Selection](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/dealing-with-jury-bias-jury-selection/): https://youtu.be/xjsDKG_CibI?si=D8unPdd-JtOf1A65
- [How To Behave During Alleged Victim Testimony](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/how-to-behave-during-alleged-victim-testimony/): https://youtu.be/BY7q80hEZyI?si=vnMCWJnBLDFWcFQ4
- [What if I Have a Criminal History?](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/what-if-i-have-a-criminal-history/): https://youtu.be/9XYGc8VnLt8?si=BabCAUVcVVWZpPHn
- [How We Prepare Our Clients to Testify](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/how-we-prepare-our-clients-to-testify/): https://youtu.be/bRI9TFW3kcc?si=X7tK2mHLSW1I2sqv
- [What NOT to do upon learning you are under investigation](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/what-not-to-do-upon-learning-you-are-under-investigation/): https://youtu.be/iqNU2m7wPl8?si=HN2OkJ-dpBOnVxMR
- [A Surprising Fact You May Not Know About Trial](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/a-surprising-fact-you-may-not-know-about-trial/): https://youtu.be/Oxezqe8_ts8?si=TApznqEEfbWEnTes
- [The Importance of Attorney Availability](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/the-importance-of-attorney-availability/): https://youtu.be/xahV_B5Pjk4?si=f6q5EsvZtrBbJ_ym
- [The Importance of Proper Legal Representation](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/the-importance-of-proper-legal-representation/): https://youtu.be/MKuaeBFUTY8?si=YyQRzc_y-zDEaM7u
- [Can I switch Attorneys?](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/can-i-switch-attorneys/): https://youtu.be/ul4T4RO_86o?si=fLj9cJLF9CXcppjZ
- [The Importance of Emotional Control During Trial](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/the-importance-of-emotional-control-during-trial/): https://youtu.be/zCuX_IUWz7U?si=CHXcDpFlxPN-Mb1m
- [How Does Bail Work?](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/how-does-bail-work/): https://youtu.be/8f36BDGbYD4?si=GPDuLslznfP8kMk-
- [Can I Have a Guilty Verdict Expunged?](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/can-i-have-a-guilty-verdict-expunged/): https://youtu.be/orIWAtvQEfo?si=XKzbBCdz5v7x24Zp
- [Our Approach to Criminal Defense in Orange County California](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/our-approach-to-criminal-defense-in-orange-county-california/): https://youtu.be/glMFyQkh_cY?si=LW3Z2r6-eq_pwcWM
- [What if I Am Guilty of the Accusation?](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/what-if-i-am-guilty-of-the-accusation/): https://youtu.be/6HE1ereScCE?si=8Px4hJFY6xHaHGT-
- [New Realities of White Collar Crime](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/new-realities-of-white-collar-crime/): https://youtu.be/qju_hYHVYu4?si=wNPITHiI3AhyWBfx
- [Can the Police Search My Car Without a Warrant?](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/can-the-police-search-my-car-without-a-warrant/): Whoop whoop. You’ve just been pulled over by a cop. The red and blue flashing lights are disorienting—to put it mildly. As if that wasn’t bad enough, you just know the people in every passing car are staring at you. Some may even be filming you looking like a crook on the side of the road.
- [Do Federal Agents Really Knock, Guns Drawn, and Arrest, at 7 AM? YES](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/do-federal-agents-really-knock-guns-drawn-and-arrest-at-7-am-yes/): It’s early Friday morning in your sleepy suburban neighborhood. You pull back the bedroom curtain and are confronted with a shocking sight. Your neighbor across the street shivers in his boxer shorts, undershirt, and handcuffs. Beside him, there’s a small army of law enforcement agents in bulletproof armor and blue coats on the lawn, armed with imposing rifles. His distraught wife and young kids are crying as they are led to a nearby vehicle.
- [The Secret to a Strong Legal Defense? Honey, Not Vinegar](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/the-secret-to-a-strong-legal-defense-honey-not-vinegar/): What’s your favorite courtroom drama? If I had $5 for every time someone asked me this as a lawyer, I’d be set for life. Seriously, though, any list of the best lawyer films worth its salt includes 1992’s A Few Good Men.
- [When Your Freedom Is On The Line You Need a Certified Legal Specialist](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/when-your-freedom-is-on-the-line/): Imagine being married and the father of two wonderful children. You own a beautiful home in a desirable neighborhood. Your kids are prospering, especially since you’ve achieved a wonderful work-life harmony. All is going well… until you receive your yearly physical.
- [The Surprising Way Misdemeanors Can Strip You of Your Firearms in California](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/the-surprising-way-misdemeanors-can-strip-you-of-your-firearms-in-california/): A man named Jim, age 77, is asleep when a strange sound startles him awake. Jim knows every creak in his house—this is different. Alarmed, he retrieves a firearm from his safe and heads downstairs to investigate. On the first floor, he confronts every homeowner’s nightmare—three robbers armed with a crowbar and what looks like a pistol.
- [The Power of Empathy: It Turns Cases into Wins](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/the-power-of-empathy-it-turns-cases-into-wins/): Imagine you’re a citizen of Chicago in 1924. You’ve just been granted the golden ticket—a pass to sit in the gallery for what’s being billed “The Trial of the Century.” Long before TV and even longer before Court TV, you’re just as fascinated by the sordid details of crime as anyone today. But you’ll have a front row seat to hearing two men responsible for a heinous murder get sentenced to death.
- [Private Attorney vs Court Appointed Attorney](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/video/private-attorney-vs-court-appointed-attorney/): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yODIb17GZxA
- [How Common Is Perjury?](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/how-common-is-perjury/): Perjury is defined as the act of swearing an oath to tell the truth, either by speaking it or writing it with the intention of lying or withholding information. As you can imagine, perjury is considered a very serious offense because our judicial system relies so heavily on witness testimony and accounts to prosecute criminal acts as well as to defend alleged criminals who have yet to be proven guilty. Not only does our judicial system endeavor to prosecute those who have committed a crime, but it is dedicated to protecting the innocent who may fall victim to a false witness.
- [What Happens When You Get Your First DUI?](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/what-happens-when-you-get-your-first-dui/): Regardless of what state you are in, driving under the influence is illegal.  Each state defines DUI differently and the punishment can vary greatly by state and county. Orange County, for example, has harsher DUI penalties than most other counties in California. There are generally two different types of DUIs: 
- [Why Crime Is So Difficult To Prosecute](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/why-crime-is-so-difficult-to-prosecute/): "Better a hundred guilty persons should escape than one innocent person should suffer." This quote, usually attributed to Benjamin Franklin, has its philosophy rooted in English Common Law, which traditionally chooses to err on the side of innocence. It also explains why it is so difficult to successfully prosecute even what appear to be "open and shut" cases in court. In the American system of juris prudence, prosecutors, representing the state, must prove their case "beyond a reasonable doubt." This does not mean there must be no doubt — such an impossibly high standard is something not even within the reach of modern physics — the evidence must be sufficient to convince 12 reasonable people the accused is, indeed, guilty of the crime of which he/she has been accused. 
- [The FBI’s 6 Most Prevalent Types of White-Collar Crime](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/the-fbis-6-most-prevalent-types-of-white-collar-crime/): In previous articles, I've described in general terms, the meaning of "white collar crime." While non-violent in nature and, by definition, committed by members of the educated, professional class, these crimes are still rigorously prosecuted in most jurisdictions and often carry stiff penalties. But this may leave you wondering, exactly what crimes are classified as "white collar"?
- [Yes, Marijuana Is Now Legal — Within Limits](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/yes-marijuana-is-now-legal-within-limits/): Where can you buy and legally use marijuana in California? While pot is legal, significant restrictions remain in place.
- [What Would Happen if Prosecutors Never Flipped Defendants?](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/what-would-happen-if-prosecutors-never-flipped-defendants/): With all the recent high-profile discussion of “flipping defendant’s” I thought it might be interesting to discuss what “flipping” really means and how it affects a defendant and the criminal justice system.
- [A Handful of Facts about California’s New Bail Reform Law](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/a-handful-of-facts-about-californias-new-bail-reform-law/): The California Money Bail Reform Act signed into law September 25, 2018, is meant to level the playing field between rich and poor defendants in the state’s criminal justice system. Essentially, the law eliminates cash bail and leaves the decision to release a person after arrest up to a judge, with input from other court personnel. 
- [You Can’t Bail on Bail: How to Reduce the Costs of Jail Time](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/you-cant-bail-on-bail-how-to-reduce-the-costs-of-jail-time/): “Can you bail me out?”
- [Is This Taken? Understanding Intellectual Property Theft](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/is-this-taken-understanding-intellectual-property-theft/): Whether you’re a business owner, artist, or consumer, intellectual property impacts you every single day. We constantly use patented technology, watch and listen to copyrighted material, and invent or learn of other people’s ideas. That’s why the theft of these intellectual properties can be so damaging to our global economy—these crimes affect us all.
- [Call Anytime: The Importance of Attorney Availability](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/call-anytime-the-importance-of-attorney-availability/): Have you ever called a friend or relative with important news and deflated at the sound of the BEEP? Realized your sent box was bigger than your inbox? When people don’t get back to you, you can feel disrespected or confused. Now, if you get that BEEP when trying to contact your attorney, it’s not only disheartening, it’s downright dangerous. The availability of your lawyer to take your calls, respond to emails, and set appointments can make or break your case.
- [Check It Twice: Are Your Exports Legal?](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/check-it-twice-are-your-exports-legal/): International exports are closely monitored, regulated, and restricted by the Government. Regardless of how innocuous you think your item is, you need to know what can happen to them and you once you attempt to send them across borders.
- [When the Officer Isn’t a Gentleman: Understanding Loan Fraud](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/when-the-officer-isnt-a-gentleman-understanding-loan-fraud/): To continue our month-long examination of white-collar crimes, we’re going to explore the various ways a loan officer or borrower can commit loan fraud. Similar to other white-collar crimes, a lot of money continuously circles this industry, from mortgage brokers, agents, appraisers, and officers. With proper documentation and distribution of financial information, this money goes where it should. As we saw in the 2008 subprime crisis, when white-collar criminals commit loan fraud, the ramifications can be catastrophic, tanking not only a person’s bank account but the whole economy.
- [May Cause Jail Time: The Casualties of Healthcare Fraud](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/may-cause-jail-time-the-casualties-of-healthcare-fraud/): Due to the prevalence and serious consequences to defendants of white-collar crime, we’ve decided to make them the focus of our summer blog series. Let’s start July off right by discussing healthcare fraud, a far-reaching type of white-collar crime.
- [Dispelling the Top Two Myths About White-Collar Crimes](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/dispelling-the-top-two-myths-about-white-collar-crimes/): White-collar crime is my featured topic for the month of June. As discussed in my previous post, white-collar crimes can involve powerful people, complex schemes, and of course, lots of money. However, many common misperceptions prevail surrounding white-collar criminals, their offenses, and the consequences. Let’s look at a few common myths in need of busting.
- [All About the Money: Exploring White-Collar Crimes](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/all-about-the-money-exploring-white-collar-crimes/): Criminologist Edwin Sutherland coined the term “white collar crime” in 1939, and it remains the umbrella term to define crimes eliciting financial gain. Wearing a white collar means you’re a person of high economic status: someone who is invested in society with a lot to lose. Sutherland actually used white-collar crimes to prove how criminal behavior is learned from social phenomena. This translates into today’s world as well-connected people in power at large corporations commit many white-collar crimes.
- [Beware the Warning Signs of a Bad Lawyer— It Just Might Save Your Life](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/beware-the-warning-signs-of-a-bad-lawyer-it-just-might-save-your-life/): The difference between a good lawyer and a bad lawyer can mean the difference between freedom, a prison term and yes—even a death sentence. Based on the severity of the situation, I cannot overstate the importance of selecting a seasoned, competent criminal defense attorney from the start. The longer a subpar lawyer works on your case, the less chance you have of achieving a favorable outcome. To save you from any potential problems, here are some warning signs to look out for when hiring counsel.
- [Are You the Target of a Criminal Investigation? Here’s What to Do](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/are-you-the-target-of-a-criminal-investigation-heres-what-to-do/): Imagine this. You come home from a long day at work, kick off your shoes, and absentmindedly sort through the mail sprawled on the kitchen table. Mixed up with the phone bill and a supermarket ad is a white envelope with the return address, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Unfolding the document inside, you read something that takes your breath away: You are advised that you are a target of the Grand Jury’s investigation. Anything you do or say may be used against you in a subsequent legal proceeding.
- [The Philosophy of a Certified Criminal Defense Lawyer](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/the-philosophy-of-a-certified-criminal-defense-lawyer/): When you’re accused of a crime, the stakes are high. With your future and reputation on the line, you must appeal to those responsible for deciding your fate. Now, I’m not going to sugarcoat it: going to trial is hard. While we like to say defendants are innocent until proven guilty, juror judgment usually gets in the way. My job is to defend your coveted liberties against the opinions of strangers in an otherwise cold courtroom.
- [Do Juries Like Blue Jeans or Slacks? The Answer May Bring You Freedom—or Jail Time.](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/article/do-juries-like-blue-jeans-or-slacks-the-answer-may-bring-you-freedom-or-jail-time/): You’re facing twelve strangers, chosen to determine your fate in a court of law. You’ve prepared for weeks, months, and maybe years. Mountains of evidence, a good lawyer, and truth is on your side. Yet all of that preparation (and money) can amount to nothing if one seemingly insignificant detail is overlooked... what you’re wearing.

## Pages
- [Media Index](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/media-index/)
- [Disclaimer](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/disclaimer/)
- [Podcasts](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/podcasts/)
- [Making It Rain](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/making-it-rain/)
- [The Law Firm Startup Checklist](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/the-law-firm-startup-checklist/)
- [Testimonials](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/testimonials/)
- [Contact](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/contact/)
- [Appearances](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/appearances/)
- [Videos](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/videos/)
- [Articles](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/articles/)
- [Cases](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/cases/)
- [Team](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/team/)
- [Services](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/services/)
- [Hartmann Law Firm – Criminal Defense Attorney](https://hartmannlawfirm.net/)