This work is dedicated to map the modes of thinking and acting of legal professionals who work in white collar crime Lawyers whose decisions generate economic and political consequences stand at a strategic location between the state and key segments of society This monograph s approach is linked to the foundations of the sociology of knowledge that culture antecedes and anchors social action It starts by reconstructing the worldviews that legal professionals hold about corruption and its main participants and then advances to examine decision making The author is introducing an innovative dataset comprised of interviews court records and biographical data to investigate Brazilian lawyers 1985 2021 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 The decision making patterns confirm: i that prosecutors and judges prioritize the ends fighting corruption and use existing legislation and organizational resources to secure verdicts; ii the asymmetries between how bribe payers and bribe payees are treated
