Legal Basis
Article 39 of the Criminal Procedure Law stipulates that defense lawyers may meet and communicate with criminal suspects and defendants in custody. Other defenders may also meet and correspond with criminal suspects or defendants in custody with the approval of the People's Court or People's Procuratorate. If a defender requests to meet with a criminal suspect or defendant in custody with a lawyer's practicing certificate, law firm certificate, power of attorney, or official legal aid letter, the detention center shall arrange the meeting in a timely manner, and the meeting time shall not exceed 48 hours at the latest. During the investigation of crimes endangering national security and terrorist activities, defense lawyers who meet with criminal suspects in custody must obtain permission from the investigation agency.