Lawyers' involvement in criminal cases can be divided into three stages, namely the criminal investigation stage, the review and prosecution stage, and the public trial stage.
For interviews with lawyers during the criminal investigation stage, you still need to apply to the criminal investigation department, which will arrange the meeting within 48 hours. The investigation agency can determine whether to send investigators to be present based on the circumstances of the case, but it involves the state Meetings with lawyers in secret criminal cases at this stage must be approved by the investigation department. However, in practice, due to the need to solve the case, the investigation agencies have always been opposed to the time when lawyers can meet with criminal suspects, which is the so-called 48 hours. There has always been antagonism among the criminal suspects, and the so-called 48-hour time limit is a dead letter.
Lawyers during the review and prosecution stages and trial stages can meet with criminal suspects and defendants at any time during working hours without applying to the judicial authorities in advance.