It is prohibited to bring assistants [lawyer meeting stage]

The "Lawyers Law of the People's Republic of China" stipulates the basic internship training content that trainee lawyers should complete during their internship, including criminal case business.

The "Regulations on Protecting Lawyers' Rights to Practice in accordance with the Law" also clearly stipulates that defense lawyers can bring a trainee lawyer or lawyer as an auxiliary person to the meeting. As auxiliary personnel of lawyers, paralegals participate in case handling to assist the sponsoring lawyer to complete his work smoothly, and play an important role in ensuring that the sponsoring lawyer concentrates on defense work and fully guarantee the legitimate rights and interests of the defendant.

The "Regulations on Legally Protecting the Rights of Lawyers to Practice" also clearly stipulates that paralegals can assist lawyers in participating in criminal proceedings, including interviews, review of papers, court hearings, etc. It is illegal for detention centers to prohibit lawyers from bringing their assistants to meet with suspects or defendants in custody. Defense lawyers have the right to lodge complaints and accusations against illegal activities in detention centers, and require detention centers to protect the rights of trainee lawyers or lawyers as auxiliary personnel to practice.

The detention center's failure to allow paralegals to meet together is illegal and impedes lawyers from exercising their powers. However, it should be noted that after a trainee lawyer becomes a full-time lawyer and before his internship certificate expires and his lawyer's practicing certificate is issued, he cannot request to meet with suspects or defendants in custody. Because the internship certificate is a certificate of identity as a trainee lawyer, if this certificate expires, it cannot be used anymore.