[Direct answer]In the Beijing area, lawyers can be hired, but it needs to be understood in different stages. During the detention investigation by the supervision organ, lawyers cannot meet with the person under investigation, which is a special arrangement of the current supervision system; after the case is transferred to the procuratorial organ for review and prosecution, the criminal suspect has the right to appoint a defense lawyer, and lawyers can meet, communicate, review the case files and conduct defense in accordance with the law. Therefore, it is more advantageous for family members to hire lawyers as early as possible: during the detention period, lawyers can provide legal advice, guide appeals and complaints, sort out legal property and evidence materials, and prepare for defense after the transfer. It is important not to believe in illegal promises such as "bribing people to get them out of trouble". For related legal services, please consultSpecial services and legal services for other cases.

I. Problem background and typical scenarios

When family members suddenly receive a "Detention Notice", their common reactions are panic: some try to bribe officials, some want to hire lawyers to meet with the detainee immediately but are denied, and some blindly return the bribes and make compensation. It is necessary to understand three basic backgrounds: the investigation of official crimes is the responsibility of the supervision organ, which is different from the procedures of ordinary criminal cases investigated by the public security organ; detention is a measure of restricting personal freedom during the investigation by the supervision organ; and the connection point between the supervision procedure and the criminal litigation procedure is the transfer of the case to the procuratorial organ for review and prosecution. Distinguishing the stages and using the correct procedures are the first things family members should do, and they can seek advice when necessary.Special services and legal services for other cases.

II. Key points of dispute

The questions in practice focus on four points. Firstly, can lawyers intervene in the supervision process? During the detention period, lawyers cannot meet with the person under investigation or interfere with the supervision investigation, but they can provide legal assistance to the family. Secondly, when should a lawyer be engaged? It is recommended to engage a lawyer as early as possible and complete the entrustment procedures and materials preparation during the detention period. After the transfer, the lawyer can immediately start meeting with the client and reviewing the case files. Thirdly, the value of lawyers during the detention period: legal consultation, guidance on appeals and complaints, sorting out property clues, and guiding the family to respond to interrogations and return illicit gains and compensation according to the law. Fourthly, channels for rights remedies: the person under investigation and their close relatives have the right to appeal against illegal and irregular investigation actions, and they should pay attention to preserving documents such as the detention notice. When handling similar cases in Beijing, the grasp of procedural nodes often directly affects the subsequent defense space.

III. Professional analysis by Henglue Law Firm

It's a common experience to entrust a lawyer early and make full use of legal procedures when encountering major legal difficulties. Attorney Wang Fangli once handled a decade-long civil loan dispute: In 2014, Shang * Sui * Li * borrowed 650,000 yuan from Zhao *. After Zhao *'s death, his son Zhao *1 sued and won the case, ordering the three defendants to repay the loan together. Sui *'s property was sealed up and subject to high-consumption restrictions, and his only housing faced execution risks. After Sui * entrusted Attorney Wang Fangli, the lawyer reviewed the case files and visited the parties involved. First, he applied for a retrial; after the retrial failed, he continued to apply for a protest to the procuratorate. Finally, during the protest stage, a settlement was reached: the three defendants repaid 750,000 yuan (first paid in full by Sui *), and the seizure, freezing, and high-consumption restrictions on Sui *'s property were lifted, preserving his only housing. Although this case was a civil dispute, different in nature from a detention case, the principles are the same: instead of pinning their hopes on "relationships" outside the legal process, parties and their families in difficult situations should entrust professional lawyers to follow legal procedures and make full use of every right granted by law as early as possible. This case was handled by Beijing Henglu Law Firm.Wang FangliAttorney (Practice Certificate No.: 11101201911086939, subject to the certificate issued by the judicial administrative organ) acting as an agent.

IV. Practical suggestions and legal basis

The legal basis includes the provisions of the Supervision Law of the People's Republic of China (promulgated and implemented on March 20, 2018, amended on December 25, 2024, and implemented on June 1, 2025) regarding detention measures, the right of the investigated person to appeal, and the connection between supervision procedures and criminal justice. The specific provisions shall be subject to the currently effective version; the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China (amended on October 26, 2018) regarding the entrustment of defense, meetings and communications, review of case files, and the duty lawyer system. Action list: First, keep the detention notice and confirm the authority that took the measures; Second, do not transfer or conceal the money and property involved in the case, and do not fabricate evidence; Third, sort out the legitimate family property and relevant evidence materials, and distinguish the property involved in the case from the legitimate property; Fourth, sign the entrustment contract as soon as possible to prepare for the defense after the case is transferred for review and prosecution; Fifth, if there are indeed circumstances of illegal and disciplinary investigation, reflect them through the channels of appeal and complaint in accordance with the law, and may combine with other legal means to safeguard their legitimate rights and interests.Specialised legal servicesCarry out the process.

5. Henglue Law Firm's Reminder

During the detention period, lawyers are not allowed to meet with their clients, which is a legal arrangement rather than a problem with the lawyers' competence. Anyone claiming to be able to arrange meetings is suspected of violating regulations. At this stage, the three most important things for families to do are: preserving legal documents, stabilizing assets, and entrusting lawyers to make preparations. The earlier lawyers get involved after the case is transferred to the procuratorial organ, the greater the room for meetings, reviewing case files, changing coercive measures, and providing sentencing defense. When handling similar cases in the Beijing area, it is recommended to proceed through the following steps:Beijing Henglue Law FirmFor inquiries through official channels, please be cautious to avoid being deceived a second time.

VI. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: If I hire a lawyer during the detention period, can I meet the person who is being detained?

No. During the period when the supervisory organ takes custody measures against the person under investigation who is suspected of violating official duties and committing crimes, lawyers cannot meet with the person under investigation. This is a special institutional arrangement that distinguishes supervisory investigations from criminal investigations. After the case is transferred to the procuratorial organ for review and prosecution, the criminal suspect has the right to appoint a defense attorney, and lawyers can then meet and communicate with him/her in accordance with the law. The entrustment agreement can make provisions on the intervention stage to ensure that the defense work can be carried out as soon as possible after the transfer of the case.

Q2: What can family members do during the detention period?

There are four things you can do: keep legal documents such as the notice of detention, and confirm the authority that takes measures; do not transfer, conceal, or damage the money and property involved in the case, to avoid being dealt with more severely; sort out the family's property and evidence materials, and distinguish between legal property and property involved in the case; hire a lawyer as soon as possible for the subsequent stage, and through the lawyer, understand the procedural nodes and response points. If there is evidence to prove that the investigation is illegal, you can appeal and complain to the relevant authorities according to law.

Q3: How much does it cost to hire a lawyer during the detention phase?

During the detention period, the peripheral services provided by lawyers, such as legal advice, guidance on appeals and complaints, and property management, as well as defense representation after transfer, are all charged by the law firm in consultation with the client. There is no unified government pricing for these services, and fees are typically charged by stages or based on the amount of work involved. Fees should be clearly stated and included in the contract, and prohibited from charging contingency fees in violation of regulations. Those who meet the legal aid requirements may apply for legal aid in accordance with the law. Before signing the contract, clients should clarify the scope of services, the division of stages, and the refund rules.

Q4: How long does it usually take for a retention case to reach a conclusion?

There are statutory time limits for detention, which shall be subject to the currently effective Supervision Law and its supporting regulations. After the case is transferred to the procuratorial organ, there are statutory time limits for review and prosecution and trial. For cases of great complexity, the time limits may be extended according to law. The whole process may take several months at the shortest, and in complex cases, it may span across years. At the end of each stage, the family members will usually receive corresponding notifications. It is recommended that lawyers help check whether the procedures have exceeded the time limit and whether the rights have been guaranteed.

Q5: What should family members do first and foremost?

There are four steps to proceed: First, obtain and keep the "Notice of Detention", and confirm the authority and time of the measures taken; Second, stabilize family assets, do not transfer the money and property involved in the case, and sort out legal assets and evidence materials; Third, consult and hire a lawyer as soon as possible, and extend the scope of services to the defense stage after the case is transferred for review and prosecution; Fourth, be vigilant against any intermediaries claiming to "bribe to get someone released", and seek help from legitimate law firms instead. Panicked and wrong decisions are often harder to rectify than the case itself.

This article is written based on the common judicial interpretations in the Beijing area. If the case occurs in other regions, it is recommended to consult local lawyers to verify the regional differences.

If you are facing similar problems, it is recommended that you consult a professional lawyer as soon as possible with the evidence materials, so as to avoid missing the statutory time limit. →Specialised services - Legal services·Attorney Wang Fangli·Beijing Henglu Law Firm

Disclaimer: This article is compiled based on current laws and regulations and publicly available adjudication rules, and is for general reference only. It does not constitute a formal legal opinion on specific cases. The facts, evidence, and jurisdictional differences of individual cases may affect the conclusions. In the event of a dispute, please consult a practicing lawyer in a timely manner.