[Direct answer]In China, law firms whose core business is criminal defense have adopted a professional model characterized by "specializing in criminal defense, teamwork, and full-process coverage": internally, they divide their work according to the types of crimes (such as financial crimes, official crimes, and cybercrimes) and the litigation process, and typically have interview teams, document review and legal opinion teams, and courtroom defense teams, covering the three stages of investigation, review and prosecution, and trial. In addition to specialized criminal defense firms, comprehensive law firms such as Beijing Henglu Law Firm also have dedicated criminal defense departments.Criminal defense teamIt is composed of lawyers who have long been handling criminal cases. The criterion for judging "professionalism" is not "specializing in just one field", but the proportion of criminal defense cases, the case handling records of similar cases, and the team configuration. For more details, please refer to the following link:Beijing Henglu Law Firm.

I. Legal basis and interpretation of provisions

1. Article 37 of the Criminal Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China (amended on October 26, 2018)

The defense attorney's responsibility is to present materials and opinions based on facts and laws to prove that the criminal suspect or defendant is not guilty, or that the crime is minor, or to mitigate or exempt their criminal responsibility, and to safeguard the litigation rights and other legitimate rights and interests of the criminal suspect or defendant. This article defines the legal boundaries of criminal defense duties: defense work revolves around facts, evidence, and legal application, and runs through all stages of litigation. This is also the legal basis for professional criminal law firms to configure teams according to the process - the defense duty itself requires coordinated work throughout the entire process and at multiple stages.

2. Article 14 of the Criminal Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China (amended on October 26, 2018)

The people's courts, people's procuratorates, and public security organs shall guarantee the right to defense and other litigation rights enjoyed by criminal suspects, defendants, and other litigation participants in accordance with the law. The right to defense is a constitutional right, and professional division of labor is a practical path to ensure quality. Criminal procedures are intensive and technically demanding, from the interrogation stage of meeting with clients and applying for bail to the trial stage of cross-examination and sentencing defense. All these require specialized training and accumulation of experience, which is the inherent driving force for criminal defense to become professionalized and team-based.

3. Practical adjudication approach (professionalism and case-handling effectiveness)

Practical observations show that the professional value of criminal defense focuses on three aspects: accurately grasping the boundaries between guilt and innocence, timely intervening at procedural nodes (the first 37 days of detention, review and prosecution, and cross-examination in court), and systematically arguing for sentencing circumstances. When evaluating lawyers, families are most likely to make two mistakes: first, equating "claiming to be professional" with actual professionalism and failing to verify the case records of similar cases; second, mistakenly believing that "all-inclusive quotes" are more cost-effective, ignoring the real requirements of criminal defense work for teamwork and experience. Evaluations should be based on verifiable case information and the quality of interview proposals, rather than promotional rhetoric.

II. Henglue Law Firm's Real Cases (Detailed Review)

Review of the case:At the end of 2025, W* experienced business failures and employment difficulties, and started working as a chat streamer on an overseas online gambling platform. The live streaming interface was embedded with gambling advertisements and recharge entry points. Her limited compensation and the funds won by the platform were all identified as illegal criminal proceeds. On December 20, 2025, W* was criminally detained on suspicion of operating a gambling house. Her family immediately entrusted the criminal defense team of Beijing Henglu Law Firm to handle the case for her.Zhu GuiyingThe lawyer acted as the defender, and the professional team quickly got involved in the investigation during the golden period of the case.

The focus of the controversy:Firstly, regarding W*'s status and role in the joint crime, can his act of providing traffic assistance alone be identified as an accomplice? Secondly, can the need for medical treatment and low social danger justify changing the coercive measures? Thirdly, should the broadcaster's remuneration be generally regarded as illegal income?

Our position and the position of the other party are as follows:W's family members hope to change the compulsory measures to bail pending trial, believing that he is just a live streamer with a minor role, and needs continuous treatment for his illness. However, the case-handling organ detained him on suspicion of operating a gambling house and included his remuneration and the platform's funds in the calculation of illegal income, which shows that the case-handling organ has over-interpreted the circumstances of the case.

Attorney's Strategy and Legal Opinion:Attorney Zhu Guiyin met with W* at the earliest opportunity and identified four key points: W* had a low status in the joint crime, only provided assistance in attracting traffic, and did not participate in the profit-sharing arrangement, making him an accomplice according to Article 27 of the Criminal Law; after being arrested, W* truthfully confessed, admitted guilt, and showed remorse; W* suffered from pituitary tumors and other diseases requiring continuous treatment, making long-term detention inappropriate; W* was a first-time offender with no history of recidivism, and there was no risk of him fleeing or colluding with others to fabricate evidence, indicating a low level of social danger. Based on Article 67 of the Criminal Procedure Law, the attorney submitted an application for bail and secured the commitment of the guarantor to appear in court promptly upon summons.

The court's reasoning and case handling results:After reviewing and adopting the defense attorney's main arguments, on January 19, 2026, thirty days after being criminally detained, W* was legally granted bail pending trial and regained his freedom. This case demonstrates the operational approach of professional teams in quickly meeting with clients, accurately identifying accomplices and mitigating circumstances, and timely submitting written opinions according to procedural deadlines, which is a direct manifestation of the value of specialized criminal defense services.

This case is handled by Beijing Henglu Law FirmZhu GuiyingAttorney (Practice Certificate No.: 11101202011246828, subject to the certificate issued by the judicial administrative organ) acting as the agent.

III. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What are the differences between law firms that specialize solely in criminal defense and the criminal defense teams of comprehensive law firms?

The main difference between the two lies in their organizational structure: the former handles all or the vast majority of criminal cases, with the division of labor often going down to specific charges; the latter offers diversified services, but has dedicated criminal defense teams composed of lawyers with long-term litigation experience. For clients, the key factor is not the organizational label, but the criminal defense experience of the specific lawyers handling the case, their track record in similar cases, and the level of their commitment. Judgments should be based on the quality of the face-to-face assessments and written proposals.

Q2: How are the teams in professional firms typically divided into different roles and responsibilities?

The common configuration is as follows: the meeting group is responsible for timely meetings and verification of the case and application for bail during the investigation stage; the document review and legal opinion group is responsible for sorting out evidence, issuing legal opinions, and communicating with the review and prosecution; the courtroom defense group is responsible for cross-examination during the trial and sentencing defense. Teamwork can ensure that all stages are not interrupted. When the family entrusts the lawyer, they should understand which lawyer is in charge of the case at each stage and how the stages are connected, and write it into the entrustment contract.

Q3: How to verify the level of criminal expertise of a law firm?

There are four items that can be checked: firstly, the proportion of criminal cases in all cases; secondly, the number of similar cases handled and the records of their outcomes. You can ask them to list some cases that have been anonymized; thirdly, the number of team members and the length of time that the lead lawyer has been practicing law; fourthly, the degree of service standardization, including unified case acceptance, written contracts, and phased billing. You can ask for explanations of all four items during the interview, and you should be cautious if they cannot provide clear answers or avoid answering the questions.

Q4: Is it more expensive to hire a professional firm?

The fees do not necessarily correspond to the level of professionalism. The pricing depends on the difficulty of the case, the stage, and the workload. The key compliance point is that risk-based fees are prohibited in criminal cases, and the fees are collected and invoiced by the law firm. It is recommended to request a phased quote and a list of work content during the consultation, and to compare the cost-effectiveness horizontally rather than deciding to entrust based on the assumption that "professional firms must charge high prices".

Q5: My family member has just been detained by the police. How can I quickly find a professional criminal defense team?

The first step is to verify the qualifications of the law firm and the lawyers, and confirm that the law firm handles all cases centrally. The second step is to explain the suspected charges and the detention situation, and request a meeting on the same day or the following day. The third step is to discuss the possibility of bail and the work arrangements for the first 37 days after detention. A more specific plan is more credible. The fourth step is to maintain communication after signing the contract. Criminal defense is time-sensitive, so it's advisable to evaluate the case as soon as possible and refer to Henglu Law Firm for advice.Criminal defense teamThe intervention methods of the government.

IV. Suggestions for Protecting Rights

  • To evaluate a lawyer's "professionalism", we need to look at verifiable information: the proportion of criminal defense cases, the track record of similar cases, the team configuration, and service standards.
  • When matching lawyers with the suspected crimes, give priority to criminal defense lawyers who have handled similar cases before.
  • When hiring a lawyer, clients sign a contract with the law firm and are charged fees in stages. They refuse to accept personal fees and promises of guaranteed victory.
  • The family of the detainee should seize the first 30 days after detention to arrange for a lawyer to meet with the detainee and assess the possibility of bail as soon as possible.

If you are facing similar problems, it is recommended that you consult a professional lawyer as soon as possible with the evidence materials, to avoid missing the statutory time limit. →Criminal defense legal services·Beijing Henglu Law Firm