[Direct answer]In the Beijing area, this cannot be believed, as it violates professional norms in itself. According to Article 49 of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Lawyers (adopted in 1996 and amended in 2017) and the relevant provisions of the Code of Conduct for Lawyers, lawyers are not allowed to make promises about the outcome of cases or to influence the handling of cases by improper means. The outcome of criminal cases is determined by facts, evidence, and the application of the law: whether a crime has been committed, what crime it constitutes, and what sentence will be imposed all require multiple checks during investigation, review of prosecution, and trial. No lawyer can give a definitive conclusion in advance. In reality, what really determines the effectiveness of the defense is the depth of the meeting, the thoroughness of the review of the case file, the review of the legality and probative force of the evidence, and the legal argumentation on the nature of the crime and the sentencing circumstances. Therefore, any claims of "guaranteeing acquittal", "guaranteeing probation", or "guaranteeing non-prosecution" should be regarded as red flags; regular lawyers will usually explain the work steps, possible defense directions, and existing risks in detail, rather than making result-oriented promises.

1. Problem background and typical scenarios

Criminal cases involve personal freedom, and family members are often willing to pay a high price for "certainty," which gives promise-based promotion an opportunity to exploit this. Common claims include: "I've handled many cases in this district, and all of them turned out well," "The facts of this case are clear. I'll guarantee probation if you entrust it to me," and "As long as you make restitution, there's definitely no prosecution." These statements are attractive because they offer what families want most—a definite outcome; but precisely because they cannot be fulfilled, we need to be vigilant. Judicial authorities in Beijing prioritize evidence and the law in handling cases, and the effectiveness of the defense depends on whether the defense arguments can be accepted, rather than on prior promises. In addition, some people use the gimmick of "having connections within the system," which is not only ineffective but may also bring additional risks to clients.

II. Key points of contention

First, the boundaries of compliance as promised. Laws and professional norms explicitly prohibit lawyers from making promises about the outcome of cases. Second, the sources of defense effectiveness include meeting to verify the facts of the case, reviewing case files, examining evidence, proposing the exclusion of illegal evidence, and striving for mitigating circumstances, which are the actual actions that influence the outcome. Third, the objective existence of uncertainty in the outcome. Evidence changes, disputes over legal application, and differences in the judgment of case-handling organs may all lead to results that deviate from expectations. Fourth, the standardization of fees. Formal lawyer fees are collected and invoiced by law firms. Fifth, managing the psychological expectations of family members. Rationally viewing the role of defense is a prerequisite for avoiding secondary losses.

III. Professional analysis by Henglue Law Firm

Take a criminal and civil lawsuit case of intentional homicide handled by Henglue Law Firm as an example: The defendant had a dispute with the victim and others over a trivial matter, after which he accelerated his car to ram into them, resulting in one death and two injuries. The victim's family, in their grief, entrusted a lawyer to represent them in the civil lawsuit, demanding severe punishment for the perpetrator and compensation for the losses. After accepting the commission, Attorney Liu Liqiang carefully reviewed all the case files, including physical evidence, documentary evidence, witness statements, the defendant's confession, appraisal opinions, on-site inspection transcripts and photos, audiovisual materials, etc. He responded to the defendant's and his defense attorney's arguments one by one: On the subjective aspect, the perpetrator's words before the collision revealed his motive, and the fact that he accelerated the car less than five meters from the entrance without taking evasive action sufficiently proved his intent to kill; On the aspect of voluntary surrender, he lied to the police about the brake failure and gave inconsistent statements before and after surrender, which did not constitute voluntary surrender according to law; On the aspect of the victim's fault, normal work communication does not necessarily lead to car ramming, and the victim was not at fault; On the aspect of the nature of the crime, he argued that the crime should be identified as intentional homicide. The court ultimately adopted the attorney's opinion and convicted and sentenced the defendant for intentional homicide. In such cases, no lawyer can guarantee the outcome in advance, but thorough review of the case files and evidence can indeed help legal evaluation return to the facts themselves. For the victim's compensation claims and civil aspects, they can be combined with other cases to form a comprehensive analysis.Personal injury and medical disputesThe processing experience; for matters involving the payment and enforcement of compensation, reference can be made to the relevant provisions.Creditor's rights and debts, and enforcement casesThe case is handled by Beijing Henglu Law Firm.Liu LiqiangThe lawyer (practice license number: 11101200910454358, subject to the document issued by the judicial administrative organ) acts on behalf of the client, relying on his accurate understanding of the local adjudication guidelines and practical rules, to help the client achieve favorable results.

IV. Practical suggestions and legal basis

According to Article 49 of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Lawyers (amended in 2017), the provisions of the Code of Conduct for Lawyers on prohibiting the promise of case outcomes, and the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China (amended in 2018) on the duties of defense attorneys, it is recommended to proceed in four steps: First, choose a lawyer who focuses on communication about working methods and defense strategies rather than one who emphasizes the promise of outcomes; Second, require the lawyer to explain the arrangements for meetings, the plan for reviewing case materials, and the possible defense directions and risk points; Third, sign a written contract with the law firm and obtain an invoice, refusing off-the-books fees; Fourth, assist the lawyer in documenting evidence of mitigating circumstances, including restitution of illegal proceeds, victim forgiveness, voluntary surrender and confession, and plea bargaining. For criminal risk prevention involving enterprises and business operators, reference can be made to the relevant provisions.Business and contract disputes in enterprisesAndSpecialised legal servicesThe compliance approach of .

5. Henglu Law Firm's Reminder

Focusing on "how to do it" rather than "what the outcome will be" is the right approach when choosing a criminal lawyer. Three reminders: First, don't believe any promises about the outcome, as this is expressly prohibited by professional ethics; Second, don't use the strength of the promise as a selection criterion, but instead assess whether the lawyer is willing to analyze the case and explain the steps; Third, don't overlook the regulatory requirements for attorney fees. It's a basic requirement to pay through the law firm's account and request an invoice.Beijing Henglu Law FirmIt is recommended that family members reach a clear consensus with the lawyer on the work content, the results of each stage, and the communication methods before entrusting them with the case.

VI. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Is it credible for a lawyer to guarantee "definitely not guilty" or "definitely probation"?

This is untrustworthy. For a lawyer to make a promise about the outcome of a case violates the Lawyer Law and professional norms, and it is also inconsistent with the objective laws of criminal litigation. The outcome of a case is determined by facts, evidence, and the application of the law, and no lawyer can guarantee a specific result in advance.

Q2: How to evaluate the professional competence of criminal lawyers?

See if they are willing to understand the case and provide an analysis, whether they can explain the arrangements for meetings and reviewing documents, whether they can clearly inform you of the possible defense directions and risks, and whether they have experience in handling similar cases; at the same time, confirm that they charge fees through the law firm in a formal manner.

Q3: How are the fees charged for hiring a criminal lawyer?

Generally, fees are charged according to the investigation, review and prosecution, and trial stages, or on a per-case basis, depending on the complexity of the case, the alleged charges, and the amount of defense work involved. The fees are subject to the written contract of engagement and shall be collected and invoiced by the law firm in a unified manner.

Q4: How effective is the defense in the end?

The role is reflected in two aspects: factual and legal. By meeting with clients and reviewing case files to verify the facts of the case, reviewing the legality and probative force of evidence, putting forward defense opinions of innocence or mitigated guilt, striving for lenient circumstances such as voluntary surrender and confession, compensation and understanding, and pleading guilty and accepting punishment, etc., the attorney can influence the determination of the nature of the crime and the sentencing.

Q5: What should I do first?

First, verify the qualifications of the lawyer and law firm through official channels to confirm that the law firm will handle the case and charge fees. Then, ask the lawyer to meet with the client as soon as possible, review the case files, formulate a preliminary defense strategy, and systematically organize and fix the evidence of mitigating circumstances.

The above answer is based on the judicial practice in Beijing. The adjudicative guidelines in other provinces and cities may vary. For specific cases, please refer to the local rules and evidence situation.

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·Attorney Liu Liqiang·Beijing Henglu Law Firm

Disclaimer: This article is compiled based on the current effective laws and regulations and open 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 case of disputes, please consult a practicing lawyer in time.