ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the empirical findings in relation to legal assistance at the investigative stage in England and Wales. It also describes the role of a lawyer in the English criminal process, and the history of police station legal assistance in this jurisdiction. The chapter explores the fieldwork findings, organised around the two ‘pillars’ of the lawyer’s role at the investigative stage: the role vis-à-vis the client and the role vis-à-vis the authorities. England and Wales have a divided legal profession into ‘barristers’ and ‘solicitors’; barristers traditionally represent cases in higher courts, and solicitors represent cases in magistrate courts and at police stations. The investigative stage in England and Wales is governed by Police and Criminal Evidence Act, which regulates arrest, detention and questioning, and certain aspects of police investigations. In England and Wales, lawyers have been assisting suspects detained by the police and attending interrogations for more than 30 years.
