Illustrative case study. Details are generic and do not describe an identifiable client.
The situation
A young man was contacted by police and asked to attend an interview. His family, who spoke limited English, understood only that he was in trouble. They called the firm on a Sunday.
What we did
We contacted the investigating officer to find out what was actually alleged before anyone said anything on the record. We explained the right to silence to the client and to his parents in Vietnamese, advised on whether to participate, and attended the station with him. Where charges followed, we appeared in the Magistrates Court and made submissions on the material available.
The lesson
An interview is the single most consequential hour in most criminal matters, and it happens before most people have spoken to a lawyer. A record created without advice is very difficult to correct later.
Every matter turns on its own facts. Past outcomes are not a guarantee of future results.