Assistance to detainees and summary proceedings
Arrest and summary trial lawyer
If you have been arrested, called to a police station, or summoned for a summary trial, this is not a moment to improvise. What matters is not “explaining yourself well” based on instinct. What matters is understanding what you are being accused of, what your rights are, and what strategy should be followed from the very beginning.
In criminal matters, the first steps carry significant weight. A poorly handled statement, a misunderstood summons, or a rushed reaction can seriously complicate a case that may still have room to be managed.
We work from Barberà del Vallès by appointment and also provide online assistance to clients across the province of Barcelona. If the matter is urgent, the priority is clear: act early and act correctly.
If you have been arrested or summoned, what you do now matters
The Spanish Criminal Procedure Law (Ley de Enjuiciamiento Criminal) establishes a clear framework of guarantees during detention and the early stages of an investigation. Article 520 states that detention and pre-trial custody must be carried out in a way that causes the least possible harm to the person, reputation, and property of the detainee. The 2015 reform also strengthened the right to defence and the right to be informed upon arrest.
In plain terms: you are not required to face this alone or react blindly. Before giving a statement, before signing anything, and before assuming that “it will sort itself out”, it is essential to review what evidence exists against you—and what does not.
Your rights from the very first minute
The right to defence in criminal proceedings does not start at trial. It begins the moment you are formally accused of a criminal offence. The Spanish Criminal Procedure Law (LECrim) recognises, among others, the right to appoint a lawyer, the right to remain silent, the right not to self-incriminate, and the right to receive clear information about the facts you are being accused of and your legal rights. In addition, effective legal assistance during detention is directly linked to Article 520 LECrim.
This means that if you are arrested or summoned, your defence does not start when a written submission or appeal is prepared. It starts earlier: in how the first statement is approached, what is answered and what is not, and whether the procedure is being handled through the correct legal route.
What is a summary trial and when does it apply
The Spanish Criminal Procedure Law (LECrim) regulates the procedure for the swift prosecution of certain offences in Article 795. In general terms, it applies to offences punishable by imprisonment not exceeding five years or other penalties not exceeding ten years, provided that the proceedings are initiated through a police report and that the Judicial Police have either arrested the suspect and brought them before the duty court or, even without arrest, summoned them as a suspect to appear, together with other conditions such as flagrante delicto.
In practical terms: if you are summoned to a summary trial, things move very quickly, and your defence must be prepared just as fast. That is why it is important to review the police report, the summons, the evidence, and your real procedural options before making any decisions.
How we handle an urgent defence
First, we assess your situation: arrest, summons, urgent proceedings, or summary trial. We then review what is being alleged against you, what evidence exists, and what the best course of action is at this early stage. From there, we design the strategy: whether to give a statement or remain silent, whether it makes sense to negotiate, how to prepare the subsequent defence, or how to challenge the case from the outset.
Here, we do not sell theatrics. We offer something much more useful: structure, judgement, and fast response.
What documentation do we need
If you already have it, it is useful to gather:
- police or court summons
- complaint/charge sheet, if provided to you
- police report or case reference number, if known
- court orders, summons, or procedural notifications received
- messages, audio recordings, emails, or any evidence that may support your position in the case
If you do not have everything, that is not a problem.
We will tell you what is truly necessary and what should not be improvised.
Yes. The Spanish Criminal Procedure Law (LECrim) recognises the right to defence and legal assistance from the very beginning of the investigation, and the detention framework under Article 520 reinforces this right to legal counsel.
Not always. The summary trial is a procedural route used for certain offences and under specific conditions; sometimes it ends in a plea agreement, sometimes it is converted into another procedure, and sometimes it is only the starting point of a longer defence process.
It depends on the case. The right to remain silent and not to self-incriminate is part of the core defence rights recognised by law.
If you have been arrested or summoned, it is better to respond with strategy than impulse
At this stage, a poor decision can carry significant consequences. If you have been arrested or have a summary trial scheduled, we help you defend yourself from the very first minute with a clear approach:
urgency, control, and strategy.
Speak to a criminal defence lawyer now
