The defense of a criminal case can be affected dramatically by the events immediately following arrest. The civil attorney needs to protect the client's interests until an experienced criminal lawyer can be contacted. The attorney should first find out everything the caller knows about the arrest. Next, the police station should be called, and the attorney should ask to speak with the defendant. The client should not be permitted to discuss the case over the telephone and should be told to say nothing to police, government attorneys, cellmates, reporters, or anyone else. Clients should also be advised not to participate in lineups or other identification procedures until the attorney arrives, but not to physically resist the procedure. Further advice covers conversations with the police officer responsible for the client's case, the attorney's role at the police station, negotiating with the prosecutor, the lineup, and getting the client out of jail. Five references are listed.