Facing a sudden arrest or police questioning can be terrifying and overwhelming. Immediate action can drastically alter the outcome of your case, protecting your rights from the very first moment.
Urgent Legal Advice
Immediate Legal Protection When It Matters Most
When you or a loved one are facing immediate arrest, active police questioning, or a sudden legal crisis, time is of the essence. What you say or do in the first few hours can have massive, lasting implications on your freedom, reputation, and future case outcome. Having an experienced criminal defence lawyer step in immediately ensures your rights are heavily protected from the onset and that law enforcement acts strictly within their boundaries.
Urgent Situations I Can Help With
I provide rapid assistance and strategic representation for critical legal emergencies, including:
- Arrest and Custody Situations
- Active Police Interviews and Questioning
- Execution of Police Search Warrants
- After-Hours Legal Emergencies
- Urgent Bail Applications (District & High Court)
- Sudden Notices to Appear in Court
- Government Agency Investigations (Customs, IRD, MBIE)
- Immediate Breaches of Bill of Rights Claims
Proactive legal intervention allows me to handle communication with authorities on your behalf, prevent self-incrimination, and position you for the strongest possible defence from day one.
Urgent Legal Intervention Services
It is critical to remember that you have the right to professional legal counsel the moment police seek to question you. It is important to exercise your right to silence and exercise your right to legal advice. Do not attempt to navigate an arrest or police pressure alone. Regardless of the pressure you feel from authorities, legally you are entitled to expert representation to prevent missteps that could harm your case down the line.
No matter how complex or overwhelming the emergency seems, as your defence lawyer, I am available to step in rapidly, stand by your side, and deal directly with law enforcement officers on your behalf.
The early stages of a police investigation are when critical procedural errors are most frequently made by authorities. I review police actions in real-time to ensure your statutory rights are respected, as any failure by police to follow the law properly can lead to the exclusion of evidence later.
If you are currently at a police station or facing an imminent arrest, I can advise you immediately on the safest and most effective course of action. My legal services begin from the very first phone call, navigating you through the intense pressure of the initial detention process.
I am equipped to handle emergency bail applications, challenge arbitrary police detentions, and represent you at short-notice initial court appearances. Whether you require immediate guidance regarding a pending charge or need urgent representation during a weekend crisis, I offer rapid-response advocacy.
I have extensive experience managing high-stakes, time-sensitive criminal law matters, ensuring that your rights are robustly defended when you are at your most vulnerable.
Whether you require emergency advice over the phone or robust, urgent representation in Court, I provide strong, immediate advocacy at every level of the justice system.
Useful Tips & Advice for Urgent Situations
I have just been arrested or detained, what should I do right now?
State clearly to the police officers that you wish to exercise your right to remain silent and that you want to speak to your lawyer, Daniel Schellenberg, immediately. Do not answer any further questions or sign anything until we have spoken in private.
The police are at my door with a search warrant, do I have to let them in?
If they have a valid warrant, you must allow them entry, but you have the legal right to ask for and read a copy of it. Contact a lawyer immediately so we can ensure the search is conducted strictly within legal boundaries. Do not answer questions during the search.
Can the police hold me or question me indefinitely without a lawyer?
No. Under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act, you have the right to speak to a lawyer without delay when detained or arrested. The police must facilitate this private communication and must stop questioning you until you have had the opportunity to receive legal advice.
What should I do if the police ask me to do a video-recorded interview to "clear things up"?
You should decline the interview until you have received formal legal advice. Police interviews are designed to gather evidence to build a case against you, not to clear your name. Exercise your right to remain silent until I can review the details of your situation.
A family member has been arrested after hours, how can I help them?
Instruct them to remain silent and call an experienced criminal defence lawyer immediately. We can arrange to locate them at the police station, assess their bail status, and ensure they are properly represented at their first court appearance.
Can I just wait until my first court date to get a lawyer?
This is highly unadvisable. Crucial decisions regarding your charges, police statements, and bail conditions are made immediately following an arrest. Instructing a lawyer early protects your rights from being compromised before you ever step foot into a courtroom.
Fantastic Lawyer
Fantastic Lawyer. Puts in the time and effort for his clients and there cases.Very easy to communicate with and very understanding.