For many lawyers, one of the most decisive times in their career can lie in a phone call from a client in police custody.
Glen Cranny spoke at Bond University last night with a presentation to students, staff, alumni and local firm representatives on how lawyers should handle such a situation.
Cranny gave step by step instructions from his paper titled “The Urgent Criminal Call.”
The first step was the first contact with the client. “First contact will nearly always be by telephone. If a client is calling from a police station or watchhouse you should assume that the conversation is being listened to and/or taped. It is important that before any factual details are taken whatsoever, the overall environment is considered,” Cranny said. He then goes on to outline exactly what to ask the client, the police, and how to proceed.
He concluded his presentation in saying that although it can be daunting and overwhelming, the lawyers must stay calmed and informed.
Since 2000, Cranny has been involved in presenting and organising papers and seminars on criminal law, for bodies such as the LawAsia, the Queensland College of Law, and Queensland Law Society.
In 2010, Cranny was appointed as a Senior Counsellor of the Queensland Law Society. Cranny is also a partner at Gilshenan & Luton Legal Practice.
His areas of expertise include white collar crime, sexual offences, CMC and related investigations, coronial inquests and the defence of professional misconduct allegations. He has specialised in criminal law in 1995.