在被拘留期间尽快和随时获得法律援助，包括在被逮捕后立即获得法律援助。11被告选择认罪时，律师在场对于保护其权利尤其必要。在本案中，工作组认为，由于未能遵守公正审判规则，这批学生的辩护无效，这违反了《世界人权宣言》第十条和《公约》第十四条第一款。
70. The Working Group notes the source’s allegations that the members of the group of students were not assisted by counsel when they were arrested or when they were brought before the investigating judge. They were allegedly then prevented from submitting exonerating evidence for inclusion in the case file and were not allowed to present their case in full. It is also alleged that their lawyers were repeatedly interrupted during the proceedings. The Working Group recalls that all accused persons have the right to be assisted by counsel as soon as possible and at any time during detention, including immediately after their arrest.11 It is particularly important for a lawyer to be present in order to protect the rights of the accused in the event that he or she chooses to confess. In the present case, the Working Group considers that the members of the group of students were deprived of a proper defence as a result of the failure to comply with fair trial requirements, in violation of article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 14 (1) of the Covenant.