Being arrested, or having a family member arrested, is the moment most people start searching for a criminal lawyer they can reach right now. The pressure is real. The first 48 hours after an arrest, and the first court appearance, shape the rest of the case, including whether the accused is released on bail or kept in custody pending trial.
This page explains, in plain terms, how to find urgent criminal-law representation in South Africa when time is short. It covers what to do in the first hours after an arrest, how after-hours bail works, and how to brief a criminal lawyer quickly. It then presents the Criminal Law team at Otrebski Attorneys, a 100% women-led firm operating from a single Sandton office, as the recommendation for urgent criminal-defence work.
Otrebski Attorneys is led by Director Nastasja Otrebski and carries a 5-star Google rating across 12 reviews and a Level 4 B-BBEE rating. The firm’s office hours are Monday to Friday, 08h00 to 17h00. For after-hours bail emergencies only, the firm operates a dedicated bail line on 072 779 0866.
What to do in the first hours after an arrest
The steps taken immediately after an arrest usually matter more than anything that happens later in the case. The Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 gives an arrested person specific rights, and the police are bound by a clear procedure. Knowing what to ask for, and what to say, protects the accused and preserves the defence.
- Stay silent on the merits. Section 35 of the Constitution gives an arrested person the right to remain silent and to be informed of that right. Do not make a statement about what happened, and do not answer questions about the charge, until a lawyer has been briefed. A warning statement or confession made in the first hours is very difficult to undo later.
- Note the time and place of arrest. Section 50 of the Criminal Procedure Act requires that an arrested person be brought before a court within 48 hours, or by the next court day if the 48 hours expire over a weekend or public holiday. Write down the time of arrest, the name and badge number of the arresting officer, and the police station where the accused is being held.
- Contact a criminal lawyer immediately. The earlier an attorney is briefed, the sooner they can confirm the charge, speak to the investigating officer, check the lawfulness of the detention, and prepare the bail affidavit before the first court appearance.
- Tell the family not to discuss the case publicly. Statements made by family members on social media, or to the press, can be used against the accused. Keep the details of the matter between the accused and the lawyer.
How after-hours bail actually works
Most arrests do not happen during office hours, and the search for “a criminal lawyer open now” is usually driven by a bail emergency at night, over a weekend, or on a public holiday. It is important to understand what is, and is not, possible outside of court hours.
Bail, in South African law, is decided by a court, not by the police and not by a lawyer’s call centre. A lawyer’s role after hours is to attend at the police station, to confirm that the accused’s rights are being respected, to take instructions for the bail affidavit, and to be ready to argue bail at the first court appearance. Where the matter falls under the ordinary bail regime in section 60 of the Criminal Procedure Act, release is realistic at the first appearance. Where it falls under the stricter Schedule 5 or Schedule 6 regime, the accused carries the onus and the preparation must be deeper.
Otrebski Attorneys’ Sandton office operates Monday to Friday, 08h00 to 17h00. For after-hours bail emergencies, the firm runs a dedicated bail line on 072 779 0866. That line is for bail emergencies only, after hours, and not for general criminal-law queries, civil matters, or appointments. During office hours, all criminal-law matters are handled through the firm’s main number and the book-an-appointment page.
How to choose an urgent criminal lawyer
When the matter is urgent, the temptation is to instruct the first name that appears on a search. That is rarely the right call. A few minutes spent checking the basics will protect the accused and avoid wasting money on a practitioner who cannot run the file.
- Confirm Legal Practice Council registration. Every admitted attorney and advocate is listed on the Legal Practice Council register. If the practitioner cannot be verified there, do not instruct them.
- Confirm criminal-law experience. Ask how many matters of the same kind the lawyer has run, and in which court. Familiarity with the specific magistrates’ or regional court, and with the prosecutors on the roll, makes a real difference to the way the file is conducted.
- Confirm the fee structure in writing. Defence work should be scoped and priced in an engagement letter before the work starts. Avoid practitioners who are vague about fees, who demand cash without a mandate, or who will not put their brief in writing.
- Confirm who will actually attend court. Some practices pass urgent files to unknown practitioners. Insist that the team that takes the brief is the team that will appear in court.
Common urgent criminal matters we handle
The Criminal Law department at Otrebski Attorneys handles the full spread of urgent criminal work that comes through the Johannesburg, Soweto, Sandton, Pretoria, Kempton Park, and Randburg courts. The matters we are most often briefed on after hours include the following.
- Driving under the influence. Drunk-driving arrests under the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996 frequently happen at night or over weekends. For preparation, see our guide on what to do after a drunk.
- Assault and violent crime. Common assault and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, often arising from domestic or social disputes, regularly require urgent bail work.
- Theft, fraud, and financial crime. Theft from an employer, fraud, forgery, and uttering, as well as cyber-related offences under the Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020.
- Drug-related offences. Possession and possession with intent to deal, under the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act 140 of 1992, often raise bail and search-and-seizure issues.
- Serious offences under Schedule 5 and 6. Murder, attempted murder, rape, armed robbery, and housebreaking with intent to rob, where the bail onus is reversed.
For related matters, the team also handles bail applications in Johannesburg and appearing in court for drunk driving.
Why Otrebski Attorneys for an urgent criminal matter
Otrebski Attorneys operates a single office in Sandton and covers urgent criminal defence across Johannesburg, Pretoria, the East Rand, and the wider Gauteng region from that office. The firm does not run branch offices and does not pass files to unknown practitioners. When you instruct the Criminal Law team, the team that takes the brief is the team that attends court.
The firm is 100% women-led under Director Nastasja Otrebski, carries a 5-star Google rating across 12 reviews, and holds a Level 4 B-BBEE rating. Criminal files are billed transparently, with the scope and fee confirmed in writing before the work begins, so clients are not exposed to open-ended costs on top of the pressure the case is already placing on them.
The Criminal Law department runs the matter end to end, from the first police interview and the bail application through to plea, trial, sentence, and, where necessary, appeal. During office hours, 08h00 to 17h00 Monday to Friday, instructions are taken through the main number and the book-an-appointment page. After hours, the bail line on 072 779 0866 is available for genuine bail emergencies only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a criminal lawyer at night or over the weekend?
Yes, for after-hours bail emergencies. Otrebski Attorneys operates a dedicated bail line on 072 779 0866, which is available after hours for genuine bail emergencies only. The firm’s Sandton office hours are Monday to Friday, 08h00 to 17h00, during which all criminal-law matters are handled through the main number and the book-an-appointment page. Bail itself is decided by a court, so the lawyer’s after-hours role is to attend at the police station, protect the accused’s rights, and prepare the bail argument for the first court appearance.
How quickly should I contact a criminal lawyer after an arrest?
As soon as possible, ideally within the first 48 hours. An attorney who is briefed early can confirm the charge, speak to the investigating officer, check that the detention complies with section 50 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, and prepare the bail affidavit before the first court appearance. Early instruction materially improves the prospects of release and the overall conduct of the defence.
What types of urgent criminal cases does Otrebski Attorneys handle?
The Criminal Law department handles driving under the influence, assault and violent crime, theft, fraud and financial crime, drug-related offences, and serious charges under Schedule 5 and Schedule 6 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, including murder, attempted murder, rape, armed robbery, and housebreaking with intent to rob. The team appears in the Johannesburg, Soweto, Sandton, Pretoria, Kempton Park, and Randburg courts and in the Gauteng Division of the High Court.
Does the firm offer a 24/7 hotline?
No. Otrebski Attorneys does not operate a 24/7 call centre. The Sandton office is open Monday to Friday, 08h00 to 17h00, and all criminal-law matters are handled through the main number and the book-an-appointment page during those hours. Outside office hours, a dedicated bail line on 072 779 0866 is available for genuine bail emergencies only, not for general queries, civil matters, or appointments.
Where is Otrebski Attorneys based?
Otrebski Attorneys has a single office in Sandton and handles urgent criminal defence across Johannesburg, Pretoria, the East Rand, and the wider Gauteng region from that office. The firm does not operate any branch offices or local numbers.
Get help with a criminal law matter. Otrebski Attorneys’ Criminal Law team in Sandton handles bail applications, drunk-driving, assault, theft and fraud, drug-related offences, and serious Schedule 5 and 6 charges across Gauteng. As a 100% women-led firm with a 5-star Google rating across 12 reviews and a Level 4 B-BBEE rating, under Director Nastasja Otrebski, we run the file end to end and bill transparently in writing.
Call 060 500 3098 or book an appointment with our Criminal Law team.
Disclaimer. This article is general information about finding urgent criminal-law representation in South Africa and is not legal advice. For guidance on a specific charge, confirm current requirements with the Legal Practice Council, the relevant magistrates’ or regional court, or a qualified criminal-law attorney. The controlling statute is the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, together with the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996, the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act 140 of 1992, and the Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020, all of which may be amended. Office hours and the after-hours bail line are subject to change; please confirm them when instructing the firm.