When we think about penitentiary centers, we often imagine what we’ve seen in movies or TV shows. However, the reality of prison visits in Spain is very different.
María, an intern at our firm, shares her experience in one of our latest TikTok videos, showing the real process of access and meetings with clients in custody. vídeos de TikTok, showing what the real process of access and interaction with clients deprived of their liberty is like.
The process of accessing a prison
First, when entering a penitentiary center, it is mandatory to leave your mobile phone in the locker, as it is not allowed to access the facility with it. From there, a tour begins that includes several doors and security checkpoints, where it is necessary to identify yourself and present the prison access pass.
Once this process is completed, the lawyer and their team must wait for authorization to enter and proceed to the visiting area.
Meeting spaces with clients
Visits are not held in large open rooms as in fiction. In reality, they take place in separate cubicles with a glass partition.
On one side sits the lawyer—and in this case, the intern—and on the other side, the client. Communication is conducted via a telephone provided in each cubicle, which allows for private conversations and detailed planning of the defense strategy.
Beyond the legal strategy
During these visits, discussions are not only about technical case matters. It is also essential to ask the client how they are feeling. The human dimension is fundamental in the practice of law, especially in such a sensitive environment as the penitentiary system.
Paying attention to this aspect helps establish a relationship of trust and better understand the personal situation of those deprived of their liberty.
A realistic and human perspective on law practice
Prisons are not like in the movies. The reality is much stricter, more controlled, and, at the same time, humane.
At Estradé Law Firm, we believe that showing this reality is key to understanding the true day-to-day life of the legal profession. Experiences like María’s highlight the importance of combining professional rigor with empathy and a personal approach to each client.
