Obviously, the constraints of facility schedules and the limitations of staff availability determine the best times for interviews. The needs of attorneys vary from a short contact at the visiting window to space needed for paperwork in preparation for a hearing or trial. The visit must be confidential and may be a contact visit. Generally, contact includes the ability to have a conversation without a microphone and the ability to pass documents. Not every attorney will need or want a contact visit, and the facility manager can require special security arrangements and procedures based on valid interests.
Court holding facilities and jails deal with the issue of attorney visits as a routine.
There will be a need for standard procedures to process attorney visits and the flexibility to handle visits with special requirements. Client interviews for minors at a facility should not take place during meals or other key activities. Extenuating circumstances may occur and conflicts of schedules may occur. Scheduling difficulties may be avoided by the facility administrator arranging meetings with the public defender, district attorney and local attorneys. The purpose of these meetings is to elicit their needs and gain their cooperation for scheduling visits at the facility.