Directive 2013/48/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2 October 2013 on the right of access to a lawyer lays down minimum standards concerning access to a lawyer for suspects and the accused in criminal proceedings, as well as persons subject to the European arrest warrant proceedings. The present article focuses on the subject of access to a lawyer at the earliest stage of criminal proceedings – in connection with arrest as well as during proceedings concerning the use of pre-trial detention. The author analyzes in sequence: subjective scope of the right to a lawyer, the right to a lawyer for the person deprived of liberty, confidentiality of communications between the person deprived of liberty  and  their lawyer. The main statement is that Poland does not meet these standards.