Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

If this is the first court appearance, most judges will grant a short continuance for a defendant to retain counsel. Of course, at the first court appearance, bail will be set. If the accused is serious about finding an attorney, they should try and do so before that arraignment so the issue of bail can be addressed. Often, even if bail is going to be set, the court will extend a courtesy to defendants with attorneys to remain in the audience while a bonds agent posts bail. The defendant can be released from the courtroom without having to get booked in and processed out through county jail.

If they cannot arrange for a lawyer to be there at the arraignment, then somebody on the outside should be ready to arrange for bail if that's what the plan is.