Article 33 of the Criminal Procedure Law of People's Republic of China (PRC)
A criminal suspect or defendant may entrust one or two persons as defenders in addition to exercising their right to defense. The following persons may be entrusted as defenders:
(1) lawyers;
(2) a person recommended by a people's organization or the unit to which the criminal suspect or defendant belongs;
(3) guardians, relatives and friends of criminal suspects and defendants. A person who has been sentenced to punishment according to law or deprived of or restricted personal freedom shall not act as a defender.
A person who has been dismissed from public office or whose practicing certificate as a lawyer or notary has been revoked may not act as a defender, except the guardian or near relative of the criminal suspect or defendant.
Article 34
A criminal suspect has the right to entrust a defender from the day when he is interrogated for the first time by the investigation organ or compulsory measures are taken; During the investigation, only lawyers can be entrusted as defenders. The defendant has the right to entrust a defender at any time.