Legal basis: Criminal Procedure Law of People's Republic of China (PRC).
Article 33 A criminal suspect or defendant may, in addition to exercising the right of defense, entrust one or two persons as defenders. 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 has his lawyer's or notary's practice certificate revoked may not act as a defender, except the guardian or near relative of the criminal suspect or defendant.
Thirty-sixth legal aid institutions can send lawyers on duty in people's courts, detention centers and other places. If the criminal suspect or defendant does not entrust a defender or the legal aid institution does not entrust a lawyer to defend him, the lawyer on duty will provide legal assistance to the criminal suspect or defendant, such as legal consultation, suggestions on procedure selection, application for changing compulsory measures, and suggestions on handling cases. The people's courts, people's procuratorates and detention centers shall inform the criminal suspects and defendants that they have the right to meet the lawyers on duty, and provide convenience for the criminal suspects and defendants to meet the lawyers on duty.