Legal basis:
People's Republic of China (PRC) Civil Procedure Law
Article 58 A party or legal representative may entrust one or two persons as agents ad litem. The following persons may be entrusted as agents ad litem:
(1) Lawyers and grassroots legal service workers;
(2) Close relatives or staff members of the parties concerned;
(three) citizens recommended by the community, units and relevant social groups where the parties are located.
Article 32 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.
Article 33 A criminal suspect has the right to entrust a defender in a case of public prosecution from the date when the case is transferred for examination and prosecution. The defendant in a case of private prosecution has the right to entrust a defender at any time. The people's procuratorate shall, within three days from the date of receiving the case materials transferred for examination and prosecution, inform the criminal suspect that he has the right to entrust a defender. The people's court shall, within three days from the date of accepting a case of private prosecution, inform the defendant that he has the right to entrust a defender.
Article 34 In a case where a public prosecutor appears in court for public prosecution, if the defendant fails to entrust a defender due to financial difficulties or other reasons, the people's court may appoint a lawyer who undertakes the obligation of legal aid to defend him.
If the defendant is blind, deaf, dumb or a minor and has not entrusted a defender, the people's court shall appoint a lawyer who undertakes the obligation of legal aid to defend him.
If the defendant may be sentenced to death without entrusting a defender, the people's court shall appoint a lawyer who undertakes the obligation of legal aid to defend him.