In order to ensure that lawyers can fully perform their duties in participating in litigation activities and effectively safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of criminal suspects and defendants, the law also gives lawyers the rights to collect and consult materials related to this case, meet and correspond with people whose personal freedom is restricted, and appear in court and participate in litigation. Lawyers' practice according to law is protected by law.
Therefore, because the law does not prohibit the relationship between lawyers and criminal suspects at present, relatives of criminal suspects can act as lawyers to defend the suspects. Lawyers meeting with criminal suspects is not a private meeting, but a necessary procedure to perform their duties, which is allowed. At the same time, lawyers must abide by the Constitution and laws, abide by lawyers' professional ethics and practice discipline, and accept the supervision of the state, society and parties.
Legal basis: Article 33 of the Criminal Procedure Law. In addition to exercising the right of defense, criminal suspects and defendants may also entrust one or two people 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.