Yes, you can. Lawyers have an independent legal status in criminal proceedings, enjoy certain independent litigation rights, and play an important role in safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the parties and ensuring the correct handling of cases. Therefore, criminal suspects can hire lawyers as defenders from the time when the people's procuratorate examines and prosecutes the case. In addition to hiring defenders, criminal suspects can also hire lawyers to provide legal aid in the investigation stage. Article 34 of the Criminal Procedure Law: 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 takes compulsory measures. During the investigation, only lawyers can be entrusted as defenders. The defendant has the right to entrust a defender at any time. When interrogating a criminal suspect for the first time or taking compulsory measures against him, the investigation organ shall inform him that he has the right to entrust a defender. 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 the case, inform the defendant of the right to entrust a defender. If a criminal suspect or defendant requests to entrust a defender while in custody, the people's court, the people's procuratorate and the public security organ shall promptly convey it. If a criminal suspect or defendant is in custody, his guardian or near relative may also entrust a defender. After accepting the entrustment of a criminal suspect or defendant, the defender shall promptly inform the case-handling organ.
Legal objectivity:
Rules of Criminal Procedure of the People's Procuratorate (Trial) Article 36 When the investigation department of the People's Procuratorate interrogates a criminal suspect for the first time or takes compulsory measures against him, it shall inform the criminal suspect that he has the right to entrust a defender, and inform him that if he fails to hire a defender due to financial difficulties or other reasons, he may apply for legal aid. In the circumstances stipulated in Article 34 of the Criminal Procedure Law, the criminal suspect shall be informed of his right to legal aid. Within three days after the people's procuratorate receives the case materials transferred for examination and prosecution, the public prosecution department shall inform the criminal suspect that he has the right to entrust a defender, and inform him that if he fails to hire a defender due to financial difficulties or other reasons, he may apply for legal aid. In the circumstances stipulated in Article 34 of the Criminal Procedure Law, the criminal suspect shall be informed of his right to legal aid. The notice can be oral or written. The oral notice shall be recorded in the record and signed by the notified person; If written notice is given, the service receipt shall be entered into the volume.