According to Article 34 of the "Criminal Procedure Law", in criminal cases where a criminal suspect or defendant has not retained a defender due to financial difficulties or other reasons, and he or his close relatives do not have a defense lawyer, they may file a criminal case with him or her. Legal aid agencies apply for legal aid.
If the person meets the conditions for legal aid, the legal aid institution shall assign a lawyer to defend him or her.
If a criminal suspect or defendant is blind, deaf, mute or a mentally ill person who has not completely lost the ability to recognize or control his own behavior and has not appointed a defender, the people's court, people's procuratorate and public security organs shall notify the law. Aid agencies appoint lawyers to defend them.
If a criminal suspect or defendant may be sentenced to life imprisonment or death and has not retained a defender, the people's court, people's procuratorate and public security agency shall notify the legal aid agency to assign a lawyer to provide defense for him. Except for the necessity of having a defender as stipulated in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this article, it is the criminal suspect's right to entrust a defender, and it is not necessary to entrust him or her.