Legal basis: Article 35 of the Criminal Procedure Law of People's Republic of China (PRC). If a criminal suspect or defendant fails to entrust a defender due to financial difficulties or other reasons, he or his close relatives may apply to a legal aid institution. To meet the conditions of legal aid, legal aid institutions shall appoint lawyers to defend them. If the criminal suspect or defendant is a mental patient who is blind, deaf, dumb or has not completely lost the ability to identify or control his own behavior, and has not entrusted a defender, the people's court, the people's procuratorate and the public security organ shall notify the legal aid institution to appoint a lawyer to defend him. If a criminal suspect or defendant may be sentenced to life imprisonment or death without entrusting a defender, the people's court, the people's procuratorate and the public security organ shall notify the legal aid institution to appoint a lawyer to defend him.
Article 58 of the Civil Procedure Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) * * * The parties and legal representatives 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.