Legal basis: Article 11 of the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Legal Aid states that in criminal proceedings, citizens may apply for legal aid from legal aid institutions under any of the following circumstances:
(1) The criminal suspect fails to hire a lawyer due to financial difficulties after being interrogated for the first time by the investigation organ or from the date when compulsory measures are taken;
(2) The victim of a public prosecution case and his legal representative or close relatives have not entrusted an agent ad litem due to financial difficulties since the date when the case was transferred for examination and prosecution;
(three) since the case of private prosecution was accepted by the people's court, the private prosecutor and his legal representative have not entrusted an agent ad litem due to financial difficulties.