How many people can a lawyer defend?
A lawyer can only be the defender of one defendant, and one defendant can hire two lawyers as defenders. Because there may be conflicts of interest between defendants of the same crime, if a lawyer represents two defendants, it may damage the rights and interests of one of the defendants.
To sum up, according to different legal cases, the parties may ask more than two lawyers to defend themselves.
Legal basis:
Article 33 of the Criminal Procedure Law of People's Republic of China (PRC)
The way of defense and the scope of defense. 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.