Legal basis: According to Article 35 of the "Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China", if a criminal suspect or defendant fails to retain a defender due to financial difficulties or other reasons, he or his close relatives may apply to a legal aid agency Apply. For those who meet the conditions for legal aid, the legal aid institution shall designate a lawyer to defend them. If a criminal suspect or defendant is blind, deaf, mute or a mental patient 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 legal aid agency to appoint a lawyer to defend him. If a criminal suspect or defendant may be sentenced to life imprisonment or death without retaining a defender, the People's Court, People's Procuratorate, and Public Security Bureau shall notify the legal aid agency to appoint a lawyer to defend him.