Can the defendant hire a lawyer for different charges?

You can't hire a lawyer for different crimes. Only two lawyers can be entrusted as defenders in criminal cases at the same time. According to the Criminal Procedure Law, the defendant may entrust one or two people as defenders in addition to defending himself. Therefore, a criminal defendant can entrust two lawyers as defenders at most.

Legal basis:

Article 33 of the Criminal Procedure Law: In addition to exercising the right of defense, a criminal suspect or defendant may entrust one or two persons 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.