What if the poor can't afford a lawyer?

Legal analysis: legal aid agencies assign lawyers for them. According to the relevant provisions of China's Criminal Procedure Law, in order to fully protect the right of defense of criminal suspects and defendants, when criminal suspects and defendants have no money to entrust lawyers as defenders due to financial difficulties and other reasons, they and their close relatives can apply to legal aid institutions. For those who are qualified for legal aid, legal aid institutions shall appoint lawyers to provide legal aid defense.

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.