Legal basis: Article 32 of the Criminal Procedure Law of People's Republic of China (PRC): In addition to exercising the right of defense, criminal suspects and defendants may 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. According to the provisions of Article 33.
Article 33 of the Criminal Procedure Law of People's Republic of China (PRC): From the date when the case is transferred for examination and prosecution, the criminal suspect has the right to entrust a defender. The defendant in a case of private prosecution has the right to entrust a defender at any time. The people's procuratorate shall, within three days from the date of receiving the case materials transferred for examination and prosecution, inform the criminal suspect that he has the right to entrust a defender. The people's court shall, within three days from the date of accepting a case of private prosecution, inform the defendant that he has the right to entrust a defender.