Article 33 of the Criminal Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China A criminal suspect shall have the right to entrust defenders from the date of the first interrogation or the adoption of compulsory measures by the investigating organ; During the investigation, only lawyers can be entrusted as defenders. The defendant has the right to entrust defenders at any time. When interrogating a criminal suspect for the first time or taking coercive measures against a criminal suspect, the investigation organ shall inform the criminal suspect that he has the right to entrust defenders. 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 defenders. The people's court shall, within three days from the date of accepting the case, inform the defendant that he has the right to entrust defenders. If a criminal suspect or defendant requests to entrust a defender while in custody, the People's Court, the People's Procuratorate and the public security organ shall promptly convey their request. If a criminal suspect or defendant is in custody, his guardian or near relative may also act as an entrusted defender. After accepting the entrustment of the criminal suspect or defendant, the defender shall timely inform the organ handling the case. Article 34 If a criminal suspect or defendant does not entrust a defender due to economic difficulties or other reasons, he or his close relatives may apply to a legal aid institution. For those who meet the conditions for legal aid, the legal aid institution shall assign lawyers to defend them. If a criminal suspect or defendant is blind, deaf or mute, or a mental patient who has not completely lost the ability to recognize 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 legal aid institutions to appoint lawyers to provide defense for him. If a criminal suspect or defendant may be sentenced to life imprisonment or death and no defender is entrusted, the People's Court, the People's Procuratorate or the public security organ shall notify the legal aid institution to appoint a lawyer to defend him. Article 267 If a juvenile criminal suspect or defendant does not entrust a defender, the People's Court, the People's Procuratorate or the public security organ shall notify the legal aid institution to appoint a lawyer to defend him.