State Ex Rel. Paxton v. Porter Superior Court

When a contract of employment is made between lawyer and client who is a party to a dissolution action, the basic obligation to pay the lawyer's fee is that of his client. If as part of the arrangement, the lawyer provides services without being paid beforehand by his client, in reliance upon the client's promise to pay in the future, or upon the power of the trial court to order and enforce payment of the fee by an opposing party, he assumes the risk that he may never in fact be paid. If thereafter the client cannot pay and the trial court does not make the contemplated order, lamentations…