Securing a lawyer who agrees to defer payment or be paid at a later date depends entirely on the fee structure and the nature of your legal case. In personal injury, contingency, or certain class-action lawsuits, attorneys routinely operate on a "pay later" model, meaning they collect their fees only as a percentage of the final settlement or court award. For corporate, criminal, or family law matters requiring hourly billing, lawyers rarely work without upfront retainers, though some firms offer payment plans or legal financing options.