# Business Occupations and Professions (GBO)

## Title 10. Lawyers

### Subtitle 5. Miscellaneous Provisions

#### Section 10-501

(a) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, an attorney at law has a lien on:

  (1) a cause of action or proceeding of a client of the attorney at law from the time the cause of action arises or the proceeding begins; and

  (2) a settlement, judgment, or award that a client receives as a result of legal services that the attorney at law performs.

(b) A lien under this section attaches only if, and to the extent that, under a specific agreement between an attorney at law and a client, the client owes the attorney at law a fee or other compensation for legal services that produced the settlement, judgment, or award.

(c) A lien under this section is subordinate only to:

  (1) a prior lien for wages due to an employee of the client for work related to the settlement, judgment, or award; or

  (2) a lien for taxes that the client owes the State.

(d) An attorney at law may retain property subject to a lien under this section and bring an action for execution under the lien only in accordance with rules that the Supreme Court of Maryland adopts.

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Md. Code Ann., Bus. Occ. & Prof. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)