A charging lien is defined as a type of attorney's lien under which a lawyer acquires an interest in a judgment awarded to the client. This may mean that the lawyer can eventually claim a portion of any money paid to the client due to the judgment. The lien arises because of the client's failure to pay for legal services.
Compare to retaining lien.
See e.g., Plummer v. Day/Eisenberg, LLP 184 Cal.App.4th 38 (2010)
[Last updated in July of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]