I Assume They All Got Paid Upfront

"Over six years … it has become clear that serving as one of his lawyers is a remarkably risky job …. Time after time, his attorneys have been asked to testify as witnesses to potential crimes — or evaluated as possible criminal conspirators themselves." https://t.co/C4fJ6o5bPK

— George Conway🌻 (@gtconway3d) September 10, 2022

Giuliani was publicly begging for payment in early 2021. 

There's a book that reports a lawyer from a major NY law firm was offered a horse (or the purported deed to said purported horse) by Trump in payment for services rendered (years later the firm got some of its fees finally paid). 

Trump is asking the court to split the fees on the special master he requested with the federal government (which, godelpusall, I expect her to do), which is not at all how special masters work:

DOJ disagreed, writing that Trump, "as the party who requested the Special Master, will bear 100% of the professional fees and expenses of the Special Master and any professionals, support staff, and expert consultants engaged at the Master’s request."

Former Assistant Attorney General Elliot Williams explained, "This is one of those facts people might not realize about the process -- someone has to pay for the special master! DOJ being (justifiably) snippy here by saying -- why are you asking us to pay for something that (a) we don't need and (b) only you want?"

Jan Wolfe, a legal affairs reporter at The Wall Street Journal noted, "One of the candidates charged $700 an hour in 2018."

Trump probably also wants to stiff his part of the bill.  Getting the government to pay half is his only hope of getting the work done.

I know some of those lawyers were being paid for by the RNC; but the RNC is not paying for anything related to the search of MAL.

I guess I'm mystified as to why anyone wants to work for this guy.  I mean, you're just pro bono throwing your career down the shredder.  Apparently there are many more stupid people in the world than I ever realized.

Really makes you reconsider the whole "run government like private business" argument (for those few who still believe in that tooth fairy story).