Our lawyer fees (ch13) were PART of our settlement. As in, we owed nothing up front... the fees were spread out. If something happens (like job loss, illness, etc.) then the lawyer simply files a motion and our payments are stopped until x number of days after a new job is found, illness over, etc. (like 60 or 90) and those missing payments just tack onto the end.
I would recommend NEVER dealing with the legal system without a lawyer.
Our bankruptcy was reeeeally complicated (we were excluding the house), and we had a reeeeeally good lawyer. 3 year settlement (instead of 5), over 90% wiped. The bulk of our monthly payment actually ARE the lawyer fees. And he was worth every. single. penny.