Lien on house after Chapter 7 ?

[Rwsj]

My girlfriends divorce atty placed a lien on her community property home for past and future attys fees 3 years ago.
Girlfriend went BK in 2001 included atty in BK , atty knew she was going to include her as she was told so and atty did not respond to BK.
Recent divorce settlement(new divorce atty) gave girlfriend $ 8k but with lien on home her ex can't get 2nd. Why can't lien be removed? BK atty says any settlement goes to former divorce atty that holds lien, hows that ? Isn't she entitled to keep so much equity in home after chapter 7 ?

 

[bigun]

Something sounds wrong. Did she by any chance sign over equity in the home to be used as collateral for legal fees? If that's the case or something similar, the lawyer is a secured creditor and probably survived her bk. Just need more facts.