We've been married for a short time and my wife has relatively little assets compare to me. Can I be forced to pay her legal fees if she refuses to pay for her attorney?

Yes. A claim for payment of attorney fees is an alimony claim and coincides with a 'fault' issue. If your case is a "no fault" divorce, the fact that you have more assets may be determinative. To the extent that you may be 'at fault' for the separation and you have more assets, my guess is that you will pay all of her attorney expenses. This principle works both ways, by the way, and is gender neutral.

Its not atypical for one party in a divorce to be forced to pay the legal fees of the other party. Its up to the judge to rule on that.

The judge is the one who determines who pays for what. Usually attorneys will not work for free (at least not too many of them that I know of do this), so your wife will have to expend some sums in order to retain him. He's going to fight tooth and nail to have the judge order you to pay for his services. Be sure not to let him run up the attorney's bill with frivilous motions and hearings which they are won't to do.