Court-approved attorney hourly rates: District Court, D. Kansas
24 approved rates from 10 fee rulings since October 20, 2024. Latest ruling Jul 27, 2026. Data as of October 20, 2026.
| Role | Median | Middle half | Range | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $400 | $350 to $463 | $250 to $745 | 15 |
Approved rates by year
| Year | Partner | Associate | Paralegal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $127 (10) |
Median approved rate by the year of the ruling (number of rates in brackets). A year shows a median at 5 or more rates. Not adjusted for inflation.
The court approved a lower rate than requested for 6 of 23 timekeepers (26%), by a median 24.8%.
Cite these rates
$400/hr
In D. Kansas fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved attorney rate was $400 an hour (15 rates).
Copy these rulings as citations
Recent D. Kansas rulings with the rates they approved, formatted for a fee petition. Check each ruling before citing it.
Tell v. Lawrence Board of Education, No. 2:25-cv-02428 (D. Kan. July 27, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $700 for a partner; $350 to $500 for attorneys); Caldwell v. Mercury Management LLC, No. 2:24-cv-02210 (D. Kan. Mar. 27, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $393 for an attorney); Stuart v. Topeka, Kansas, City of, No. 2:23-cv-02021 (D. Kan. Feb. 17, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $500 for a partner with 34 years' experience; $500 for an attorney with 19 years' experience; $150 for a paralegal); Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. v. Trotter's on the River, LLC, No. 2:25-cv-02105 (D. Kan. Dec. 23, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $250 for an attorney); Zarco v. Book and Ladder, LLC, No. 2:24-cv-02091 (D. Kan. Dec. 11, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $625 for a partner with 18 years' experience; $400 for an associate with 5 years' experience); BMO Bank N.A. v. Blitz Transit, LLC, No. 2:24-cv-02164 (D. Kan. Oct. 23, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $445 for a partner; $295 for an associate; $195 for a paralegal); Kasten Berry Inc. v. Stewart, No. 2:24-cv-02270 (D. Kan. Aug. 6, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $335 for an attorney); Rothermel v. Sedgwick County, Kansas, Board of Commissioners, No. 6:22-cv-01194 (D. Kan. Apr. 30, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $295 to $415 for attorneys); Rodriguez Juarez v. Midwest Division - OPRMC, LLC, No. 2:23-cv-02417 (D. Kan. Apr. 7, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $360 to $745 for attorneys; $150 for a paralegal); Tru Mobility, Inc. v. Briggs Auto Group, Inc., No. 5:21-cv-04071 (D. Kan. Feb. 20, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $425 for an attorney).
Rulings
Rates turn on experience, practice area, and the work done. Use these as a starting point and cite the rulings, not this page, in a fee petition.
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Tell et al v. Lawrence Board of Education et al
Jul 27, 2026 · FOIA
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $700 $700 Attorney $500 $500 Attorney $400 $400 Attorney $400 $400 Attorney $350 $350 The court's words
Plaintiffs request the following rates: $700 per hour for Mark Johnson; $500 per hour for Rebecca Hughes Parker; $400 per hour for Harrison Rosenthal; $400 per hour for Jacob Margolies; and $350 per hour for Parker Bednasek.
Plaintiffs request the following rates: $700 per hour for Mark Johnson; $500 per hour for Rebecca Hughes Parker; $400 per hour for Harrison Rosenthal; $400 per hour for Jacob Margolies; and $350 per hour for Parker Bednasek.
Plaintiffs request the following rates: $700 per hour for Mark Johnson; $500 per hour for Rebecca Hughes Parker; $400 per hour for Harrison Rosenthal; $400 per hour for Jacob Margolies; and $350 per hour for Parker Bednasek.
Plaintiffs request the following rates: $700 per hour for Mark Johnson; $500 per hour for Rebecca Hughes Parker; $400 per hour for Harrison Rosenthal; $400 per hour for Jacob Margolies; and $350 per hour for Parker Bednasek.
Plaintiffs request the following rates: $700 per hour for Mark Johnson; $500 per hour for Rebecca Hughes Parker; $400 per hour for Harrison Rosenthal; $400 per hour for Jacob Margolies; and $350 per hour for Parker Bednasek.
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Apr 2, 2026 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $242 $242 The court's words
adjusted for inflation to $234.85 for the 21.7 hours worked in 2024 and $242.11 for the 9.1 hours worked in 2025—and plaintiff calculates $7,299.44 in attorney fees
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Caldwell v. Mercury Management LLC et al
Mar 27, 2026 · Wage and hour
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $393 The court's words
That means $26,298.62 of the request represents legal fees, so plaintiff's counsel is receiving $392.52 per hour.
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Stuart et al v. Topeka, Kansas, City of et al
Feb 17, 2026 · Employment · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner 34 years $850 $500 Attorney 19 years $760 $500 Paralegal $150 $150 Attorney 12 years $550 $350 The court's words
Mark Jess, who served as lead trial counsel, seeks $850 per hour, but a $500 hourly rate is reasonable.
Eric Playter seeks $760 per hour, but that is also too high. Instead, an hourly rate of $500 is reasonable.
Although her requested rate of $150 per hour for services as a paralegal is appropriate, M.B. v. Howard, 555 F. Supp. 3d at 1073, $350 per hour is reasonable for her services as a lawyer.
Christopher Playter seeks an hourly rate of $550, but an hourly rate of $350 is reasonable.
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Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. v. Trotter's on the River, LLC et al
Dec 23, 2025 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $250 $250 The court's words
What’s more, plaintiff identifies his rate as $250/hour. Doc. 9-12 at 2 (Umansky Decl. ¶ 11). This rate easily qualifies as reasonable when compared with other rates in the region.
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Dec 11, 2025 · Employment
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner 18 years $625 $625 Associate 5 years $400 $400 The court's words
Mr. Ziegelmeyer is a partner at the firm representing Plaintiff and has spent 18 years practicing law in Kansas and Missouri. (Doc. 49 at 2–3.) He requests an hourly rate of $625.
Mr. Todd has been a lawyer for five years. (Id.) He has extensive litigation experience and requests an hourly rate of $400.
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Dec 8, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $235 $235 The court's words
Multiply these hours by the statute-prescribed $125 hourly rate, adjusted for inflation to $234.85 per hour, and plaintiff calculates $4,156.84 in attorney fees.
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BMO Bank N.A. v. Blitz Transit, LLC et al
Oct 23, 2025 · Commercial
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $445 $445 Associate $295 $295 Paralegal $195 $195 The court's words
And the hourly rates come in at $445 for partners, $295 for an associate, and $195 for a paralegal, which are commensurate with recent area averages.
And the hourly rates come in at $445 for partners, $295 for an associate, and $195 for a paralegal, which are commensurate with recent area averages.
And the hourly rates come in at $445 for partners, $295 for an associate, and $195 for a paralegal, which are commensurate with recent area averages.
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Sep 3, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $125 The court's words
Multiply these hours by the statute-prescribed $125 hour rate, adjusted for inflation, and plaintiff calculates $6,316.65 in attorney fees.
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Aug 6, 2025 · Commercial
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $335 $335 The court's words
In Plaintiff's affidavit, counsel explained his education and experience, providing a basis for his rate of $335 per hour.
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Rothermel v. Sedgwick County, Kansas, Board of Commissioners et al
Apr 30, 2025 · Civil rights
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $415 $415 Attorney $295 $295 The court's words
Craig Shultz, the lead attorney, billed 221.1 hours in pretrial work at a rate of $415.00 per hour. He also billed 62 hours of trial work at a rate of $450.00 per hour.
Michael Shultz billed 41.9 hours of pretrial work at a rate of $295.00 per hour. He also billed 64.5 hours of trial work at a rate of $325.00 per hour.
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Rodriguez Juarez v. Midwest Division - OPRMC, LLC
Apr 7, 2025 · Employment
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $800 $745 Attorney $675 $591 Attorney $425 $360 Paralegal $150 $150 The court's words
Plaintiff seeks an hourly billing rate of $800 for Mr. Carter, $675 for Mr. McCoy, $425 for Ms. Duggan and $150 for legal assistants.
Plaintiff seeks an hourly billing rate of $800 for Mr. Carter, $675 for Mr. McCoy, $425 for Ms. Duggan and $150 for legal assistants.
Plaintiff seeks an hourly billing rate of $800 for Mr. Carter, $675 for Mr. McCoy, $425 for Ms. Duggan and $150 for legal assistants.
Plaintiff seeks an hourly billing rate of $800 for Mr. Carter, $675 for Mr. McCoy, $425 for Ms. Duggan and $150 for legal assistants.
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Tru Mobility, Inc. v. Briggs Auto Group, Inc.
Feb 20, 2025 · Commercial
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $425 $425 The court's words
the Court calculates the lodestar as $425 times 1 hour, plus $450 times 92.6 hours charged, resulting in a total fee award of $42,095.00.
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Wiens v. Farm Bureau Financial Services
Jan 29, 2025 · Commercial
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $425 Associate $200 Paralegal $90 The court's words
Plaintiff asks for hourly rates of $425 for partners, $200 for associates, and $90 for paralegals.
Plaintiff asks for hourly rates of $425 for partners, $200 for associates, and $90 for paralegals.
Plaintiff asks for hourly rates of $425 for partners, $200 for associates, and $90 for paralegals.
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Jun 27, 2024 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians · Older than two years, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $202 The court's words
This includes the court filing fee, the pro hac vice fee, and 37.1 hours of work which comes to approximately $202.00 per hour.
Earlier rulings
| Case | Date | Approved rates |
|---|---|---|
| Marmon et al v. RPS Auto, LLC | May 3, 2024 | Attorney $475, Attorney $475 |
| Shaw et al v. Schulte | Apr 12, 2024 | Attorney $400, Attorney $350, Attorney $350, Attorney $350, Attorney $350, Attorney $225, Attorney $195, Attorney $510, Attorney $450, Attorney $289, Attorney $468, Attorney $476, Paralegal $100, Paralegal $127, Paralegal $255, Paralegal $100 |
| Erich et al v. Jones et al | Apr 12, 2024 | Attorney $400, Attorney $350, Attorney $350, Attorney $350, Attorney $350, Attorney $225, Attorney $195, Attorney $510, Attorney $450, Attorney $289, Attorney $468, Attorney $476, Paralegal $100, Paralegal $127, Paralegal $255, Paralegal $100 |
| Gilmore v. Beveridge et al | Apr 4, 2024 | Attorney $400, Attorney $400 |
| Skyline Trucking, Inc. v. Freightliner Truck Center Companies et al | Mar 26, 2024 | Paralegal $150, Paralegal $150 |
| Roadbuilders Machinery Supply Co., Inc. v. Sandvik Mining and Construction USA, LLC | Feb 23, 2024 | Partner $625 |
FAQ
What hourly rate does the D. Kansas approve for attorneys?
A median of $400 an hour across 15 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024, with the middle half from $350 to $463.
How often does the D. Kansas cut a requested hourly rate?
For 6 of 23 timekeepers (26%) in recent fee rulings, by a median 24.8% when it did.
How do I prove a reasonable hourly rate in the D. Kansas?
With evidence beyond your own declaration, usually recent awards in the same district for lawyers of similar experience. The rulings on this page can be cited directly; use the citation block to copy them.
The data is free to use under CC BY 4.0. Please credit "LegalTime Fee Cut Tracker" with a link to this page. Spot an error? Email team@legaltime.ai with the case name and we will correct it. Summaries of public court opinions. Not legal advice.