Court-approved attorney hourly rates: District Court, D. Maine
9 approved rates from 3 fee rulings since October 20, 2024. Latest ruling May 4, 2026. Data as of October 20, 2026.
| Role | Median | Middle half | Range | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $290 | $100 to $350 | 7 |
The court approved a lower rate than requested for 2 of 9 timekeepers (22%).
Cite these rates
$290/hr
In D. Maine fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved attorney rate was $290 an hour (7 rates).
Copy these rulings as citations
Recent D. Maine rulings with the rates they approved, formatted for a fee petition. Check each ruling before citing it.
PATRICK v. BROGAN, No. 2:25-cv-00048 (D. Me. May 4, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $350 for a partner; $100 to $350 for attorneys); POWELL v. POWELL, No. 2:25-cv-00641 (D. Me. Apr. 21, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $295 for an attorney with 20 years' experience; $225 for an attorney with 1 years' experience; $120 for a paralegal); LAUSSER v. ELITE AIRWAY SERVICES LLC, No. 2:24-cv-00186 (D. Me. Nov. 5, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $300 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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May 4, 2026 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $350 $350 Attorney $290 $290 Attorney $350 $350 Attorney $290 $100 Attorney $350 $100 The court's words
Attorney Germani, who has practiced law since 1988, is charging an hourly rate of $350, substantially lower than her usual rate.
Other attorneys were billed at rates from $290 to $350.
Other attorneys were billed at rates from $290 to $350.
the Court sua sponte has reduced the hourly rates in this case to $100 for pursuing the attorney’s fee award.
the Court sua sponte has reduced the hourly rates in this case to $100 for pursuing the attorney’s fee award.
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Apr 21, 2026 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 20 years $295 $295 Attorney 1 years $225 $225 Paralegal $120 $120 The court's words
Attorney Morin, who has practiced law since 2006, billed 139.5 hours at $295 per hour.
His partner, attorney Joshua Narey, who has practiced law since 2025, billed 82.3 hours at $225 per hour.
Paralegal services were billed at $120 per hour.
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LAUSSER et al v. ELITE AIRWAY SERVICES LLC et al
Nov 5, 2025 · Wage and hour
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $300 $300 The court's words
Attorney Morris has submitted two affidavits and corresponding invoices setting forth an hourly rate of $300 per hour and the hours she has committed to this matter for a total of $18,565 in attorney's fees.
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LORD v. SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION COMMISSIONER
Oct 27, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $245 $245 The court's words
Defendant does not challenge the reasonableness of Plaintiff's hourly rate of $245.00.
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BRUNEAU v. SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION COMMISSIONER
Oct 1, 2024 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians · Older than two years, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $234 $234 The court's words
The requested amount is based upon an hourly rate of $234.00, which the Plaintiff calculated by adjusting the $125.00 hourly rate authorized by the EAJA to align with the cost of living
FAQ
What hourly rate does the D. Maine approve for attorneys?
A median of $290 an hour across 7 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024.
How often does the D. Maine cut a requested hourly rate?
For 2 of 9 timekeepers (22%) in recent fee rulings.
How do I prove a reasonable hourly rate in the D. Maine?
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.