Court-approved attorney hourly rates: District Court, D. Minnesota
44 approved rates from 18 fee rulings since October 20, 2024. Latest ruling Aug 3, 2026. Data as of October 20, 2026.
| Role | Median | Middle half | Range | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partner | $625 | $423 to $695 | $385 to $925 | 11 |
| Associate | $397 | $290 to $487 | $250 to $600 | 16 |
| Attorney | $400 | $318 to $463 | $176 to $600 | 12 |
| Paralegal | $185 | $175 to $230 | 5 |
Approved rates by year
| Year | Partner | Associate | Paralegal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $511 (9) | $360 (13) |
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.
Attorney rates by years of experience
| Experience | Median | Middle half | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20+ years | $395 | 5 |
Only rates where the opinion states the attorney's years of experience.
The court approved a lower rate than requested for 5 of 43 timekeepers (12%), by a median 26.7%.
Cite these rates
$625/hr
In D. Minnesota fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved partner rate was $625 an hour (11 rates).
$397/hr
In D. Minnesota fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved associate rate was $397 an hour (16 rates).
$400/hr
In D. Minnesota fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved attorney rate was $400 an hour (12 rates).
$185/hr
In D. Minnesota fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved paralegal rate was $185 an hour (5 rates).
Copy these rulings as citations
Recent D. Minnesota rulings with the rates they approved, formatted for a fee petition. Check each ruling before citing it.
Ballast Advisors, LLC v. Peterson, No. 0:23-cv-03769 (D. Minn. Aug. 3, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $685 for a partner with 30 years' experience; $510 to $600 for associates; $230 for a paralegal); Knox v. Impact MHC Management, LLC, No. 0:24-cv-04235 (D. Minn. May 27, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $450 for an associate; $925 for a partner; $295 to $450 for attorneys); Singh v. Experian Information Solutions, Inc., No. 0:25-cv-00378 (D. Minn. Dec. 9, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $425 for an attorney; $175 for a paralegal); Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Service Corporation v. Dominionaire Contracting,Inc., No. 0:24-cv-04462 (D. Minn. Nov. 5, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $410 for an attorney); Rouse v. H.B. Fuller Company, No. 0:22-cv-02173 (D. Minn. Oct. 10, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $625 to $695 for partners; $375 to $495 for associates); Rouse v. H.B. Fuller Company, No. 0:22-cv-02173 (D. Minn. Oct. 10, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $511 to $710 for partners; $484 to $511 for associates); Wessberg v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America, No. 0:22-cv-00094 (D. Minn. Sept. 11, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $185 for a paralegal); Keating v. Frederick Debt Management, LLC, No. 0:24-cv-03659 (D. Minn. Sept. 2, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $210 for a paralegal with 24 years' experience); Handy Jones v. City of St. Paul, Minnesota, No. 0:20-cv-00707 (D. Minn. Aug. 8, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $390 for an attorney; $550 for an attorney with 30 years' experience; $275 for an associate with 5 years' experience); T&T Management, Inc. v. Choice Hotels International, Inc., No. 0:24-cv-01504 (D. Minn. Aug. 4, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $695 for a partner; $418 for an associate); Nilsen v. Master Floors of Minnesota, Inc., No. 0:23-cv-00676 (D. Minn. May 6, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $385 for a partner with 20 years' experience; $360 for an associate with 6 years' experience; $180 for a paralegal with 15 years' experience); J.V. & Sons Trucking, Inc. v. Asset Vision Logistics, LLC, No. 0:20-cv-02538 (D. Minn. Apr. 3, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $450 for a partner; $250 for an associate).
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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Case Name in Immigration Case - Unavailable
Sep 2, 2026 · Immigration · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $267 $267 The court's words
First, the requested rate of $267.36 is similar to a rate the Court previously found reasonable.
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Case Name in Immigration Case - Unavailable
Aug 26, 2026 · Immigration · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $258 $258 other $125 $125 The court's words
The requested base rate of $258.46 per hour for attorneys reasonably reflects inflation since the statutory cap was set in 1996 and is consistent with adjustments for the cost of living that are commonly awarded in this Circuit. That adjustment is appropriate.
A rate of $125.00 per hour for support staff is also acceptable.
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Case Name in Immigration Case - Unavailable
Aug 18, 2026 · Immigration · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $265 $265 The court's words
the number of hours expended (23.5 hours) and the hourly rate charged ($265.10) are reasonable.
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Ballast Advisors, LLC v. Peterson et al
Aug 3, 2026 · Other · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner 30 years $685 $685 Associate $600 $600 Associate $510 $510 Paralegal $230 $230 The court's words
Matthew T. Boos, a shareholder at the law firm of Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., has over 30 years of experience in business litigation and bills at an hourly rate of $685 per hour ($655/hour in 2025).
Melissa Stumbras, a senior associate at Fredrikson, bills at an hourly rate of $600 per hour ($555/hour in 2025).
Christopher Markuson, an associate at Fredrikson, bills at an hourly rate of $510 per hour ($430/hour in 2025).
Lastly, Annagrace Noor, a paralegal at Fredrikson, bills at $230 per hour ($210/hour in 2025).
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Case Name in Immigration Case - Unavailable
Jun 22, 2026 · Immigration · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $261 $261 The court's words
Without the multiplier, the amount falls to $9,321.99—which reflects the 35.7 hours billed by counsel at a rate of $261.12 per hour.
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Case Name in Immigration Case - Unavailable
May 29, 2026 · Immigration · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $261 $261 The court's words
First, the requested rate is similar to a rate the Court recently found reasonable. See Jafet L.C. v. Blanche, No. 26-cv-903, 2026 WL 1361497, at *2 (D. Minn. May 15, 2026) (finding $261.12 per hour to be reasonable and explaining accepted rate formulas).
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Knox et al v. Impact MHC Management, LLC et al
May 27, 2026 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Associate $450 $450 Partner $925 $925 Attorney $450 $450 Attorney $295 $295 The court's words
the Robins Kaplan attorneys charge an hourly rate between $450 (for associates) and $925 (for partners)
the Robins Kaplan attorneys charge an hourly rate between $450 (for associates) and $925 (for partners)
The MMLA attorneys charge an hourly rate between $295 and $450.
The MMLA attorneys charge an hourly rate between $295 and $450.
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Singh v. Experian Information Solutions, Inc. et al
Dec 9, 2025 · Consumer protection · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $425 $425 Paralegal $175 $175 The court's words
The Court finds that Plaintiff's requested hourly rate of $425 is reasonable.
Midland does not challenge the $175 hourly rate requested for Plaintiff's paralegal's work, which is, in any event, reasonable.
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Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Service Corporation v. Dominionaire Contracting,Inc., et al
Nov 5, 2025 · ERISA benefits
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $410 $410 The court's words
Counsel also represented at the November 4, 2025 hearing that he had spent two hours preparing for the hearing, at an hourly rate of $410.00, bringing the total fee request to $27,291.50.
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Rouse et al v. H.B. Fuller Company et al
Oct 10, 2025 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $695 $695 Associate $495 $495 Associate $430 $430 Partner $625 $625 Associate $375 $375 The court's words
Vorys attorneys on this case include David Hine, a partner at the firm, and associates Petra Bergman and Michael Soder. (Id.) These attorneys bill their time at $695, $495, and $430 per hour, respectively.
Vorys attorneys on this case include David Hine, a partner at the firm, and associates Petra Bergman and Michael Soder. (Id.) These attorneys bill their time at $695, $495, and $430 per hour, respectively.
Vorys attorneys on this case include David Hine, a partner at the firm, and associates Petra Bergman and Michael Soder. (Id.) These attorneys bill their time at $695, $495, and $430 per hour, respectively.
LGN attorneys include David Asp, a partner, and David Hahn, an associate. They bill their time at $625 and $375 per hour, respectively. (Id.) HBF Co. does not challenge these rates themselves
LGN attorneys include David Asp, a partner, and David Hahn, an associate. They bill their time at $625 and $375 per hour, respectively. (Id.) HBF Co. does not challenge these rates themselves
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Rouse et al v. H.B. Fuller Company et al
Oct 10, 2025 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $1,490 $511 Associate $954 $511 Partner $710 $710 Associate $484 $484 The court's words
TEC Specialty’s lead counsel seeks fees at its billing rate in this case: $1,489.50 per hour of partner time and $954 per hour of associate time.
TEC Specialty’s lead counsel seeks fees at its billing rate in this case: $1,489.50 per hour of partner time and $954 per hour of associate time.
TEC Specialty also hired local counsel from the Fredrikson & Byron firm, whose partner billed at $710 per hour and whose associate billed at $484 per hour.
TEC Specialty also hired local counsel from the Fredrikson & Byron firm, whose partner billed at $710 per hour and whose associate billed at $484 per hour.
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Wessberg v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America
Sep 11, 2025 · ERISA benefits · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Paralegal $185 The court's words
the Court will apply a paralegal rate of $185 to the 16 hours billed for administrative and/or clerical tasks.
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Keating v. Frederick Debt Management, LLC
Sep 2, 2025 · Consumer protection
Role Experience Requested Approved Paralegal 24 years $210 $210 The court's words
The paralegal rate of $210 per hour for Lisa Robertson is reasonable. Ms. Robertson has 24 years of legal experience
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Handy Jones v. City of St. Paul, Minnesota et al
Aug 8, 2025 · Civil rights
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $390 $390 Attorney 30 years $750 $550 Associate 5 years $350 $275 The court's words
Defendants do not dispute that Kenneth White's hourly rate of $390 is reasonable. $390 per hour for White is surely reasonable given his approximately forty years of legal experience.
Handy Jones requests an hourly rate of $750 for O'Connor. ... The Court finds insufficient support for an hourly rate of $750 and instead will apply a rate of $550 per hour.
The Court finds that Handy Jones's request of $350 per hour for work done by Brianna Long is excessive and will instead apply a rate of $275 per hour.
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T&T Management, Inc. v. Choice Hotels International, Inc. et al
Aug 4, 2025 · Commercial
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $695 $695 Associate $418 $418 The court's words
only 0.6 hours were billed at the maximum of $695 and 29.9 hours were billed at $652.
Hobbs’s rates of $385 and $418 per hour, (Miller Decl. ¶ 10.), are substantially lower than Miller’s
Earlier rulings
FAQ
What hourly rate does the D. Minnesota approve for partners?
A median of $625 an hour across 11 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024, with the middle half from $423 to $695.
What hourly rate does the D. Minnesota approve for associates?
A median of $397 an hour across 16 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024, with the middle half from $290 to $487.
What hourly rate does the D. Minnesota approve for attorneys?
A median of $400 an hour across 12 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024, with the middle half from $318 to $463.
How often does the D. Minnesota cut a requested hourly rate?
For 5 of 43 timekeepers (12%) in recent fee rulings, by a median 26.7% when it did.
How do I prove a reasonable hourly rate in the D. Minnesota?
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.
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