Court-approved attorney hourly rates: District Court, D. Montana
15 approved rates from 7 fee rulings since October 20, 2024. Latest ruling Jul 28, 2026. Data as of October 20, 2026.
| Role | Median | Middle half | Range | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $350 | $338 to $373 | $300 to $400 | 11 |
The court approved a lower rate than requested for 4 of 15 timekeepers (27%).
Cite these rates
$350/hr
In D. Montana fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved attorney rate was $350 an hour (11 rates).
Copy these rulings as citations
Recent D. Montana rulings with the rates they approved, formatted for a fee petition. Check each ruling before citing it.
Holbrook Holdings, INC., v. Cohodes, No. 2:24-cv-00175 (D. Mont. July 28, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $400 to $450 for partners; $300 to $350 for attorneys); Friends of the Wild Swan v. Hammond, No. 9:24-cv-00128 (D. Mont. Mar. 10, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $360 for an attorney with 20 years' experience); Lake v. CoreCivic, No. 4:21-cv-00116 (D. Mont. Aug. 15, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $125 for a paralegal); BNSF Railway Company v. The Center for Asbestos Related Disease, Inc., No. 9:19-cv-00040 (D. Mont. July 21, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $300 to $385 for attorneys); Vondra v. City of Billings, No. 1:22-cv-00030 (D. Mont. Mar. 10, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $350 to $400 for attorneys); Wright v. Shelby Distributors, LLC, No. 4:24-cv-00100 (D. Mont. Feb. 28, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $350 to $400 for attorneys); U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Norval Electric Cooperative, Inc., No. 4:19-cv-00071 (D. Mont. Nov. 4, 2024) (approving hourly rates of $325 for an attorney; $125 for a paralegal).
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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Holbrook Holdings, INC., v. Cohodes
Jul 28, 2026 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $1,250 $450 Attorney $925 $350 Attorney $775 $300 Partner $400 $400 The court's words
The prevailing market rate for an attorney with similar experience, skill, and reputation as Phillips is $450 per hour.
The prevailing market rate for an attorney with similar experience, skill, and reputation as Thomson is $350 per hour.
The prevailing market rate for an attorney with similar experience, skill, and reputation as Ramkumar is $300 per hour.
The prevailing market rate for an attorney with similar experience, skill, and reputation as Kelly is $400 per hour.
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Friends of the Wild Swan et al v. Hammond et al
Mar 10, 2026 · Environmental
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 20 years $360 $360 The court's words
The attorney fee request represents 71.4 hours spent litigating at a rate of $360 per hour for Mr. Jared S. Pettinato.
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Aug 15, 2025 · Prisoner rights
Role Experience Requested Approved Paralegal $125 $125 The court's words
Lake's counsel also requests a paralegal rate of $125 per hour. (Id. at 6–7.) The Court previously has determined such a rate to be reasonable.
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BNSF Railway Company et al v. The Center for Asbestos Related Disease, Inc.
Jul 21, 2025 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $385 $385 Attorney $300 $300 The court's words
BNSF seeks an hourly rate of $385 for Dale Schowengerdt and $300 for Timothy Longfield, which represent counsels’ discounted rate based on their longstanding professional relationship with BNSF.
BNSF seeks an hourly rate of $385 for Dale Schowengerdt and $300 for Timothy Longfield, which represent counsels’ discounted rate based on their longstanding professional relationship with BNSF.
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Vondra et al v. City of Billings et al
Mar 10, 2025 · Civil rights
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $350 $350 Attorney $500 $400 Attorney $350 $350 The court's words
Mr. Blevins seeks compensation for 28.93 hours at the rate of $350/hr, for a total of $10,125.
The Court finds that the rates for Mr. Woislaw and Mr. Blevin are reasonable, but reduces Mr. Hodges’ hourly rate from $500/hour to $400/hour to reflect the prevailing market rate for similarly experienced attorneys.
He seeks compensation for 303.92 hours at the rate of $350/hr, for a total of $106,372.
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Wright et al v. Shelby Distributors, LLC et al
Feb 28, 2025 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $350 $350 Attorney $400 $400 The court's words
Plaintiffs also request attorney’s fees for preparing and filing this motion in the amount of $1,505.00 for 4.3 hours of work by Dmitry Lapin at a rate of $350 per hour
and $200.00 for .5 hours of work by Michael Black at a rate of $400 per hour (Doc. 27 at ¶¶ 4-5).
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U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Norval Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Nov 4, 2024 · Employment
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $325 $325 Paralegal $125 $125 The court's words
The Court finds that Shea’s rate of $325 per hour and the paralegal rate of $125 per hour was reasonable.
The Court finds that Shea’s rate of $325 per hour and the paralegal rate of $125 per hour was reasonable.
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Staton v. City and County of Butte-Silver Bow, et al
Jun 3, 2024 · Employment · Older than two years, not in medians · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 20 years $375 Attorney 16 years $375 Attorney 14 years $375 The court's words
Rupprecht, Byron, and Driggers - $375 per hour
Rupprecht, Byron, and Driggers - $375 per hour
Rupprecht, Byron, and Driggers - $375 per hour
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BNSF Railway Company et al v. The Center for Asbestos Related Disease, Inc.
May 28, 2024 · Other · Older than two years, not in medians · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $325 $325 Attorney $180 $180 Paralegal $140 $140 Paralegal $95 $95 The court's words
BNSF’s hourly rates range from $180 to $325 for attorneys and $95 to $140 for paralegals.
BNSF’s hourly rates range from $180 to $325 for attorneys and $95 to $140 for paralegals.
BNSF’s hourly rates range from $180 to $325 for attorneys and $95 to $140 for paralegals.
BNSF’s hourly rates range from $180 to $325 for attorneys and $95 to $140 for paralegals.
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Apr 15, 2024 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians · Older than two years, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $245 $245 The court's words
The requested attorney fee award represents 29.40 attorney hours at a fee rate of $244.62 per hour.
FAQ
What hourly rate does the D. Montana approve for attorneys?
A median of $350 an hour across 11 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024, with the middle half from $338 to $373.
How often does the D. Montana cut a requested hourly rate?
For 4 of 15 timekeepers (27%) in recent fee rulings.
How do I prove a reasonable hourly rate in the D. Montana?
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.