Court-approved attorney hourly rates: District Court, D. New Mexico
36 approved rates from 12 fee rulings since October 20, 2024. Latest ruling Jul 31, 2026. Data as of October 20, 2026.
| Role | Median | Middle half | Range | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partner | $350 | $300 to $400 | 9 | |
| Attorney | $225 | $221 to $283 | $165 to $375 | 14 |
| Paralegal | $138 | $80 to $175 | 8 |
Approved rates by year
| Year | Partner | Associate | Paralegal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $350 (7) | $150 (5) | |
| 2024 | $125 (5) |
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 4 of 35 timekeepers (11%).
Cite these rates
$350/hr
In D. New Mexico fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved partner rate was $350 an hour (9 rates).
$225/hr
In D. New Mexico fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved attorney rate was $225 an hour (14 rates).
$138/hr
In D. New Mexico fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved paralegal rate was $138 an hour (8 rates).
Copy these rulings as citations
Recent D. New Mexico rulings with the rates they approved, formatted for a fee petition. Check each ruling before citing it.
Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, v. Estate of James E. Lowry, No. 1:25-cv-00380 (D.N.M. July 31, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $290 for an attorney; $150 for a paralegal); Dotson v. Acord, No. 1:25-cv-00509 (D.N.M. June 10, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $225 for attorneys with 10 years' experience); Jones v. SRE Wellness, No. 1:25-cv-00025 (D.N.M. June 5, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $350 for a partner with 25 years' experience); Century Bank v. Art Finance Funding (IX), LLC, No. 1:24-cv-01027 (D.N.M. Feb. 3, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $315 to $360 for partners; $200 to $250 for associates; $125 to $175 for paralegals); Century Bank v. Art Finance Funding (IX), LLC, No. 1:24-cv-01027 (D.N.M. Feb. 3, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $315 to $360 for partners; $200 to $250 for associates; $125 to $175 for paralegals); Imming v. De La Vega, No. 2:23-cv-00378 (D.N.M. Dec. 19, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $125 for a paralegal); Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB v. Lucero, No. 1:24-cv-01009 (D.N.M. Dec. 9, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $290 for an attorney; $150 for a paralegal); Mack Energy Corporation v. Summit Casing Services, LLC, No. 2:24-cv-00492 (D.N.M. Oct. 23, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $400 for a partner with 47 years' experience; $300 for a partner; $75 for another timekeeper); Herrera v. Gadsden Independent School District, No. 2:24-cv-00127 (D.N.M. Oct. 8, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $230 for an attorney with 20 years' experience; $185 for an attorney with 4 years' experience); Cooper v. City of Gallup NM, No. 1:24-cv-00504 (D.N.M. Sept. 15, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $220 for an attorney); Mbaba v. JP Morgan Chase & Co., No. 1:23-cv-00872 (D.N.M. Jan. 22, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $260 to $375 for attorneys); Vasquez v. New Mexico Department of Corrections, No. 1:22-cv-00522 (D.N.M. Nov. 4, 2024) (approving hourly rates of $165 to $225 for attorneys; $80 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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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Sep 14, 2026 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $258 $258 Attorney $266 $266 The court's words
Asebedo's attorney, Kelsey Young of the Parmele Law Firm, seeks $4,957.40 in fees for 18.7 hours of work performed by her attorneys, which reflects an hourly rate of $258.00 for work performed in 2025 and $266.00 for work performed in 2026.
2026 Work: $266.00/hour x 15.7 hours = $4,176.20
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Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, v. Estate of James E. Lowry et al
Jul 31, 2026 · Commercial
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $290 $290 Paralegal $150 $150 The court's words
Plaintiff has incurred $14,378.00 in attorney fees and $1,096.32 in associated NMGRT, reflecting 26.2 hours billed by attorney Ryan M. Walters at the rate of $290.00 per hour
45.2 hours by paralegal Candice N. Irlbeck (later Candice N. Hawks) at the rate of $150.00 per hour
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Jun 10, 2026 · Civil rights
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 10 years $225 $225 Attorney 10 years $225 $225 Attorney 10 years $225 $225 The court's words
Acord argues the amount is reasonable based on 5.7 hours of work spent by three attorneys billing at $225 per hour.
Acord argues the amount is reasonable based on 5.7 hours of work spent by three attorneys billing at $225 per hour.
Acord argues the amount is reasonable based on 5.7 hours of work spent by three attorneys billing at $225 per hour.
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Jun 5, 2026 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner 25 years $350 $350 The court's words
The Court also finds that Defendant’s counsel’s requested reduced hourly rate of $350.00 per hour is reasonable. Defendant’s counsel, Travis Jackson, has practiced law in New Mexico for over twenty-five years and is the managing partner
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
May 29, 2026 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $257 $257 Paralegal $125 $125 The court's words
37.9 hours of attorney time at $257.00 per hour ($9,740.30)
6.7 hours of paralegal time at $125.00 per hour ($837.50)
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Feb 25, 2026 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $257 $257 The court's words
Plaintiff’s attorney avers he spent 45 hours providing professional services to Ms. Ayala in this matter at a rate of $257.00 per hour. Doc. 27-1. The Commissioner does not contest the reasonableness of the hours billed or the requested hourly rate.
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Century Bank v. Art Finance Funding (IX), LLC et al
Feb 3, 2026 · Commercial · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $360 $360 Partner $315 $315 Partner $400 $350 Associate $250 $250 Associate $200 $200 Paralegal $220 $175 Paralegal $125 $125 The court's words
Three named attorneys, Mr. Edelman, Dave Giddens, and Ms. Alicia Gutierrez, charged $360.00 per hour, $315.00 per hour, and $400.00 per hour respectively.
Three named attorneys, Mr. Edelman, Dave Giddens, and Ms. Alicia Gutierrez, charged $360.00 per hour, $315.00 per hour, and $400.00 per hour respectively.
Given the lack of information about Ms. Gutierrez besides her partner status, I recommend that the hourly rate charged for her hours be reduced to $350 per hour.
The two associate attorneys who billed on the case charged commensurately less at $250.00 and $200.00 per hour.
The two associate attorneys who billed on the case charged commensurately less at $250.00 and $200.00 per hour.
I recommend this Court reduce the $220.00 per hour rate charged by Modrall Sperling’s paralegals to $175.00 per hour.
Paralegals who worked on the case billed $220.00 an hour and $125.00 an hour.
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Century Bank v. Art Finance Funding (IX), LLC et al
Feb 3, 2026 · Commercial
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $360 $360 Partner $315 $315 Partner $400 $350 Associate $250 $250 Associate $200 $200 Paralegal $220 $175 Paralegal $125 $125 The court's words
Three named attorneys, Mr. Edelman, Dave Giddens, and Ms. Alicia Gutierrez, charged $360.00 per hour, $315.00 per hour, and $400.00 per hour respectively.
Three named attorneys, Mr. Edelman, Dave Giddens, and Ms. Alicia Gutierrez, charged $360.00 per hour, $315.00 per hour, and $400.00 per hour respectively.
Given the lack of information about Ms. Gutierrez besides her partner status, I recommend that the hourly rate charged for her hours be reduced to $350 per hour.
The two associate attorneys who billed on the case charged commensurately less at $250.00 and $200.00 per hour.
The two associate attorneys who billed on the case charged commensurately less at $250.00 and $200.00 per hour.
I recommend this Court reduce the $220.00 per hour rate charged by Modrall Sperling’s paralegals to $175.00 per hour.
Paralegals who worked on the case billed $220.00 an hour and $125.00 an hour.
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Feb 3, 2026 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $257 $257 The court's words
Plaintiff’s attorney avers he spent 45 hours providing professional services to Ms. Ayala in this matter at a rate of $257.00 per hour. Doc. 27-1. The Commissioner does not contest the reasonableness of the hours billed or the requested hourly rate.
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Dec 19, 2025 · Civil rights
Role Experience Requested Approved Paralegal $125 The court's words
$2,500 for Ms. Stahl ($125 x 20 hours)
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Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB v. Lucero et al
Dec 9, 2025 · Commercial
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $290 $290 Paralegal $150 $150 The court's words
Mr. Walters’s hourly rate is $290 and the hourly rate for paralegals is $150. His hourly rate is well-supported by his experience, the complexity of the litigation in this case, the fees customarily charged, and the results obtained in this case.
Mr. Walters’s hourly rate is $290 and the hourly rate for paralegals is $150. His hourly rate is well-supported by his experience, the complexity of the litigation in this case, the fees customarily charged, and the results obtained in this case.
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Mack Energy Corporation v. Summit Casing Services, LLC
Oct 23, 2025 · Commercial
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner 47 years $400 $400 Partner $300 $300 other $75 $75 The court's words
Mr. Olson’s requested rate is $400 per hour, which he says is reasonable based on his 47 years of state and federal civil litigation practice.
The affidavit also advances the reasonableness of partner Ms. Green’s $300 hourly rate for her 1.3 billable hours
summer associate Mr. Klisch’s $75 hourly rate for his 15.7 billable hours
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Herrera et al v. Gadsden Independent School District
Oct 8, 2025 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 20 years $230 $230 Attorney 4 years $185 $185 The court's words
Ms. Chanez, an attorney with nearly twenty years of experience, charges a billing rate of $230.00 per hour, plus gross receipts tax ("GRT").
Ms. West, an attorney with four years of experience, charges a billing rate of $185.00 per hour, plus GRT.
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Cooper v. City of Gallup NM et al
Sep 15, 2025 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $220 $220 The court's words
Counsel for Defendant further advises that he bills for his services at the rate of $220.00 per hour and that the gross receipts taxes for his services related to the subject Motion to Compel amounted to $102.88
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Mbaba v. JP Morgan Chase & Co. et al
Jan 22, 2025 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $260 $260 Attorney $330 $330 Attorney $375 $375 The court's words
Defendant requests a total of $6,311.50 in attorneys’ fees, at $260, $330, and $375 an hour for approximately 21.6 hours of work on the motion and reply.
Defendant requests a total of $6,311.50 in attorneys’ fees, at $260, $330, and $375 an hour for approximately 21.6 hours of work on the motion and reply.
Defendant requests a total of $6,311.50 in attorneys’ fees, at $260, $330, and $375 an hour for approximately 21.6 hours of work on the motion and reply.
Earlier rulings
| Case | Date | Approved rates |
|---|---|---|
| Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable | Jan 14, 2025 | Attorney $245, Paralegal $100 |
| Vasquez v. New Mexico Department of Corrections et al | Nov 4, 2024 | Attorney $165, Attorney $200, Attorney $225, Paralegal $80 |
| Deakin v. Magellan Health, Inc., et al | Sep 27, 2024 | Attorney $400 |
| State Ethics Commission v. TNMP, Inc. et al | Aug 23, 2024 | Attorney $275, Attorney $275 |
| Mendoza v. Home Depot U.S.A., Inc. | Apr 30, 2024 | Attorney $400, Attorney $250 |
| Escano v. Innovative Financial Partners, LLC et al | Mar 5, 2024 | Paralegal $175, Paralegal $125 |
| Republican Party of New Mexico et al v. King et al | Jan 31, 2024 | |
| Escano v. Innovative Financial Partners, LLC et al | Jan 23, 2024 | Partner $400, Associate $275, Partner $400, Partner $400, Associate $275, Partner $325, Associate $225, Paralegal $175, Paralegal $125 |
FAQ
What hourly rate does the D. New Mexico approve for partners?
A median of $350 an hour across 9 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024.
What hourly rate does the D. New Mexico approve for attorneys?
A median of $225 an hour across 14 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024, with the middle half from $221 to $283.
What hourly rate does the D. New Mexico approve for paralegals?
A median of $138 an hour across 8 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024.
How often does the D. New Mexico cut a requested hourly rate?
For 4 of 35 timekeepers (11%) in recent fee rulings.
How do I prove a reasonable hourly rate in the D. New Mexico?
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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