Court-approved attorney hourly rates: District Court, D. Utah
25 approved rates from 14 fee rulings since October 20, 2024. Latest ruling Sep 17, 2026. Data as of October 20, 2026.
| Role | Median | Middle half | Range | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $390 | $319 to $521 | $255 to $600 | 16 |
Approved rates by year
| Year | Partner | Associate | Paralegal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $150 (7) |
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 25 timekeepers (16%).
Cite these rates
$390/hr
In D. Utah fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved attorney rate was $390 an hour (16 rates).
Copy these rulings as citations
Recent D. Utah rulings with the rates they approved, formatted for a fee petition. Check each ruling before citing it.
Lichfield v. Kubler, No. 2:24-cv-00458 (D. Utah Sept. 17, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $500 for a partner with 30 years' experience; $500 for an associate); W-S v. United Healthcare Insurance, No. 2:19-cv-00810 (D. Utah Sept. 14, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $300 to $600 for attorneys); Pitcher v. C&H Distributing, No. 2:25-cv-00705 (D. Utah July 27, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $275 for an attorney); Southern Utah Drag Stars v. City of St. George, No. 4:23-cv-00044 (D. Utah Apr. 24, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $400 for an attorney; $150 for another timekeeper); S. v. Cigna Health and Life Insurance, No. 1:22-cv-00004 (D. Utah Mar. 17, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $300 to $375 for associates); Johnson v. Allred, No. 4:25-cv-00068 (D. Utah Jan. 30, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $600 for a partner; $380 to $500 for attorneys; $190 for a paralegal); Clear Link Technologies LLC v. Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC, No. 2:23-cv-00419 (D. Utah Aug. 11, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $375 for a partner; $255 to $265 for attorneys); Residential Warranty Services v. Goyo Media, No. 2:20-cv-00898 (D. Utah Aug. 5, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $520 for an attorney); Johnson v. Desert Mutual Benefit Administrators, No. 2:22-cv-00330 (D. Utah Aug. 1, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $400 to $600 for attorneys); Bingham v. doTerra, No. 2:23-cv-00707 (D. Utah May 22, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $370 for an attorney); S. v. Premera Blue Cross, No. 2:19-cv-00199 (D. Utah May 12, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $600 for an attorney); DP Creations v. Jiang Su Fang Ao Guo Ji Mao Yi You XIan Gong Si, No. 2:23-cv-00312 (D. Utah Apr. 17, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $525 for an attorney; $225 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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Sep 17, 2026 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner 30 years $795 $500 Associate $460 $500 Attorney $865 Attorney $725 Attorney $695 The court's words
The court finds that the $795 per hour rate charged by the head of the commercial litigation practice group for a prominent local firm is higher than the reasonable rate for a defamation case in the Salt Lake City legal community.
That leaves the rates charged by the defendants’ local counsel—$795 per hour for the chair of an established Salt Lake City law firm’s commercial litigation practice group with over 30 years of experience and $460 per hour for a mid-level associate at that firm—as the two remaining data points proffered by the defendants for determining a reasonable hourly rate for Salt Lake City.
Three attorneys are based in Chicago and billed their time at the rates of $865, $725, and $695 per hour.
Three attorneys are based in Chicago and billed their time at the rates of $865, $725, and $695 per hour.
Three attorneys are based in Chicago and billed their time at the rates of $865, $725, and $695 per hour.
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W-S et al v. United Healthcare Insurance
Sep 14, 2026 · ERISA benefits · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $650 $600 Attorney $400 $300 The court's words
King billed 76.4 hours on the case and seeks an award that represents this time multiplied by his current hourly rate of $650.00 per hour.
Hall expended 51.9 hours on this case and seeks compensation at his current rate of $400.00 per hour.
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Jul 27, 2026 · Employment
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $275 $275 The court's words
Defendant states it spent a total of six hours of work, at a rate of $275 per hour, as a result of Mr. Holdsworth’s failure to comply with court orders
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Southern Utah Drag Stars et al v. City of St. George et al
Apr 24, 2026 · Civil rights
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $400 $400 other $150 $150 The court's words
The requested attorneys’ fees represent 1,111.80 in billed hours at hourly rates ranging from $300 to $400 for licensed counsel
and between $110 to $150 per hour for counsel prior to being admitted to the bar and paralegal work
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S. et al v. Cigna Health and Life Insurance et al
Mar 17, 2026 · ERISA benefits
Role Experience Requested Approved Associate $375 $375 Associate $300 $300 The court's words
Samuel M. Hall, who worked 89.1 hours at a rate of $375 per hour for a total of $33,412.50
Andrew Somers, who recorded 2.9 hours at a rate of $300 per hour for a total of $870.00
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Jan 30, 2026 · Civil rights
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $600 $600 Attorney $500 $500 Attorney $380 $380 Paralegal $190 $190 The court's words
Ms. Johnson seeks $600/hour for senior partner Ms. Porter, $500/hour for Mr. Mejia, $380/hour for Ms. Christiansen, and $190/hour for paralegals, arguing these rates reflect the prevailing market as confirmed by Mr. Robert Sykes’ affidavit.
Ms. Johnson seeks $600/hour for senior partner Ms. Porter, $500/hour for Mr. Mejia, $380/hour for Ms. Christiansen, and $190/hour for paralegals, arguing these rates reflect the prevailing market as confirmed by Mr. Robert Sykes’ affidavit.
Ms. Johnson seeks $600/hour for senior partner Ms. Porter, $500/hour for Mr. Mejia, $380/hour for Ms. Christiansen, and $190/hour for paralegals, arguing these rates reflect the prevailing market as confirmed by Mr. Robert Sykes’ affidavit.
Ms. Johnson seeks $600/hour for senior partner Ms. Porter, $500/hour for Mr. Mejia, $380/hour for Ms. Christiansen, and $190/hour for paralegals, arguing these rates reflect the prevailing market as confirmed by Mr. Robert Sykes’ affidavit.
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Alcon Vision v. Lens.com Inc et al
Dec 30, 2025 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $435 Associate $295 The court's words
1-800 Contacts billed its two partners at different rates ranging from $325 to $435 as set forth in its declaration
the hourly rate of $295, which is the rate of the 1-800 Contacts’ associate
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Oct 8, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $258 $258 Paralegal $120 $120 The court's words
the court reduces those entries by only three hours from the March 14, 2025 entry, which at an hourly rate of $257.50, totals a $772.50 reduction.
the court reduces Plaintiff's requested paralegal hours by one hour at a rate of $120.00 per hour.
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Clear Link Technologies LLC v. Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC
Aug 11, 2025 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $375 $375 Attorney $255 $255 Attorney $265 $265 The court's words
The court finds that the hourly rate of $375 charged for lead counsel Kennedy Nate was a reasonable rate for a partner at a law firm in Salt Lake City.
The court finds that the hourly rates of $255 for Stephanie Soh and $265 for Austin Nate were also reasonable rates for attorneys of their experience level in this legal market.
The court finds that the hourly rates of $255 for Stephanie Soh and $265 for Austin Nate were also reasonable rates for attorneys of their experience level in this legal market.
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Residential Warranty Services v. Goyo Media et al
Aug 5, 2025 · Commercial
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $520 $520 The court's words
Over half the time billed was charged by Mr. Baldwin, who billed at rates between $395 and $520.
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Johnson et al v. Desert Mutual Benefit Administrators et al
Aug 1, 2025 · ERISA benefits
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $600 $600 Attorney $400 $400 The court's words
The Defendants also argue that the Plaintiffs’ lawyers’ billing rates—$600 per hour for Mr. King and $400 per hour for Mr. Newton—are unreasonably high. The court disagrees.
The Defendants also argue that the Plaintiffs’ lawyers’ billing rates—$600 per hour for Mr. King and $400 per hour for Mr. Newton—are unreasonably high. The court disagrees.
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May 22, 2025 · Wage and hour
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $370 $370 The court's words
Plaintiffs' counsel seeks $37,148.04 in attorneys' fees, which is roughly $370 per hour.
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S. et al v. Premera Blue Cross et al
May 12, 2025 · ERISA benefits
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $600 $600 The court's words
The Tenth Circuit upheld Mr. King’s $600 hourly rate in affirming the prior award. This court also finds it a reasonable rate for his level of expertise in this market.
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DP Creations v. Jiang Su Fang Ao Guo Ji Mao Yi You XIan Gong Si
Apr 17, 2025 · Intellectual property
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $525 $525 Paralegal $325 $225 The court's words
the Declaration states the attorney on the case billed 11.6 hours at a rate of $525/hour and the paralegal on the case billed 6.8 hours at a rate of $325/hour.
the court finds the paralegal's requested rate is excessive. It therefore lowers the paralegal's rate to $225/hour for the purpose of calculating the appropriate award
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Commerce Commercial Partners v. Milliken & Company
Feb 10, 2025 · Commercial
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $375 $375 The court's words
CCP’s requested attorneys’ fees will be reduced by $1,750.00 to reflect these five hours that were billed at a rate of $375.00 per hour.
Earlier rulings
| Case | Date | Approved rates |
|---|---|---|
| Hwang v. O'Malley | Dec 9, 2024 | Attorney $259, Attorney $265, Paralegal $100 |
| Ol Private Counsel v. Olson | Nov 20, 2024 | Attorney $325 |
| L. v. Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance et al | Aug 21, 2024 | Attorney $600, Associate $350, Associate $250 |
| Active Energy Group PLC v. Scalzo et al | Jul 22, 2024 | Attorney $425, Attorney $450 |
| Securities and Exchange Commission v. Digital Licensing et al | May 28, 2024 | Attorney $340, Attorney $425, Attorney $650, Attorney $605, Attorney $515, Attorney $650, Attorney $350, Paralegal $225, Attorney $590, Paralegal $195, Partner $1,200, Partner $825, Associate $610, Attorney $590 |
| Wilson v. Kijakazi | Apr 30, 2024 | Attorney $259, Paralegal $100 |
| DP Creations v. Jihong | Feb 15, 2024 | Attorney $525, Paralegal $325 |
| BSJ Travel v. Ogden City Airport et al | Feb 8, 2024 | Attorney $225, Attorney $280, Paralegal $120, Paralegal $150 |
| BSJ Travel v. Ogden City Airport et al | Feb 8, 2024 | Attorney $225, Attorney $280, Paralegal $120, Paralegal $150 |
| Prisbrey v. State Auto Insurance Companies et al | Feb 7, 2024 | Attorney $185, Attorney $165 |
FAQ
What hourly rate does the D. Utah approve for attorneys?
A median of $390 an hour across 16 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024, with the middle half from $319 to $521.
How often does the D. Utah cut a requested hourly rate?
For 4 of 25 timekeepers (16%) in recent fee rulings.
How do I prove a reasonable hourly rate in the D. Utah?
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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