Court-approved attorney hourly rates: District Court, E.D. Louisiana
65 approved rates from 29 fee rulings since October 20, 2024. Latest ruling Sep 21, 2026. Data as of October 20, 2026.
| Role | Median | Middle half | Range | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partner | $385 | $300 to $480 | 8 | |
| Associate | $275 | $226 to $319 | $200 to $335 | 14 |
| Attorney | $325 | $253 to $400 | $200 to $665 | 34 |
| Paralegal | $105 | $75 to $160 | 6 |
Approved rates by year
| Year | Partner | Associate | Paralegal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $428 (6) | $300 (9) |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-9 years | $325 | 9 | |
| 10-19 years | $375 | 7 | |
| 20+ years | $480 | 5 |
Only rates where the opinion states the attorney's years of experience.
The court approved a lower rate than requested for 8 of 60 timekeepers (13%), by a median 15%.
Cite these rates
$385/hr
In E.D. Louisiana fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved partner rate was $385 an hour (8 rates).
$275/hr
In E.D. Louisiana fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved associate rate was $275 an hour (14 rates).
$325/hr
In E.D. Louisiana fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved attorney rate was $325 an hour (34 rates).
$105/hr
In E.D. Louisiana fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved paralegal rate was $105 an hour (6 rates).
Copy these rulings as citations
Recent E.D. Louisiana rulings with the rates they approved, formatted for a fee petition. Check each ruling before citing it.
Dragon Limited, Inc. v. Carbon Asset Developer Associates, LLC, No. 2:25-cv-01750 (E.D. La. Sept. 21, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $345 to $465 for attorneys; $155 for a paralegal); George v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., No. 2:24-cv-02528 (E.D. La. Aug. 20, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $325 for an attorney with 6 years' experience); Carpenter v. Tangipahoa Parish, No. 2:25-cv-00788 (E.D. La. Aug. 7, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $225 for an associate); Community Bank & Trust - West Georgia v. Law Office of James A. Graham LLC, No. 2:25-cv-02258 (E.D. La. July 14, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $395 for a partner with 11 years' experience; $325 for an associate with 7 years' experience; $275 for an associate with 2 years' experience); Carter v. Quintaros, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A., No. 2:25-cv-02273 (E.D. La. Apr. 30, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $375 for an attorney; $250 for an associate); Citizens Bank, N.A. v. Marcel Wisznia, No. 2:25-cv-01214 (E.D. La. Mar. 24, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $485 for an attorney); Wilco Marsh Buggies and Draglines Inc v. Weeks Marine, Inc., No. 2:20-cv-03135 (E.D. La. Mar. 5, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $284 to $444 for attorneys); D'Amico v. Dover Bay Specialty Insurance Company, No. 2:23-cv-05805 (E.D. La. Mar. 4, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $225 to $285 for attorneys); Liner v. Terminix Pest Control, Inc., No. 2:22-cv-03698 (E.D. La. Feb. 23, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $250 for an attorney); St. Hubert v. OPS Family Care, LLC, No. 2:25-cv-01277 (E.D. La. Jan. 12, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $300 for an attorney; $75 for a paralegal); Smothered Covered, LLC v. WH Capital, LLC, No. 2:22-cv-05132 (E.D. La. Oct. 7, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $375 for a partner with 15 years' experience; $325 for a partner with 9 years' experience; $210 for an associate with 1 years' experience); Cash Flow Resources, LLC v. Horizon Consulting, Inc., No. 2:24-cv-02116 (E.D. La. Aug. 4, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $85 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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Dragon Limited, Inc. v. Carbon Asset Developer Associates, LLC et al
Sep 21, 2026 · Commercial
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $465 $465 Attorney $345 $345 Paralegal $155 $155 The court's words
Plaintiff contends that the rate of $465 for Stephen M. Gelé, $345.00 per hour for Medlock Harbison, and rate of $155 for paralegal Sonya Roberts are reasonable.
Plaintiff contends that the rate of $465 for Stephen M. Gelé, $345.00 per hour for Medlock Harbison, and rate of $155 for paralegal Sonya Roberts are reasonable.
Plaintiff contends that the rate of $465 for Stephen M. Gelé, $345.00 per hour for Medlock Harbison, and rate of $155 for paralegal Sonya Roberts are reasonable.
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George v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.
Aug 20, 2026 · Disability access
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 6 years $325 The court's words
the Court expressly took inflation into account in setting the hourly rate at $325, even though the 2025 cases outlined in its Order & Reasons could have supported a lower rate, somewhere between $250-300, for an attorney with just six years of experience
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Carpenter et al v. Tangipahoa Parish et al
Aug 7, 2026 · Civil rights
Role Experience Requested Approved Associate $225 $225 The court's words
for Associate Austin W. Lanier, who was present during trial, he asks for $9,495, which represents 42.2 hours of work at a rate of $225. ... The Court finds these hourly rates reasonable, and Defendants do not dispute them.
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JES, Inc. et al v. Scottsdale Insurance Company
Jul 24, 2026 · Commercial
Role Experience Requested Approved Associate $250 Paralegal $125 The court's words
Plaintiff's counsels seeks an hourly rate of $300 for Partners, $250 for Associates and $125 for Paralegals working on the file.
Plaintiff's counsels seeks an hourly rate of $300 for Partners, $250 for Associates and $125 for Paralegals working on the file.
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Community Bank & Trust - West Georgia v. Law Office of James A. Graham LLC et al
Jul 14, 2026 · Commercial
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner 11 years $395 $395 Associate 7 years $325 $325 Associate 2 years $275 $275 The court's words
Plaintiff seeks to recover at rates of $395 per hour for Kean (a partner with 11 years’ experience), $325 per hour for Veazey (a senior associate with 7 years’ experience), and $275 an hour for Simpson (an associate with 2 years’ experience).
Plaintiff seeks to recover at rates of $395 per hour for Kean (a partner with 11 years’ experience), $325 per hour for Veazey (a senior associate with 7 years’ experience), and $275 an hour for Simpson (an associate with 2 years’ experience).
Plaintiff seeks to recover at rates of $395 per hour for Kean (a partner with 11 years’ experience), $325 per hour for Veazey (a senior associate with 7 years’ experience), and $275 an hour for Simpson (an associate with 2 years’ experience).
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Carter v. Quintaros, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. et al
Apr 30, 2026 · Employment
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $375 $375 Associate $250 $250 The court's words
Plaintiff seeks to recover $375 an hour for 2.7 hours for lead counsel and $250 per hour for 4 hours for an associate.
Plaintiff seeks to recover $375 an hour for 2.7 hours for lead counsel and $250 per hour for 4 hours for an associate.
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Apr 29, 2026 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $241 $241 The court's words
Plaintiff seeks recovery of attorneys' fees in the amount of $2,840.38, representing 11.8 attorney hours of expended time at $240.71 per hour.
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Citizens Bank, N.A. v. Marcel Wisznia, et al
Mar 24, 2026 · Commercial
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $485 $485 The court's words
Plaintiff's attorney represents that he expended 6.8 hours at a rate of $485.00 in prosecuting this matter.
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Wilco Marsh Buggies and Draglines Inc v. Weeks Marine, Inc.
Mar 5, 2026 · Intellectual property
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $284 $284 Attorney $444 $444 The court's words
Here, Weeks seeks fees at hourly rates ranging from $284–$444. (Rec. Doc. 216-1, at 22).
Here, Weeks seeks fees at hourly rates ranging from $284–$444. (Rec. Doc. 216-1, at 22).
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D'Amico v. Dover Bay Specialty Insurance Company
Mar 4, 2026 · Commercial
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $225 $225 Attorney $285 $285 Attorney $225 The court's words
Defendant has established that it is entitled to recover 1.7 hours at $225 an hour and 0.3 hours at $285 an hour, for a total award of $468.
another 0.3 hours at $285.00 per hour for another attorney’s revisions to the draft motion
Thus, the 0.9 hours in pre-motion meet and confer efforts is not compensable.
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Liner v. Terminix Pest Control, Inc.
Feb 23, 2026 · Employment · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $250 $250 The court's words
The Court notes that one entry is billed at $250.00 an hour, while the rest of the entries are billed at $375.00.
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St. Hubert v. OPS Family Care, LLC
Jan 12, 2026 · Wage and hour
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $300 $300 Paralegal $75 $75 The court's words
Plaintiff's counsel charges an hourly rate of $300, her paralegals charge $75, and her staff charge $20. These amounts are not contested and are within the range of prevailing market rates.
Plaintiff's counsel charges an hourly rate of $300, her paralegals charge $75, and her staff charge $20. These amounts are not contested and are within the range of prevailing market rates.
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Smothered Covered, LLC v. WH Capital, LLC
Oct 7, 2025 · Commercial
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner 15 years $375 $375 Partner 9 years $375 $325 Associate 1 years $300 $210 The court's words
Jared A. Davidson, a partner with 15 years of legal experience at the time of trial, who was billed at a rate of $375 per hour
Caroline M. Murley, a partner with nine years of legal experience at the time of trial, who was billed at a rate of $375 per hour
Nicholas A. Hart, an associate with just over a year of legal experience at the time of trial, who was billed at a rate of $300 per hour
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Aug 13, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $241 $235 Paralegal $75 The court's words
Plaintiff seeks recovery of attorneys’ fees in the amount of $11,081.53, representing 43.7 attorney hours of expended time at $240.71 per hour
7.5 hours of paralegal time at $75 per hour
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Cash Flow Resources, LLC v. Horizon Consulting, Inc.
Aug 4, 2025 · Commercial
Role Experience Requested Approved Paralegal $85 $85 The court's words
The time records reflect that paralegals also performed 9.6 hours of work in this matter at a rate of $85 per hour.
Earlier rulings
FAQ
What hourly rate does the E.D. Louisiana approve for partners?
A median of $385 an hour across 8 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024.
What hourly rate does the E.D. Louisiana approve for associates?
A median of $275 an hour across 14 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024, with the middle half from $226 to $319.
What hourly rate does the E.D. Louisiana approve for attorneys?
A median of $325 an hour across 34 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024, with the middle half from $253 to $400.
How often does the E.D. Louisiana cut a requested hourly rate?
For 8 of 60 timekeepers (13%) in recent fee rulings, by a median 15% when it did.
How do I prove a reasonable hourly rate in the E.D. Louisiana?
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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