Court-approved attorney hourly rates: District Court, E.D. Missouri
14 approved rates from 6 fee rulings since October 20, 2024. Latest ruling May 29, 2026. Data as of October 20, 2026.
| Role | Median | Middle half | Range | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $335 | $160 to $475 | 6 |
The court approved a lower rate than requested for 0 of 14 timekeepers (0%).
Cite these rates
$335/hr
In E.D. Missouri fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved attorney rate was $335 an hour (6 rates).
Copy these rulings as citations
Recent E.D. Missouri rulings with the rates they approved, formatted for a fee petition. Check each ruling before citing it.
Sanderson v. Bailey, No. 4:23-cv-01242 (E.D. Mo. May 29, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $475 for an attorney with 40 years' experience; $170 for a paralegal with 4 years' experience); Malloy v. Trileaf Corporation, No. 4:24-cv-00506 (E.D. Mo. Mar. 18, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $550 for a partner; $395 for an associate; $280 for a paralegal); Missouri Primate Foundation v. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Inc., No. 4:16-cv-02163 (E.D. Mo. Oct. 21, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $425 for an attorney with 12 years' experience; $790 for a partner with 27 years' experience; $880 for a partner with 40 years' experience); Independent Contractors of Maverick Transportation, LLC v. Great West Casualty Company, No. 4:24-cv-00338 (E.D. Mo. May 16, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $285 to $385 for attorneys); Byrd v. U.S. Silica Company, No. 4:22-cv-00875 (E.D. Mo. Feb. 10, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $160 to $240 for attorneys); Semmens v. Bates, No. 4:23-cv-00995 (E.D. Mo. Dec. 12, 2024) (approving hourly rates of $495 for a partner; $395 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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May 29, 2026 · Civil rights
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 40 years $475 $475 Paralegal 4 years $170 $170 The court's words
Sanderson requests attorney fees for the work of lead counsel Janice Bellucci at an hourly rate of $475. Bellucci has practiced law in California for over 40 years.
Bellucci’s paralegal, Carlton Morse, works at an hourly rate of $170. Morse practiced law in California for four years but is no longer licensed.
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Malloy v. Trileaf Corporation et al
Mar 18, 2026 · Employment
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $550 $550 Associate $395 $395 Paralegal $280 $280 The court's words
McMillen and the Lewis Rice member billed at $550/hour; the associate attorneys billed at $395/hour; and the paralegal billed at $280/hour.
McMillen and the Lewis Rice member billed at $550/hour; the associate attorneys billed at $395/hour; and the paralegal billed at $280/hour.
McMillen and the Lewis Rice member billed at $550/hour; the associate attorneys billed at $395/hour; and the paralegal billed at $280/hour.
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Dec 11, 2025 · Prisoner rights · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $258 Attorney $263 The court's words
the applicable hourly rate under the PLRA, which the parties agree would be $258 for hours worked in 2025, and $262.50 for hours worked in 2024 (150% of the rate under the Criminal Justice Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3006A, for those years).
the applicable hourly rate under the PLRA, which the parties agree would be $258 for hours worked in 2025, and $262.50 for hours worked in 2024 (150% of the rate under the Criminal Justice Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3006A, for those years).
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Missouri Primate Foundation et al v. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Inc. et al
Oct 21, 2025 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 12 years $425 $425 Partner 27 years $790 $790 Partner 40 years $880 $880 The court's words
Frazier billed at an hourly rate of $425.00.
Martin billed at an hourly rate of $790.00 during 2024, and at $870.00 during 2025.
Campbell graduated from law school 40 years ago and is also a shareholder of Polsinelli PC. ... He billed at an hourly rate of $880.00.
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Sep 2, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $235 $235 The court's words
Plaintiff requests attorney’s fees in the amount of 8,595.62, at the rate of $234.85 per hour for time spent on the case.
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Aug 25, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $252 $252 Attorney $258 $258 The court's words
29.5 hours of attorney work at an hourly rate of $251.84 in 2024, an hourly rate of $257.54 in April 2025, an hourly rate of 258.08 in May 2025, and an hourly rate of 259.35 in August 2025.
29.5 hours of attorney work at an hourly rate of $251.84 in 2024, an hourly rate of $257.54 in April 2025, an hourly rate of 258.08 in May 2025, and an hourly rate of 259.35 in August 2025.
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Aug 4, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $235 $235 The court's words
Plaintiff’s counsel submitted a request to be reimbursed in the amount of $5,912.69, which represents 25.2 hours of attorney work at $234.63 per hour.
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Jul 8, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $233 $233 Attorney $239 $239 Paralegal $100 $100 The court's words
Plaintiff requests attorney's fees in the amount of $8,110.59, at the rates of $232.99 and $239.26 per hour for 30.9 attorney hours of work in 2023 and 2024
Plaintiff requests attorney's fees in the amount of $8,110.59, at the rates of $232.99 and $239.26 per hour for 30.9 attorney hours of work in 2023 and 2024
and the rate of $100 per hour for 7.3 hours of paralegal work
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Jul 8, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $252 $252 The court's words
Plaintiff requests attorney’s fees in the amount of $4,057.20 at a rate of $252 per hour for 16.10 hours of work in 2024 and 2025.
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Jun 4, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $258 $258 Attorney $245 $245 The court's words
Plaintiff requests attorney’s fees in the amount of $4,916.86 at rates ranging from $244.62 to $257.54 per hour for 19.5 hours of work in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Plaintiff requests attorney’s fees in the amount of $4,916.86 at rates ranging from $244.62 to $257.54 per hour for 19.5 hours of work in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
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Independent Contractors of Maverick Transportation, LLC et al v. Great West Casualty Company
May 16, 2025 · Other · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $285 $285 Attorney $385 $385 The court's words
This Court finds the rates for GWCC’s attorneys, which ranged from $285 to $385 an hour, to be reasonable and within the prevailing market rates here in this District.
This Court finds the rates for GWCC’s attorneys, which ranged from $285 to $385 an hour, to be reasonable and within the prevailing market rates here in this District.
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Apr 14, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $208 $208 The court's words
she seeks attorney’s fees in the amount of $2,407.00 for a total of 11.6 hours of attorney work at an hourly rate of $207.50
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Byrd et al v. U.S. Silica Company
Feb 10, 2025 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $160 $160 Attorney $240 $240 The court's words
Defendants filed billing records reflecting 14.4 hours worked by an attorney at Brinker & Doyen LLP at a rate of $160 per hour (for $2,304.00 total)
4.1 hours worked by an attorney at Morrow Willnauer LLC at a rate of $240 per hour (for $984 total)
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Jan 2, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $245 $245 Attorney $251 $251 The court's words
This amount is based on 2.80 hours of attorney work in 2023 at $245.00 per hour, and 21.60 hours of attorney work in 2024 at $251.00 per hour.
This amount is based on 2.80 hours of attorney work in 2023 at $245.00 per hour, and 21.60 hours of attorney work in 2024 at $251.00 per hour.
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Dec 23, 2024 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $247 $247 Attorney $247 $247 Attorney $247 $247 Attorney $249 $249 Attorney $253 $253 Attorney $253 $253 Attorney $252 $252 The court's words
she requests attorney's fees in the amount of $6,355.77 at an hourly rate of $247.10 for work performed in September 2023
$247.01 for work performed in October 2023
$246.51 for work performed in November 2023
$249.14 for work performed in February 2024
$252.52 for work performed in July 2024
$252.73 for work performed in August 2024
$252.13 for work performed in November 2024
Earlier rulings
| Case | Date | Approved rates |
|---|---|---|
| Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable | Dec 23, 2024 | Attorney $234, Attorney $234, Attorney $238, Attorney $239, Attorney $241, Attorney $241, Attorney $241 |
| Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable | Dec 23, 2024 | Attorney $251 |
| Semmens v. Bates et al | Dec 12, 2024 | Partner $495, Associate $395 |
| Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable | Nov 20, 2024 | Attorney $245, Attorney $251 |
| Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable | Jul 23, 2024 | Attorney $235, Attorney $245 |
| Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable | Jun 20, 2024 | Attorney $244, Attorney $245, Attorney $246, Attorney $247, Attorney $249, Attorney $252, Attorney $252 |
| Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable | Jun 17, 2024 | Attorney $244, Attorney $247 |
| The Reach Healthcare Foundation v. SRZ Reach LTC et al | Jun 6, 2024 | Attorney $490, Partner $415, Associate $280, Paralegal $200 |
| Felts v. Green | May 6, 2024 | Attorney $350, Law clerk $150 |
| Greater St. Louis Construction Laborers Welfare Fund et al v. CMT Roofing, LLC | Apr 22, 2024 | Attorney $215, Attorney $220 |
| Axiom Product Administration v. O'Brien et al | Apr 17, 2024 | Attorney $600, Attorney $695, Attorney $375, Paralegal $250 |
| Morris v. Metropolitan Police Department, City of St. Louis et al | Apr 17, 2024 | Attorney $450 |
| Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable | Feb 9, 2024 | Attorney $239, Attorney $238, Attorney $242, Attorney $245, Attorney $246, Attorney $247, Attorney $246 |
| Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable | Jan 18, 2024 | Attorney $243, Paralegal $95 |
| Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable | Jan 9, 2024 | Attorney $235, Attorney $243 |
| Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable | Jan 3, 2024 | Attorney $238, Attorney $247 |
FAQ
What hourly rate does the E.D. Missouri approve for attorneys?
A median of $335 an hour across 6 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024.
How often does the E.D. Missouri cut a requested hourly rate?
For 0 of 14 timekeepers (0%) in recent fee rulings.
How do I prove a reasonable hourly rate in the E.D. Missouri?
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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