Court-approved attorney hourly rates: District Court, M.D. Georgia
30 approved rates from 10 fee rulings since October 20, 2024. Latest ruling Aug 19, 2026. Data as of October 20, 2026.
| Role | Median | Middle half | Range | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $288 | $204 to $361 | $175 to $780 | 24 |
| Paralegal | $125 | $75 to $185 | 5 |
Approved rates by year
| Year | Partner | Associate | Paralegal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $95 (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 29 timekeepers (14%).
Cite these rates
$288/hr
In M.D. Georgia fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved attorney rate was $288 an hour (24 rates).
$125/hr
In M.D. Georgia fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved paralegal rate was $125 an hour (5 rates).
Copy these rulings as citations
Recent M.D. Georgia rulings with the rates they approved, formatted for a fee petition. Check each ruling before citing it.
BROADCAST MUSIC INC v. PALS WATERING HOLE LLC D/B/A PALS WATERING HOLE, No. 5:26-cv-00032 (M.D. Ga. Aug. 19, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $495 for an attorney); FARMER v. HUNSINGER, No. 3:25-cv-00154 (M.D. Ga. Aug. 12, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $205 to $215 for attorneys); GRESHAM v. FATHER AND SON PLUMBING LLC, No. 3:25-cv-00063 (M.D. Ga. May 27, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $400 for an attorney; $250 for an associate with 1 years' experience); GRAHAM ANDERSON v. EQUIFAX INFORMATION, No. 4:25-cv-00085 (M.D. Ga. May 21, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $350 for an attorney with 21 years' experience; $200 for an attorney; $160 for a paralegal); GUMM v. JACOBS, No. 5:15-cv-00041 (M.D. Ga. Oct. 15, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $200 for an attorney; $75 for a paralegal); BYNUM-WILLIAMS v. SCUDERI, No. 5:23-cv-00265 (M.D. Ga. Sept. 9, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $175 to $350 for attorneys; $125 for a paralegal); YOUNG v. BTW SOLUTIONS LLC, No. 3:17-cv-00094 (M.D. Ga. July 10, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $395 to $780 for attorneys with 28 years' experience; $655 for an attorney with 16 years' experience; $605 for an attorney with 12 years' experience); WIDNER v. THT TRUCKING LLC, No. 5:24-cv-00157 (M.D. Ga. Dec. 11, 2024) (approving hourly rates of $300 for an attorney); GUMM v. JACOBS, No. 5:15-cv-00041 (M.D. Ga. Oct. 31, 2024) (approving hourly rates of $200 for an attorney; $75 for a paralegal); GRABLE v. CP SECURITY GROUPS INC, No. 5:21-cv-00095 (M.D. Ga. Oct. 30, 2024) (approving hourly rates of $300 for an attorney).
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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BROADCAST MUSIC INC et al v. PALS WATERING HOLE LLC D/B/A PALS WATERING HOLE et al
Aug 19, 2026 · Intellectual property
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $495 $495 The court's words
A declaration from Plaintiffs' counsel, Joseph H. Stuhrenberg, and the exhibits thereto reveal that his firm has billed Plaintiffs for his time at the rate of $495.00 per hour
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Aug 12, 2026 · Civil rights
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $205 $205 Attorney $215 $215 Attorney $215 $215 Attorney $215 $215 The court's words
6.9 hours at $205 per hour through December 15, 2025.
28.2 hours at $215 per hour through May 22, 2026.
4.6 hours at $215 per hour through July 22, 2026.
4 hours at $215 per hour for the July 23, 2026, hearing, including travel.
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GRESHAM v. FATHER AND SON PLUMBING LLC et al
May 27, 2026 · Wage and hour
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $400 $400 Associate 1 years $250 $250 The court's words
Gresham requests an hourly rate of $400 per hour for Burke’s work in this action and presented evidence that Burke usually charges and receives $400 to $425 per hour for similar work.
“AS” is a first-year associate named Abby Sawyer with a billing rate of $250 per hour.
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GRAHAM ANDERSON v. EQUIFAX INFORMATION et al
May 21, 2026 · Consumer protection · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 21 years $450 $350 Attorney $450 $200 Paralegal $160 $160 The court's words
a reasonable hourly rate in a FCRA case like this one for an attorney in Columbus, Georgia, with twenty-one years of experience is $350 per hour
with little or no experience is $200 per hour
the Court concludes, based on its experience and knowledge of the local market, that $160 is a reasonable hourly rate for work billed by paralegals in this action.
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Apr 14, 2026 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $252 $252 The court's words
Plaintiff seeks $679.96 in attorney’s fees for a total of 2.70 hours of work at $251.84 an hour.
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Dec 31, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $252 $252 Attorney $257 $257 The court's words
Plaintiff’s hourly rates of $251.84 and $257.09 are reasonable, based on the maximum hourly rate under the EAJA and an adjustment for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index for September 2024, December 2024, and August 2025
Plaintiff’s hourly rates of $251.84 and $257.09 are reasonable, based on the maximum hourly rate under the EAJA and an adjustment for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index for September 2024, December 2024, and August 2025
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Oct 15, 2025 · Prisoner rights
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $200 $200 Paralegal $75 $75 The court's words
the plaintiffs are entitled to reimbursement of reasonable attorney fees at $200 per hour for attorney work and $75 per hour for paralegal work
the plaintiffs are entitled to reimbursement of reasonable attorney fees at $200 per hour for attorney work and $75 per hour for paralegal work
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Sep 18, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $257 $257 The court's words
The rate requested by Plaintiff is $256.54 per hour for work performed in 2025. (Docs. 16-3, ¶ 11; 16-4).
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Sep 9, 2025 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $350 $350 Attorney $300 $300 Attorney $300 $300 Attorney $275 $275 Attorney $200 $200 Attorney $175 $175 Attorney $250 $250 Attorney $200 $200 Paralegal $125 $125 The court's words
Former Counsel requests the following as reasonable hourly rates for four attorneys who worked on Plaintiff's case: $300 and $350 for Mr. Cooper
$300 and $350 for Mr. Cooper; $275 and $300 for Mr. Barton
$275 and $300 for Mr. Barton; $175 and $200 for Ms. Rogers
$275 and $300 for Mr. Barton; $175 and $200 for Ms. Rogers
$175 and $200 for Ms. Rogers; and $200 and $250 for Mr. Stanage
$175 and $200 for Ms. Rogers; and $200 and $250 for Mr. Stanage
$200 and $250 for Mr. Stanage
$200 and $250 for Mr. Stanage
Former Counsel requests $125 as a reasonable hourly rate for one paralegal who worked 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 $260 $260 The court's words
According to her timesheets, counsel’s hourly rate for May 2025 is $260.00. ... the Court relies on its own expertise to find that counsel’s May 2025 hourly rate of $260.00 is in line with prevailing market rates in this District.
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YOUNG v. BTW SOLUTIONS LLC et al
Jul 10, 2025 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 28 years $780 $780 Attorney 16 years $655 $655 Attorney 12 years $605 $605 Paralegal 16 years $185 $185 Attorney 28 years $395 $395 The court's words
Karinshak’s hourly rate for False Claims Act cases was $500 in 2016, increased each year, and is now $780.
Sparks’s hourly rate for False Claims Act cases was $375 in 2016, increased each year, and is now $655.
Vallotton’s hourly rate for False Claims Act cases was $575 in 2024 and increased to $605 in 2025.
The hourly rate for Paralegal Madlock was $150 in 2019, increased to $175 in 2023, and increased to $185 in 2025.
Jeyaram billed $395 per hour in this matter, which is also his “actual billing rate (charged and received)” for paying clients in complex civil litigation.
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Jun 5, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $252 $252 The court's words
Davis asks for $7,013.68 in attorneys’ fees for 27.85 attorney hours. (Doc. 20 at 1). This works out to an hourly rate of $251.84.
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
May 30, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $234 $234 The court's words
Plaintiff requests $8,424.00 for 40.9 hours of representation by Timothy M. Klob of Klob Legal, LLC at a $234 hourly rate.
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Feb 28, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $245 $245 Attorney $249 $249 The court's words
Plaintiff’s attorney’s fees are calculated at an hourly rate of $244.62 for services rendered in September 2023
at the rate of $249.16 for services rendered between January and April 2024
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Feb 10, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $252 $252 The court's words
The attorney hourly rate requested by Plaintiff is $252.45. (Doc. 15-1, p. 2).
Earlier rulings
| Case | Date | Approved rates |
|---|---|---|
| WIDNER v. THT TRUCKING LLC et al | Dec 11, 2024 | Attorney $300 |
| GUMM v. JACOBS et al | Oct 31, 2024 | Attorney $200, Paralegal $75 |
| GRABLE et al v. CP SECURITY GROUPS INC | Oct 30, 2024 | Attorney $300 |
| Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable | Oct 10, 2024 | Attorney $150 |
| Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable | Aug 28, 2024 | Attorney $245 |
| Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable | Jul 24, 2024 | Attorney $243, Attorney $152 |
| Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable | Jul 23, 2024 | Attorney $245, Attorney $250 |
| WELLS FARGO BANK NA v. YOUNT | Jul 9, 2024 | Attorney $245 |
| LOWE v. ALLSTAR MOVING AND DELIVERY LLC et al | May 2, 2024 | Attorney $140, Attorney $300, Paralegal $95, Paralegal $140 |
| GRABLE et al v. CP SECURITY GROUPS INC | Mar 13, 2024 | Paralegal $95, Attorney $250, Attorney $105 |
| PATEL v. OM JANIE, LLC et al | Jan 12, 2024 | Partner $390, Paralegal $100, Attorney $350 |
FAQ
What hourly rate does the M.D. Georgia approve for attorneys?
A median of $288 an hour across 24 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024, with the middle half from $204 to $361.
What hourly rate does the M.D. Georgia approve for paralegals?
A median of $125 an hour across 5 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024.
How often does the M.D. Georgia cut a requested hourly rate?
For 4 of 29 timekeepers (14%) in recent fee rulings.
How do I prove a reasonable hourly rate in the M.D. Georgia?
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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